Robert Downey Jr. put the Marvel Cinematic Universe on the map. His portrayal of Tony Stark/Iron Man resonated with fans, and he quickly became one of the most popular characters in the MCU. However, his story ends in Avengers: Endgame when Stark sacrifices himself to defeat the villainous Thanos. However, Downey Jr. left the door open for a return. As the next phase looks to be dealing with the multiverse, a different version of Iron Man could appear on screen. At San Diego Comic-Con, fans were shocked when the actor came on stage, announcing his return to the MCU, not as Tony Stark but as Victor Von Doom.
Robert Downey Jr. Returning To MCU…As Dr. Doom!
Many were eager to hear what Marvel Studios had up their sleeve for their future projects. First, the response to the recent movies and shows hasn’t been great. While there have been hits here and there, like Loki, overall fans have been lukewarm towards the projects. Second, the studio dropped Jonathan Majors after his conviction of assault and harassment. Furthermore, his character Kang hadn’t really caught on with fans. The studio decided to pivot. It was announced that the movie previously titled “Kang Dynasty” will now be Avengers: Doomsday.
Dr. Doom will make his MCU debut, which many fans expected once the rights to the Fantastic Four universe were obtained. However, no one expected the casting of Robert Downey Jr. Near the end of the panel, the Oscar-winning actor came out and announced he would be playing the famed villain. The fans in Hall H erupted with cheers. “New mask, same task. What can I tell ya? I like playing complicated characters,” was the line he gave. Very little was said about the movie other than it will be released in May 2026.
Jaw-Dropping News
It’s hard to surprise fans in this day and age. Leaks happen all the time, and keeping things quiet is often nearly impossible. Everyone had been speculating who would play Dr. Doom, but no one had Robert Downey Jr. on the list. We know very little right now. Is the Dr. Doom in the MCU a Tony Stark variant? Does he have any connection to Tony Stark? Will this simply be a different character played by the same actor? It seems like it will be the latter. In the comics, Doom has no personal connection with Iron Man. More than likely, the studio was looking for a way to get Downey Jr. back into the fold.
For fans of the MCU, this is massive news. Not only is a fan-favorite villain coming to the big screen in two years but it will be played by one of the most well-liked actors around right now. The Russo brothers, who directed Infinity War and Endgame, are returning to direct Doomsday as well as the follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars, which premieres a year later. For the first time in a long time, we have a clear picture of where the beloved cinematic universe is headed. It will be weird to see Robert Downey Jr. back as a different character. However, it will be fun to see him back in Marvel movies. Too bad we have to wait until 2026.
For More Great Content
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
