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Marvel is paying Avengers: Endgame directors and Robert Downey Jr. a lot of money to save the MCU

There's a lot of money riding on the comebacks that could save Marvel Studios and the Avengers

Published on Tue Jul 30 2024

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As announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Marvel Studios has a plan to right the ship after a disappointing few years, and it’s going back to some trusted veterans of the MCU to make sure it happens: Joe and Anthony Russo are returning to direct the next two Avengers movies — 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday, and 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars — with Robert Downey Jr. returning to the franchise for the first time since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame to play not fan-favorite character Tony Stark, but a different fan-favorite: villain Victor Von Doom.

The combined announcements of each return was greeted with an astounding amount of enthusiasm both in the San Diego Convention Center’s Hall H and elsewhere, reigniting fan enthusiasm for a brand that was beginning to look a little… shaky. But at what cost? Apparently, somewhere north of $200 million, if one report is to be believed.

Variety is reporting that sources claim that the Russos are receiving $80 million to direct both Avengers movies, with “performance escalators” that will earn the brothers more money once the movies break the $750 million and $1 billion barriers at the box office. (For context, Avengers: Infinity War made $2.052 billion, and Avengers: Endgame made $2.799 billion.)

Downey, meanwhile, is being paid “significantly more” according to sources reporting to Variety, with his deal also including “perks that include private jet travel, dedicated security and a whole ‘trailer encampment’,” the outlet is reporting. It’s currently unclear how many movies Downey’s current deal to play Doctor Doom will cover, although most assume it is at least the two Avengers movies. Notably, Variety’s reporting also reveals that sources are claiming that Downey only agreed to return to the MCU if the Russos were directing the project.

Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are expected to begin shooting in the UK in mid-2025.

The MCU debut of Doctor Doom means the end of the Kang dynasty. apparently.

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Graeme McMillan: Popverse Editor Graeme McMillan (he/him) has been writing about comics, culture, and comics culture on the internet for close to two decades at this point, which is terrifying to admit. He completely understands if you have problems understanding his accent.