Robert Downey Jr. and filmmaker Joe Russo have shared new details about the making of Avengers: Infinity War, disclosing that at least two cameo appearances were filmed for the 2018 blockbuster but ultimately left out of the finished cut.
The disclosures came during a joint interview with CBR, part of the ongoing press rollout for 2026's Avengers: Doomsday, which reunites the Russo brothers with much of the franchise's ensemble cast this December.
Cut Scenes Resurface
Downey Jr. told CBR that a cameo from Jon Favreau, reprising his role as Tony Stark's confidant Happy Hogan, was filmed and later removed from Infinity War. “We had a Happy Hogan cameo in this scene that we reshot, then we 86'd it,” Downey Jr. said. Favreau's character was not absent from the franchise for long, subsequently appearing in Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Deadpool & Wolverine.
Russo, who directed Infinity War alongside his brother Anthony, also disclosed that he had filmed his own bit part as a reporter confronting Tony Stark and Pepper Potts in a Central Park sequence — footage that similarly did not make the final cut.
Setting the Stage for Doomsday
The remarks arrive as Marvel Studios ramps up promotion for Avengers: Doomsday, the studio's Phase Six tentpole and Downey Jr.'s first MCU role since stepping away from Iron Man. The actor was confirmed in 2024 to be taking on the part of Victor Von Doom for both Avengers: Doomsday and its 2027 follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars.
The production replaced the previously announced Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, a decision made after star Jonathan Majors, who had been cast as Kang the Conqueror, became embroiled in legal difficulties. Studio chief Kevin Feige has said the creative pivot toward Doctor Doom predated those events, though the franchise has not yet clarified the in-story fate of the Kang character. Marketing materials pointing to a Multiversal incursion narrative suggest the film may address that question directly.
Doomsday carries an expansive ensemble that includes returning veterans such as Chris Hemsworth's Thor alongside recent arrivals like Lewis Pullman's Bob/Sentry and Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards. The film also features performers from 20th Century Studios' X-Men franchise, among them James Marsden as Cyclops and Patrick Stewart as Professor X.
Feige has characterized the narrative arc following Secret Wars as a “reset” that will consolidate the MCU into a “singular timeline” — language that has led observers to speculate that this film cycle may mark the exit point for several established characters, echoing the send-offs given to select Fox legacy characters in 2024's Deadpool & Wolverine.
Commercial Outlook
Anticipation for the film has intensified following the debut of a new Special Look at D23 Expo and reports of brisk advance ticket sales. Some analysts project that Doomsday could exceed the performance of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which has already grossed more than $2.2 billion worldwide in 2026 and remains in active release.
Looking ahead, Russo confirmed that production on Avengers: Secret Wars is set to begin in the near future, though industry sources indicate filming has been placed on a temporary hold for reasons that have not been made public.
Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18, 2026.
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