Marvel Studios reports Fantastic Four flop and announces $100 million deal for Robert Downey Jr

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige said the July 2025 release *Fantastic Four: First Steps* earned about US$ 521.9 million worldwide, a modest figure compared with the record‑breaking domestic opening of *Spider‑Man: No Way Home*, which surpassed *Avengers: Endgame* and reached roughly US$ 932 million globally in its first weekend. Feige noted that success breeds further success and contrasted the film’s performance with lower‑grossing titles such as DC’s *Supergirl* (US$ 126 million) and *Superman* (US$ 618.7 million). In a separate development, Robert Downey Jr. will return to the MCU as Doctor Doom in two upcoming Avengers films directed by the Russo brothers. Downey is set to receive an unprecedented US$ 100 million for the two movies, with the first slated for release on 18 December 2025. The combined budget for the Doctor Doom and *Secret Wars* projects is estimated at US$ 600 million, while top salaries for Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans are reported at US$ 40 million each.