In a bid to reclaim box office supremacy, Marvel is rolling out the red carpet for its most bankable stars with record-shattering deals to bring Robert Downey Jr. and directors Anthony and Joe Russo back for not one but two new Avengers films. Sources confirm Marvel has placed monumental bets totaling over $160 million to reunite the creative forces behind its highest-grossing titles in a bid to stabilize its cinematic universe with proven blockbuster magic.
I’ve learned the Russo brothers stand to earn a mammoth $80 million payload to wield directorial duties on Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars through their production company AGBO. This represents an unprecedented level of creative control for the in-house filmmakers, who will also produce.
But even that nine-figure compensation pales in comparison to Robert Downey Jr.’s payday, which I’m told will significantly surpass the $80 million mark to take on the anticipated fan-favorite role of Doctor Doom. According to insiders, perks like private air travel and a devoted security detail have been thrown in to sweeten the deal for the beloved Iron Man star’s highly-anticipated villainous swerve.
A source close to negotiations revealed to me that Downey was only willing to rejoin if the Russos signed on, underscoring their tight bond from powerhouse hits like The Avengers and Avengers: Endgame. The duo helped earn Marvel close to $5 billion at the global box office and resurrected Downey’s career – it’s no wonder he sees them as his cinematic soulmates.
This massive investment comes as Marvel looks to course-correct following recent underperformers like Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. Box office analysts I’ve spoken to believe Marvel is hoping lightning strikes twice with a formula that already delivered some of the biggest movies of all time.
By casting Downey in the signature comic book role of Doctor Doom rather than reprising Iron Man, Marvel aims to satisfy die-hard fans while still surprising them. Production will also relocate to the UK, adding an international flavor likely to intrigue global moviegoing audiences.
When Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars commence principal photography in London next year, all eyes will be on whether this reunion of talents can work its box office magic once more. For Marvel, the stakes have never been higher to reclaim its throne as the top-grossing franchise in Hollywood.
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