Avengers: Doomsday Test Screening Reactions Praise Robert Downey Jr. As Doctor Doom
by Joe Roberts · /FilmAdd SlashFilm on Google:
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If you're still concerned about Robert Downey Jr.'s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Victor Von Doom, a new report should help assuage your fears. Insider Daniel Richtman claims Marvel recently screened "Avengers: Doomsday" for a test audience, who came away describing RDJ's villain as one of the best in franchise history.
When Robert Downey Jr.'s return to the MCU was announced, fans reacted with a mix of excitement and confusion. While many were glad to hear that this MCU legend would be coming back, some fans kept using the same word to describe RDJ's Doctor Doom casting: "desperate." Now, however, Marvel has seemingly managed to turn the tide, building significant hype for "Doomsday" ahead of its December 18, 2026 release.
Still, there's undoubtedly some lingering concern among fans, who will always love Downey Jr.'s unimpeachably brilliant portrayal of Tony Stark/Iron Man. According to Richtman (via ComicBookMovie), however, a recent "Doomsday" screening resulted in audiences coming away convinced that Downey's Doctor Doom is one of the MCU's best villains, and even claiming he matches Josh Brolin's Thanos.
Robert Downey Jr. isn't the only standout in Avengers: Doomsday
Anthony and Joe Russo's upcoming "Avengers" movie hasn't had the easiest road, coming as it does at the end of a troubled time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Russo Brothers couldn't do much to explain the boring "Avengers: Doomsday" teaser trailers, and fans' initial reaction to Robert Downey Jr.'s casting surely wasn't exactly what Marvel Studios was hoping for. But with less than two months before the movie's debut, the hype has ramped up, with "Doomsday" already setting a major box office record for Marvel by surpassing $50 million in pre-sales 100 days ahead of its debut. Now, with the news that RDJ's villain is being well-received by fans, the already significant hype should only intensify.
Interestingly enough, Daniel Richtman's report also claims that "Doomsday" clocks in at around 2 hours and 50 minutes, which makes it slightly shorter than the three-hour and one-minute runtime for 2019's "Avengers: Endgame." If RDJ is as good as this latest update claims, however, fans will surely want more.
Richtman also reports that James Marsden's Scott Summers/Cyclops is a standout character in the movie, which is interesting to note since the film is absolutely packed with heroes. In fact, Marvel's upcoming team-up event brings together three separate hero groups in the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men, making it difficult to imagine any one character standing out from the crowd. Regardless, this is good news for fans of what remains one of James Marsden's best roles.
This test audience reaction bodes well for the MCU's future
The only other update of note from Daniel Richtman's latest report is that the recently-screened cut of "Avengers: Doomsday" has just one post-credits scene. It could be that Marvel Studios intends to add more prior to the film's release, but for now, there's just the single scene. There's no details on what it includes, but it will no doubt serve as a tease for "Avengers: Secret Wars"
Meanwhile, production on "Secret Wars" has reportedly moved to 2027, suggesting a delay to the film could be imminent. The "Doomsday" sequel is set to debut December 17, 2027, but a delay could be costly for Marvel at a time when the studio is trying to recover from a less-than-impressive Multiverse Saga. As it stands, "Avengers: Secret Wars" is the only Marvel movie set for release in 2027, and Marvel Studios will surely want to stick to its December release date.
For now, the news that test audiences are responding well to Robert Downey Jr.'s Victor Von Doom bodes very well for "Doomsday" and its chances of getting the MCU back on track. That's especially true in light of the claim that RDJ's villain lives up to Thanos. One of the main concerns about Doom's arrival in the upcoming "Avengers" movie is that there has been little buildup to the villain, whereas Thanos' ascendence had been established since 2012's "The Avengers." Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige previously responded to this Doctor Doom concern, describing "Doomsday" as a proper introduction to the villain. Now, with audiences apparently coming away satisfied that Doom is as formidable as Thanos, things are looking good for the movie and the MCU's future.