Robert Downey Jr is set to become the highest paid movie actor of all time, with his latest role earning him ‘significantly more’ than £62million.

It was announced on Monday that the 59 year-old actor is making a surprise return to the Marvel Universe, but not as his much-loved Iron Man character, but as the Fantastic Four villain Doctor Doom in two new Avengers movies.

The Oscar-winning Oppenheimer star will reportedly net more than £62million in salary, with further payouts expected in ‘performance escalators’ which will give him a share of box office revenue.

Other perks in Downey Jr’s contract include private jet travel, dedicated security and a whole ‘trailer encampment’.

This will see actor leapfrog the salaries of Bruce Willis in Sixth Sense, Tom Cruise in the Top Gun reboot, and Will Smith in Men in Black 3, as the highest-paid movie star of all time.

Robert Downey Jr is set to become the highest paid movie actor of all time, with his latest role earning him ‘significantly more’ than £62million

It was announced on Monday that the 59 year-old actor is making a surprise return to the Marvel Universe, but not as his much-loved Iron Man character (pictured), but as the Fantastic Four villain Doctor Doom in two new Avengers movies

Downey Jr is the highest-paid member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, earning £400million as Tony Stark’s Iron Man starring in four Avengers movies, three Iron Man outings and cameos in The Incredible Hulk, Captain America: Civil War and Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Even though his Tony Stark character is now dead, the franchise’s multiverse storytelling will allow him to return.

His latest role as Doctor Doom was announced on Monday at Comic Con in San Diego.

Wearing a striking green suit, he was welcomed to the stage by the Russo Brothers, who will also earn £62million, to direct the next two installments of the Avengers.

Although Marvel has long been the most dominant brand in global cinema, recent movies such as the Ant-Man sequel and The Marvels flopped.

Movie execs are hoping that with Downey Jr back it will herald the return to billion pound box office takings for the franchise.

The previous two Avengers movies were shot in the US, but the new outings will be filmed in London beginning in the spring of 2025.

Robert Downey Jr. surprises Hall H to announce his return to MCU

The Oscar-winning Oppenheimer star will reportedly net more than £62million in salary, with further payouts expected in ‘performance escalators’ which will give him a share of box office revenue