• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Robert Downey Jr. faces major backlash after lavish perks and eye-watering payday for Marvel return are leaked

Home> Celebrity> News

Published 12:56 13 Dec 2024 GMT

Robert Downey Jr. faces major backlash after lavish perks and eye-watering payday for Marvel return are leaked

The Iron Man star is set to return to the studio as Doctor Doom

Emily Brown

Emily Brown

Robert Downey Jr. has become the subject of criticism after details about his deal to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe were revealed.

Downey Jr. made a name for himself in Marvel in the role of Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, which granted him multiple big screen appearances both in his solo movies and through the Avengers instalments.

The Oppenheimer star ultimately bid goodbye to the role with 2019's Avengers: Endgame, so many fans were left surprised when he announced he'd be returning to the MCU in a completely new role.

Advert

Robert Downey Jr. will return to Marvel as Doctor Doom (Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)
Robert Downey Jr. will return to Marvel as Doctor Doom (Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

The actor confirmed he'd be bringing to life Doctor Doom for the upcoming Fantastic Four movie as he returns to the franchise along with directing duo Anthony and Joe Russo, who directed both Infinity War and Endgame.

Details of the supposed deal were reported earlier this year in a Variety article, which cited sources who'd claimed that Marvel was forking out $80 million for the Russo brothers alone.

One source, who was described as 'knowledgeable' by Variety, added that Downey Jr. has so far made between $500 million and $600 million over the course of his work with Marvel, but his deal to return is reportedly not limited to money.

Advert

The Oscar-winner is said to have been granted perks including private jet travel, dedicated security and a whole 'trailer encampment'; add-ons which have pulled in backlash from some critics.

The private jet in particular is one point of contention for internet users, with Yahoo! Life describing its usage as 'problematic'.

Downey Jr. has played Iron Man in multiple Marvel movies (Marvel Studios)
Downey Jr. has played Iron Man in multiple Marvel movies (Marvel Studios)

The publisher cited a report by Transport & Environment which reported that private planes are up to 14 times more polluting per passenger than commercial planes, and 50 times more polluting than trains.

Advert

Downey Jr.'s reported private plane has also drawn criticism from people who pointed out that he has previously been an advocate for environmentally-friendly travel.

Last year, the actor gave away six eco-modified cars from his show Downey's Dream Cars as part of an effort to promote sustainable solutions and support his FootPrint Coalition, which invests in technologies which can help tackle climate change.

Pointing to this apparent discrepancy, one Twitter user shared Variety's report and wrote: "Robert Downey Jr made a TV show detailing how awesome he is for ruining classic cars to make them run on vegetable oil.

"So [receiving] $100MM and a private jet to return to the MCU is funny. Because the only ones who think celebrities aren't hypocrites are celebrities."

Advert

Downey Jr. has expressed his excitement to return to the Marvel Universe and take on a new role, telling USA Today: "I looked into this character, and I was like, 'Wow'."

UNILAD has reached out to representatives for Downey Jr. for comment.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Kevin Winter/Getty Images/Matt Winkelmeyer

Topics: Robert Downey Jr, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man, Avengers

Emily Brown
Emily Brown

Emily Brown is UNILAD Editorial Lead at LADbible Group. She first began delivering news when she was just 11 years old - with a paper route - before graduating with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University. Emily joined UNILAD in 2018 to cover breaking news, trending stories and longer form features. She went on to become Community Desk Lead, commissioning and writing human interest stories from across the globe, before moving to the role of Editorial Lead. Emily now works alongside the UNILAD Editor to ensure the page delivers accurate, interesting and high quality content.

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Robert Downey Jr. is confirmed to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe
  • Jonathan Majors says he’s ‘heartbroken’ over Marvel casting Robert Downey Jr. as villain Dr. Doom
  • Robert Downey Jr. calls out Elon Musk telling him to ‘control his behavior’
  • Terrence Howard says Robert Downey Jr. not helping him after Iron Man recast 'broke him'

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
a day ago
  • an hour ago

    Jeremy Renner explains surprising reason he was 'so p***** off' to be revived after 'dying' from snowplow accident

    Jeremy Renner went into great detail about his out-of-body experience

    Celebrity
  • 2 hours ago

    All the new allegations that have come to light in Diddy's trial since Cassie left the stand

    Some are rather shocking

    Celebrity
  • 3 hours ago

    Selena Gomez fans think she’s addressed Hailey Bieber with Instagram post after Justin shared brutal 'insult' to wife

    Fans insisted there was a secret meaning in Selena Gomez's post

    Celebrity
  • a day ago

    Justin Bieber slammed by fans after revealing brutal insult he gave wife Hailey during 'huge fight'

    Many were left stunned over Bieber's original Instagram caption

    Celebrity