Robert Downey Jr. and the Russo Brothers Are Returning to the MCU — But They Weren’t Cheap
The biggest news coming out of Marvel Studios’ Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con last weekend was the return of Robert Downey Jr. and the Russo brothers for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
After a difficult 2023, Marvel is pivoting away from the Kang storyline and turning to Downey Jr., its biggest star, to once again carry the Avengers franchise.
This time around, however, Downey Jr. will be portraying Victor von Doom, not Iron Man.
Photo: Marvel
As for the Russo brothers, it appeared as if their time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) had come to an end after Avengers: Endgame. Prior to that film, the duo also directed Avengers: Infinity War, Captain America: Civil War, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
While Comic-Con was a good old-fashioned Marvel family reunion, bringing Downey and Russos back to the MCU was not cheap.
Marvel Is Paying the Russos $80 Million
According to a new report from Variety, Marvel paid Joe and Anthony Russo $80 million to direct the pair of upcoming Avengers films. Their deal reportedly does not include a percentage of the films’ gross; however, they do have performance boosts at $750 million and $1 billion.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
In addition, the brothers will be producing both Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Secret Wars under their AGBO banner. Marvel has traditionally not worked with outside producers.
Downey Jr. Would Only Return if the Russos Were Directing
As for Robert Downey Jr., according to the Variety report, Marvel paid “significantly more” to secure the actor’s return.
Photographer: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Downey Jr. has long been Marvel’s highest-paid star, having appeared in ten previous MCU films.
The actor’s contract is also reportedly chock full of perks, including private jet travel, a security detail, and a “trailer encampment.”
Interestingly, Variety’s sources say that Downey Jr. would only return if the Russo brothers were directing.
Photo: Marvel
“They were the only ones he would work with,” says a source familiar with the dealmaking.
With Downey Jr. and the Russos’ return, the future of the MCU looks drastically different than it did just weeks ago. The last time the trio teamed up, they made the second-highest-grossing film of all time. Now, Marvel is betting that they can recapture that magic once again.
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