SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: Robert Downey Jr. speaks onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in … [+]
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has not seen the last of Robert Downey Jr. The actor, best known for playing Iron Man, will officially return to the comic book films as supervillain Doctor Doom for two Avengers movies: Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige announced the news during Marvel’s San Diego Comic-Con panel on July 27, 2024. He also confirmed that the Russo Brothers (Anthony Russo and Joseph Russo) will direct Avengers: Doomsday, slated for a May 2026 release.
Downey Jr.’s identity was hidden behind Doctor Doom’s iconic mask and green cloak. When he emerged on stage, he took the mask off, and the crowd went wild.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: Robert Downey Jr. speaks onstage at the Marvel Studios Panel during … [+]
“Same mask, new task,” Downey told the audience from the stage. The actor will be headed to the dark side as longtime Fantastic Four villain Victor von Doom, who will also appear in Avengers: Secret Wars in May 2027.
The official Marvel Studios X account quickly posted the exciting development on social media. “The Russo Brothers return to direct Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. Only in theaters May 2026. #SDCC,” the caption read.
“I like playing complicated characters,” the actor told reporters, according to BBC News.
Marvel Fans React to Robert Downey Jr’s Shocking Return As Dr. Doom
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: Robert Downey Jr. speaks onstage at the Marvel Studios Panel during … [+]
Moments after the news broke, MCU fans went on social media and Reddit to share their thoughts. Much of the discussion revolved around how Downey Jr. could portray Tony Stark in some universes and Doctor Doom in others and what this could mean for other characters, like Spider-Man.
“Robert Downey Jr coming back to the MCU as Doctor Doom is funny when you realise he died as Tony Stark to save Spider-Man just to comeback and send him back to Tony!” one user noted on X, adding that in an alternative universe in the comics, Iron and Doctor Doom actually “swap bodies.”
“And to everyone that’s not happy with the casting just know there’s actually an alternative universe in comics where Ironman and Doctor Doom swap bodies, so it makes sense,” they continued.
In the comment section, one person noted that just because “there is a comic that this happens” doesn’t mean it makes sense. Meanwhile, some fans praised the casting and called it “genius.”
“An EVIL Tony Stark Varíant as Doctor Doom is F*cking GENIUS! No wonder Russos came back! Whoever dreamed this up deserves a raise,” one fan wrote on X.
A Reddit thread gaining traction is this Marvel megathread, in which some fans suggested that casting Downey Jr. as Dr. Doom was an “odd choice.”
“I’m sure RDJ is gonna kill it but casting him is such an odd choice. Harrison Ford playing Red Hulk and not Doom is crazy,” one user wrote. Another added, “RDJ Doom is either the most creatively bankrupt decision ever or it’s going to be the coolest sh*t we’ve ever seen.”
What seems clear is bringing Downey Jr. back into the MCU is a strategic casting move. As one fan points out, it could help fans forget about Kang and give them something (or at least someone) to look forward do.
“Audience will be hyped about RDJ and forget about Kang. Mission accomplished for Marvel and Disney,” another person commented in the thread.
There are a few ways Avengers: Doomsday can approach killing off Kang’s storyline. This fan on X offered an interesting idea straight from the original Secret Wars comics.
“If they want a clever way to remove Kang from the MCU, I hope they recreate this moment from the original Secret Wars comics of Doom just vaporizing Kang in an instant with a Doom-controlled Ultron,” a fan wrote.
Downey Jr. made his MCU debut in 2008’s Iron Man, appearing in ten films throughout the franchise, including Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3, The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers, Captian America: Civil War, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
The 59-year-old actor’s last appearance was in Avengers: Endgame (2019), in which his character sacrificed himself to defeat Thanos and save the universe. The actor recently shared that he would be open to returning to Marvel. “Happily. It’s too integral a part of my DNA,” he recently told Esquire Magazine in April 2024.
“That role chose me. And look, I always say, ‘Never, ever bet against Kevin Feige.’ It is a losing bet. He’s the house. He will always win,” he added.
Avengers: Doomsday was originally called The Kang Dynasty. However, the studio changed the name after Jonathan Majors was fired from the MCU following his domestic violence trial and conviction last year.
Stay tuned to learn more about Avengers: Doomsday.