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a14 people & arts
Monday 29 July 2024
Robert Downey Jr. is returning to ‘Avengers’ films as a villain in 1 of

Marvel's Comic-Con twists

By KAITLYN HUAMANI will be directed by Joe and in love with comics.” that President Thaddeus The movie will begin filming
Associated Press Anthony Russo. The brothers Saturday's session comes “Thunderbolt” Ross, played on Tuesday in London, Feige
Marvel Studios returned to guided the “Avengers” after Marvel skipped the by Ford, is hoping to rebuild said.
San Diego Comic-Con with franchise through its convention last year due to the Avengers with Mackie’s He said the film will hit
dancing Deadpool variants sprawling storyline capped the Hollywood strikes, which Sam Wilson. It also showed theaters in almost exactly
and a choir for a panel that by “Avengers: Endgame” in prevented writers and actors Ford’s character transform one year in July 2025.
included news about the Following a video director
next two “Avengers” films Matt Shakman created
and surprise guests, including specifically for Comic-Con
Harrison Ford and Robert that featured the cast in
Downey Jr. full ’60s glory, he and Feige
Downey is returning to revealed the official title of
Marvel's films, but not as the film, “The Fantastic Four:
Iron Man. He'll play the villain First Steps.”
Victor Von Doom, or Doctor The session included no
Doom, in at least one of mention of Jonathan Majors,
the upcoming “Avengers” who played the villain Kang
movies. Downey kicked off the Conqueror and was
Marvel's movie successes previously a major part of
in “Iron Man” and played Marvel’s “Avengers” plans.
the popular character in The actor was fired by the
nine films, but on Saturday studio after he was convicted
appeared wearing Dr. in December of assaulting
Doom's mask and a green a former girlfriend. He was
cloak. sentenced to a yearlong
“New mask, same task," counseling program in April
Downey said to frenzied and avoided jail time.
cheers. Marvel already took over
The Russo brothers, who Hall H on Thursday with an
will be directing the movie electric panel celebrating
featuring Downey, said his “Deadpool & Wolverine,”
appearance in the film is in which the audience was
“proof of the unimaginable treated to a full screening
possibilities in the Marvel and surprise guests joining
multi-universe.” stars Ryan Reynolds and
The reveal capped a jubilant Kevin Feige, from left, Joe Russo, Robert Downey Jr., and Anthony Russo attend a panel for Marvel Hugh Jackman on stage.
return by Marvel to Comic- Studios during Comic-Con International on Saturday, July 27, 2024, in San Diego. The mounting enthusiasm for
Con's Hall H. Associated Press. the film at Comic-Con was
Marvel Studios President reflected across the country
Kevin Feige kicked off the as the fans rushed to see it
panel by saying that due in theaters, securing the film
to this weekend's success of 2019 that included the death from speaking on panels. into the Red Hulk. as the new record holder for
“Deadpool & Wolverine,” the of Downey's Tony Stark/Iron The cast of “Captain Ford joined the panel after the Thursday preview for an
sprawling Marvel Cinematic Man character. America: Brave New World” fans were treated to clips R-rated movie. The comic
Universe had now topped “When we directed — Giancarlo Esposito, from the movie and flexed book film sold an estimated
$30 billion in box-office ”Avengers: Endgame," Joe Tim Blake Nelson, Danny his muscles to the roaring $38.5 million worth of
earnings. In a nod to a scene and I truly believed that it Ramirez and Anthony crowd. He also expressed movie tickets from preview
in the movie, a choir sang was the end of the road for Mackie — joined the stage excitement over his latest screenings Thursday.
Madonna's “Like a Prayer” us in the Marvel Cinematic first and teased details role, saying, “I am delighted, The “Deadpool & Wolverine”
before Feige spoke. Universe because we had about the upcoming film. and proud to become success woke up a sleepy
“Deadpool & Wolverine,” put all of our passion, our Esposito revealed that he a member of the Marvel year for Marvel and assuaged
released Thursday, has love, our imagination into will be playing the villain, Universe.” worries about its box-office
already broken one record “The Winter Soldier,” into Seth Voelker, also known as The cast and director of underperformance in late
and could shatter more in “Civil War,” into “Infinity Sidewinder. “Thunderbolts(asterisk)” also 2023. The superhero factory
its opening weekend. Feige War,” climaxing all of it with When asked about what surprised fans with a short hit a record low in November
used Saturday's panel to “Avengers: Endgame,” it was like to join a Marvel clip from the movie. Julia with the launch of “The
chart the course ahead Anthony Russo said. “That project, Esposito said it was Louis-Dreyfus, Florence Pugh, Marvels,” which opened
for the MCU, revealing four movie run was incredible a “dream come true. Sebastian Stan and David with just $47 million.q
Ford's character in the next and it left us creatively spent “When your dreams come Harbour (in full costume
“Captain America” film with all of our emotions on true and you get the call, and speaking in character
and revealing “Avengers: the film. In the time since, you walk through the door,” as the Red Guardian at
Secret Wars and “Avengers: through a very special he continued. “I have a first) stormed the stage and
Doomsday” as the titles of story, Joe and I have come great deal of gratitude for all shared some more details
the next two films in the epic to potentially see a road the fans who really had this about their characters.
superhero team-up series. forward with you.” dream come true, because The film is slated to be
“Doomsday” will hit theaters They called “Secret Wars” it was fan casting that linked released in May 2025.
in 2026. the “biggest story that us together.” The final film teased at the
Feige said all the actors Marvel Comics ever told,” The cast then stepped panel was “The Fantastic
introduced Saturday would and Joe said it was the first aside to share a scene Four,” starring Pedro Pascal,
appear in the upcoming comic book run he read as from the movie on the big Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn
“Avengers” movies, which a child that made him “fall screen, which revealed and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.