What seemed like an unlikely casting dream for one cast actors to play multiple MCU roles, and the roles have usually been distinct enough that there isn’t any confusion. Such as Gemma Chan playing Minn-Erva and Sersi and Linda Cardellini playing Laura Barton and Lylla the Otter, there are VFX and makeup in place that disguise them.
When an MCU character dies, the actor’s time in the MCU is usually ended, unless they are recast in a different role. Sometimes an actor’s dream casting feels tangible, while other times it feels merely like a wish. Ben Mendelsohn first debuted as the Skrull Talos in 2019’s Captain Marvel, reprising his role in 2023’s Secret Invasion. His character died in the Disney+ series and Mendelsohn expressed interest in playing a famous Marvel villain a few months afterward. Though his wish at the time seemed unlikely, a casting announcement later in the year showed just how possible it actually was.
Robert Downey Jr's MCU Casting Proves Ben Mendelsohn's Doctor Doom Dream Was Way More Possible Than It Seemed
Mendelsohn had expressed his interest in playing Doctor Doom in the MCU after Talos’ death. Although Marvel has recast actors before, this wish didn’t seem likely because of the situation at the time. Jonathan Majors had just been fired from his Kang role and the next big villain of the Multiverse Saga was still up in the air. It also felt like even when Doom made his inevitable MCU debut, the MCU would go with a completely new actor. However, this was not the case as the studio made a bombshell casting announcement last year.
Many fans believed that the actor’s time in the MCU was up after the death of his iconic Iron Man character, so having him back in the franchise so soon is an interesting tactic.
The most highly-anticipated instance of an MCU actor being recast in a different role is surely Robert Downey Jr.’s debut as the villain Dr. Victor von Doom. Many fans believed that the actor’s time in the MCU was up after the death of his iconic Iron Man character, so having him back in the franchise so soon is an interesting tactic. Having this information in mind, Mendelsohn’s Doom dream suddenly feels much more logical since the actor who eventually ended up playing Doom also played a previous MCU character who died.
Why Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom Casting Does Make The Most Sense
Downey Jr. is a Marvel icon and there’s no doubt that the studio would jump on the chance to work with him again whenever possible. No matter what role he was recast in, his MCU return was sure to garner media attention that the studio knew would work in their favor. Though some may see this as a cop-out of Marvel not wanting to find a new actor, it makes sense that the studio would want to work with someone that they’ve built trust with for nearly two decades.
Iron Man’s Complete MCU Timeline Explained
The MCU’s Tony Stark lived a dramatic and action-packed life as both the genius billionaire playboy and as the armored hero known as Iron Man.
The reason why Downey Jr.’s recast will work so well is because his roles will be complete polar opposites. Iron Man is an icon of the MCU and the franchise’s biggest hero, while Doctor Doom is a complete villain. It’s going to be interesting to see how Downey Jr. pulls off playing an evil role considering fans have come to know him as the ultimate hero throughout the MCU thus far. Knowing that Doom often wears his mask, fans can purely focus on Downey Jr.’s new role without having to worry about visual confusion.
- Created by
- Kevin Feige
- Cast
- Jonathan Majors
- First Film
- Iron Man
- Films
- Deadpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, Blade (2025), The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Avengers: Doomsday (2026), Avengers: Secret Wars
- First TV Show
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
- TV Shows
- Agatha: Coven of Chaos, Ironheart, Daredevil: Born Again, Wakanda, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Marvel Zombies, Wonder Man, Vision Quest
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount's Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
