Every July, thousands of fans flock to San Diego, California, for the largest comic book convention in the United States — Comic-Con. Comic-Con features massive events and huge announcements, and it is something fans literally camp overnight for. For years, one of the most in-demand events has been the Marvel Studios panel. Last year, fans were devastated when Marvel announced that it would be skipping the convention.
However, the studio giant returned to Comic-Con this year, and the event did not disappoint.
On Saturday, July 27, Marvel fans were excited when the Russo brothers announced that they had the new lead for the next Avengers movie. Then, those same fans were shocked when a man in a mask walked onto the stage. The man took off his mask, and it was none other than Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr!
But the famed actor will not be reprising his original Marvel role. Instead, he will play Doctor Victor Von Doom in the fifth Avengers film, Avengers: Doomsday, which is slated to be released on May 1, 2026.
Robert Downey Jr as Victor Von Doom for Avengers Doomsday
Robert Downey Jr as Victor Von Doom for Avengers Doomsday pic.twitter.com/6kNmsN2y9h
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) July 28, 2024
The next Avengers film was originally supposed to be Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. That was all thrown into chaos in March 2023, when actor Jonathan Majors—who played Kang in the MCU — was arrested for assaulting his then-girlfriend. Marvel ended up dropping the actor and had to completely revamp its planned storylines and upcoming films.
While many fans were excited to hear that Downey would be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, some were disappointed in Disney and Marvel. Some even accused Disney of racism.
Related: Marvel Star Sentenced For Brutal Assault, Avoids Jail Time
Godfrey, a well-known comedian, said that Disney and Marvel had worked with Robert Downey Jr., even though he has a history of legal troubles and arrests. He said that Downey Jr. was given the chance to redeem himself because he is white.
Comedian Godfrey calls out Robert Downey Jr. for having a criminal record and says white actors get chances to redeem themselves as he reacts to Marvel/Disney replacing Jonathan Majors with Robert Downey Jr. as the new main villain in the MCU.
Comedian Godfrey calls out Robert Downey Jr. for having a criminal record and says white actors get chances to redeem themselves as he reacts to Marvel/Disney replacing Jonathan Majors with Robert Downey Jr. as the new main villain in the MCU. pic.twitter.com/bopstXpfzN
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) July 30, 2024
Fans immediately called Godfrey out for some of the arguments he tried to make. First, it is important to note that, yes, during the late nineties and early 2000s, Downey was arrested multiple times for drug possession and spent time in prison. However, he was not immediately welcomed back in Hollywood. He was blackballed for more than a decade, unable to get anything more than a small role.
What dude talking about, RDJ was blacklisted from Hollywood and it took him damn near 15 years to work his way back up by doing small roles
What dude talking about, RDJ was blacklisted from Hollywood and it took him damn near 15 years to work his way back up by doing small roles
— Too Trill (@makaveliprince) July 30, 2024
Related: Disgraced Marvel Star Faces Massive New Lawsuit
Other commenters thought that it was very important to point out the differences in the legal issues both actors faced. Downey Jr. was dealing with a severe drug addiction. Jonathan Majors was arrested and convicted of domestic assault.
At a time when society is acknowledging that drug abuse is a disease rather than just some inherent flaw, WHY would Godfrey come on the people dem internet & compare a violent crime to heroin addiction??
Also, the recency of Majors’ conviction plays a part as well. But race is the easiest factor to point out so we’ll just go with that.
At a time when society is acknowledging that drug abuse is a disease rather than just some inherent flaw, WHY would Godfrey come on the people dem internet & compare a violent crime to heroin addiction??
Also, the recency of Majors’ conviction plays a part as well. But race is…
— Atticus Winch (@atticus_winch1) July 30, 2024
Related: ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Writer Un-Cancels Johnny Depp, Invites Him Back for ‘Pirates 6’
One person even pointed out that Jonathan Majors was treated the same way Johnny Depp was. When Depp’s ex-wife Amber Heard accused him of domestic abuse, both Disney and Warner Bros. dropped him. He lost his role as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean 6 and was replaced as Gellert Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts franchise.
Faulty comparison. RDJ was blacklisted for over a decade.
The better comparison is Johnny Depp who was accused of abusing Amber Heard, but had no police report filed against him, and he was fired from every project not just with Disney.
Majors actually had a police report filed against him.
They had text messages the confirmed he did what he did and he left actual marks on his girlfriend while Heard applied her marks with theatrical make up.
Majors was only fired nearly a year later ONLY after he was found guilty in a court of law.
Depp, though found not guilty….still has not been hired back by Disney.
Faulty comparison. RDJ was blacklisted for over a decade.
The better comparison is Johnny Depp who was accused of abusing Amber Heard, but had no police report filed against him, and he was fired from every project not just with Disney.
Majors actually had a police report filed…— Matt Roberts (@RecruitBoss) July 30, 2024
One person who definitely agreed with Godfrey was Jonathan Majors himself. Not long after the Doctor Doom announcement was made, Majors said that he was happy for Robert Downey Jr. but “heartbroken” that Marvel decided to end Kang’s story.
Then, he threw in that he wished he was given the same chance to redeem himself, like RDJ and Ezra Miller had.
Ezra Miller — who stars as The Flash in the DC movies — has had a number of legal issues over the years. Most recently, he was arrested for felony burglary in Vermont. He was also accused of stalking a teenage girl. DC received a lot of backlash when they chose to continue working with him. Miller is not associated with Disney and Disney is not working with Miller on any projects.
Do you think Disney and Marvel were unfair to Jonathan Majors? Let us know in the comments!
Can we stop with Race Card. Disney is one of few companies that hire a diversity of actors.
Hurting yourself with drugs is different to allegedly hitting a woman,so I feel this guy is talking rubbish