Robert Downey Jr. knows how to keep a secret, even from his good friend Jeremy Renner.
During an interview with Us Weekly, Renner revealed he was caught off guard by the announcement of Downey’s big—and very unexpected—return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Renner said that as soon as heard the news, he immediately sent a group text to the OG Avengers cast and demanded answers.
“I had no idea,” said Renner, who portrayed Clint Barton/Hawkeye across a variety off films and his own Disney+ series. “This son of a bitch didn’t say anything to me, and we’re good friends. [I] started blowing up [Downey’s] phone. I’m like, ‘What’s going on? Are you hiding this from us?’ I don’t know.”
Although he was understandably shocked by the Downey-MCU news, Renner insisted he was happy for his pal and former Avengers co-star.
“That’s exciting news, man,” he recalled telling Downey. “I’m really, really excited about it.”
Marvel boss Kevin Feige announced Downey’s MCU return during San Diego Comic-Con, roughly five years after Downey appeared in his final Marvel film as Tony Stark. However, the 59-year-old actor won’t reprise his beloved Iron Man role in the next two Avengers flicks; he’ll instead play the antagonist, Doctor Doom, aka Victor von Doom, in Avengers: Doomsday and its follow-up Avengers: Secret Wars. The former is set to premiere in May 2026, while the latter will hit theaters one year later. MCU veterans Joe and Anthony Russo have been tapped to direct both projects.
The Russo brothers teased the films during the Marvel panel at Comic-Con, saying there was “one very, very important character that is required to do Secret Wars justice.”
“If we’re going to bring Doctor Doom to the screen—he is one of the most complex characters, most entertaining characters in all of fiction,” Joe Russo told the audience while a group of masked, green-cloaked men stood in the background. “If we’re going to do this…then we are going to need the greatest actor in the world. As proof of the unimaginable possibilities of the Marvel Universe, we give you the one person who could play Victor von Doom.”
At that moment, one of the masked men stepped forward and revealed himself to be Downey.
“New mask, same task,” the actor said. “What can I tell you? I like playing complicated characters.”