Robert Downey Jr. is officially returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, just not as Iron Man.
Marvel Studios announced during its Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 last night that the fan-favorite actor will be portraying Doctor Doom in the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday (formerly titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty). Downey’s Doctor Doom will also be in Avengers: Secret Wars.
“New mask, same task,” Downey told the audience from the stage. While Marvel was sparse on details, some fans have theorized that Downey will be portraying a variant of Tony Stark who became Doctor Doom. Could he make his debut in the forthcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps? The titular family was confirmed at SDCC to appear in both Avengers movies, so I suppose anything is possible.
“New mask, same task.”
Robert Downey Jr. surprises Hall H to announce his return to the MCU as Doctor Doom. pic.twitter.com/j1SEjzse3p
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
Joe and Anthony Russo were also confirmed as the directors for Doomsday and Secret Wars, marking their return to the MCU for the first time since Avengers: Endgame.
“If we’re going to bring Victor Von Doom to the screen — he is one of the more complex characters in all of comics … this is potentially one of the more entertaining characters in all of fiction,” said Joe Russo. “If we’re going to do this … then we are going to need the greatest actor in the world.”
Stephen McFeely, who co-wrote several MCU movies with Christopher Markus, will write the new Avengers movies.
Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on May 1, 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027.
Are you excited that Downey is returning to the MCU? Do you think he’s the best pick for Doctor Doom?