Downey, Russo say Avengers: Doomsday will avoid letdown

Actor Robert Downey Jr. and director Joe Russo have expressed confidence that the upcoming Marvel film "Avengers: Doomsday" will meet high audience expectations, addressing the challenge of following the blockbuster successes of "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame." The film, scheduled for a global theatrical release in December, marks Downey's return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this time portraying the iconic villain Doctor Doom.

In a recent interview, Downey emphasized that the film's potential success stems from its overall structure and ensemble cast rather than his individual performance. He described a core creative element within "Doomsday" and its planned sequel as the "only antidote" to avoiding a letdown after the climactic earlier films, noting the team had labored extensively to achieve this. Director Joe Russo, who co-directed the film with his brother Anthony Russo, echoed this sentiment, calling the production process obviously harder due to increased stakes. He stated the film contains many surprises and described "Doomsday" as the most emotionally complex and mature entry in the franchise to date.

Downey's casting as Victor von Doom, also known...