Jeremy Renner was as stunned as Marvel enthusiasts when Robert Downey Jr. disclosed at Comic-Con that he would be stepping into the role of Doctor Doom for the forthcoming Avengers films.
Renner revealed to Us Weekly that he was completely blindsided by Downey’s casting in Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027). “I had no inkling about this,” he confessed, noting his surprise at Downey’s decision to keep this serious development under wraps.
Downey, who attracts audiences as Tony Stark/Iron Man for over a decade before his character’s dramatic exit in Avengers: Endgame (2019), shocked fans at the San Diego convention by announcing his new role as Victor von Doom.
The announcement has sparked curiosity about how Downey’s version of Doctor Doom will integrate into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Reacting to the casting news, Renner immediately began bombarding Downey with messages in their original Avengers group chat, which also includes Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, and Mark Ruffalo.
Renner shared his excitement and confusion, stating, “I was like, ‘What’s going on? Are you keeping this a secret from us?’ It’s fantastic news, and I’m genuinely thrilled about it.” When asked about his own potential return as Hawkeye in the new Avengers films directed by Anthony and Joseph Russo, Renner was vague but hopeful.
He remarked, “The Avengers movies always have such a strong fan following and feature numerous beloved characters. Coordinating everyone’s schedules might be challenging, so they might need to organize it week by week.” Renner added, “It’s all quite fresh. We’ll have to see how it uncovers. Everything is still in its early stages following this announcement.”