Actor David Harbour is walking back comments he made earlier this year that appeared to spoil a major plot point in the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday. Harbour, who reprises his role as the Red Guardian, is now denying that he revealed a crucial detail about Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of Doctor Doom.
Fans have speculated heavily about how the MCU would handle Victor von Doom, especially with Robert Downey Jr. confirmed to play the character. A persistent theory suggested that Doom would be a variant of Tony Stark, Downey's previous MCU character. Harbour's earlier remarks seemed to confirm this.
In August, a Variety interview featured Harbour seemingly stating, while pointing, "You… are Tony Stark." This quote strongly implied that Doom's face would be revealed in Avengers: Doomsday and be recognizable as Stark, connecting the new villain to the MCU's past. However, Harbour has since clarified his position.
Speaking with ScreenRant at New York Comic Con, Harbour expressed skepticism about the interpretation of his earlier statement. "Did I say that I said that?" he questioned, adding, "I think you guys make this stuff up." He suggested that the actual line involved the Red Guardian counting down from five, with "something very important" happening afterward.
"I don't know about the Tony Stark thing," Harbour told ScreenRant. He posited that the quote might have been a misunderstanding or the result of Marvel Studios' intervention to prevent spoilers, humorously comparing it to Benedict Cumberbatch's past role in managing Tom Holland's interview statements.
Regardless of Harbour's clarification, the mystery surrounding Doctor Doom's identity and portrayal in Avengers: Doomsday continues. The film is set to be a major MCU event, bringing together established characters like Steve Rogers and Thor with newcomers and characters from previous Marvel film franchises.
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to premiere in theaters on December 18.