The accent Robert Downey Jr. has adopted for Doctor Doom in the latest Avengers: Doomsday trailer is shocking. The announcement that the legendary actor who opened the Marvel Cinematic Universe setting in Iron Man would also play Doom was met with skepticism. However, the performance he gives the infamous overlord already astounds, giving fans a reason to be excited.
It has been two years since Marvel Studios first confirmed Robert Downey Jr. would play Doctor Doom. However, this was seen by some as a publicity stunt to counter the declining returns of the MCU. Even before the announcement, there had been rumors of Downey Jr. returning to the MCU as an Iron Man variant.
Another concern with his return was how synonymous Robert Downey Jr. and Tony Stark had become in the public eye. Few would deny Downey Jr. is a great actor and has a gift for vanishing into his roles. However, it was feared that audiences would not accept him as a new, unique character. Even with the mask of Doctor Doom obscuring his famous features, there could be some tell to give away the masquerade.
This was likely given how Hollywood frequently unmasks characters. Indeed, this was an issue in the Iron Man movies, where Tony Stark’s mask retracted frequently to show Robert Downey Jr.’s face. This was of particular concern among comics fans given the character of Doctor Doom had taken a vow never to reveal his face to the world. Thankfully, the Avengers: Doomsday trailer confirms a reverence for the comics canon and allows Robert Downey Jr. to showcase his range with the voice he gives his new character.
Why Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom already feels distinct from Iron Man
The latest Avengers: Doomsday trailer opens with the words of Doctor Doom. “Something’s coming,” intones a deep voice with a Slavic accent. “Something we may not be able to deter. Before this day is done, we shall be faced with an unthinkable decision.” This sequence closes with the first view of a kneeling Doctor Doom in profile.
The accent is a notable detail in several respects. In the comics, Doctor Doom is the ruler of Latveria; a fictional nation located somewhere in eastern Europe. He is also of Romani heritage, having been raised as part of a nomadic band. Despite this being a key aspect of the character, it has never been emphasized in earlier Fantastic Four movies. Indeed, most of the animated series featuring Doctor Doom did not give him an accurate accent. This makes it somewhat shocking that Avengers: Doomsday gets it right, despite the MCU’s generally honoring the comics well.
Given Doctor Doom hides his face behind an immobile mask, the voice is the most important aspect of the character for any actor to consider. It is clear from the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer to feature Doctor Doom that Robert Downey Jr. has taken this into consideration. Apart from the accent, the voice we hear is regal, instantly demanding attention.
The voice of Doom is also lower in register and far removed from Downey Jr.’s usual tenor tones. This shows the craft that went into developing the MCU’s Doctor Doom and suggests the quality of the film to come.
Originally reported by Matt Morrison for SuperHeroHype.
