Outside of the MCU, Downey has fronted Guy Ritchie’s excellent ‘Sherlock Holmes’ series, given a stellar performance opposite Robert Duvall in The Judge, and, of course, captured a ‘Best Supporting Actor’ Oscar for his role as Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.

After hours of literally nothing but shots of chairs, Marvel’s big Avengers: Doomsdaycasting announcement ended with an appearance by Robert Downey Jr., who’s returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after five years of “retirement” to play the new Doctor Doom in the film.