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These days, Robert Downey Jr. is famously recognized as the charismatic leader of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s initial three phases. His portrayal of Iron Man was pivotal in establishing the MCU, thanks largely to his memorable depiction of Tony Stark. After Downey Jr.’s landmark portrayal, imagining him as a villain—especially one as sinister and unsettling as his role in “In Dreams”—is quite a challenge. No, we’re not referring to Doctor Doom.
DreamWorks Pictures
In the psychological thriller “In Dreams,” Downey Jr. steps into the shoes of the main antagonist, Vivian Thompson. This particular film, one of Downey Jr.’s lesser-known ventures, was met with harsh criticism and flopped at the box office upon its 1999 release. Over the years, it hasn’t managed to gain any significant positive reevaluation or cult status. Nonetheless, it remains an intriguing entry in his career due to its unique genre and the dark character he brings to life.
The plot of “In Dreams” centers on Claire Cooper, played by Annette Bening, who experiences clairvoyant dreams, including one foreseeing her daughter’s murder. As these dreams grow more intense and ominous, Claire discovers a psychic link to the deranged serial killer Vivian Thompson, portrayed by Downey Jr. With the police dismissing her abilities and rejecting her help, Claire embarks on a dangerous mission to stop Vivian herself, setting the stage for a chilling game of cat and mouse.
While Vivian in “In Dreams” stands out as a rare villainous role for Downey Jr., it’s not entirely accurate to say he’s never played other antagonists. In 2006, he took on the bad guy role in “The Shaggy Dog” remake, though it was a lighthearted affair. He has tackled morally ambiguous characters in various films, but they don’t typically delve into full-blown villainy. Interestingly, Downey Jr. almost made his superhero debut as a villain; he was considered for the role of Scarecrow in “Batman Begins,” a part that eventually went to Cillian Murphy.
Vivian Thompson is Downey Jr.’s only serious villain
DreamWorks Pictures
For Marvel enthusiasts, the anticipation is building as Downey Jr. is set to portray the MCU’s version of Doctor Doom, though details on this role remain under wraps. In the comics, Doctor Doom sometimes exhibits anti-hero traits, leaving room for Downey Jr.’s portrayal to explore similar complexities. For now, Vivian in “In Dreams” remains Downey Jr.’s most significant villain role, even if the film itself is largely forgettable.
It’s not entirely accurate to say Downey Jr. has never played any other villains besides Vivian. He was the bad guy in the 2006 remake of “The Shaggy Dog,” but obviously that was a pretty low stakes affair. He’s portrayed people of questionable morality in a number of other films, though they didn’t typically cross over into outright villainy in the traditional sense. Interestingly, he nearly made his superhero movie debut as a bad guy. Downey Jr. lost out on a huge Batman villain role: He was in the running to play Scarecrow in “Batman Begins” before the part ultimately went to Cillian Murphy.
Of course, as everyone with even a passing interest in Marvel movies knows, Downey Jr. is set to play the upcoming MCU version of Doctor Doom, but we don’t yet know exactly how that’s going to pan out. Doctor Doom sometimes veers into anti-hero territory in the comics, so it’s entirely possible that Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom could follow suit. As it stands, Vivian in “In Dreams” is Downey Jr.’s only villain role of any real substance — even if it’s wasted on a completely forgettable film.
