Robert Downey Jr. is gearing up to make a comeback to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as Doctor Doom. In Avengers: Doomsday, the actor—who previously portrayed Iron Man in the MCU—will take on the role of Dr. Doom. At San Diego Comic-Con in 2024, Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, and Robert Downey Jr. revealed the announcement. At the SDCC, RDJ traveled to Hall H and made his stage debut as the Fantastic Four antagonist Doctor Doom.
Not only is Robert Downey Jr. joining the MCU again, but Kevin Feige also revealed that Joe and Anthony Russo, the Russo Brothers, will also be joining the MCU again. The Avengers: Doomsday movie will be directed by the pair of directors. When the news was announced, they were in Hall H.
Robert Downey Jr. revealing himself as Dr. Doom. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/fn37KMjy5w
— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 28, 2024
“If we’re going to bring Doctor Doom to the screen — he is one of the most complex characters, most entertaining characters in all of fiction,” Anthony Russo stated according to The Hollywood Reporter. “If we’re going to do this … then we are going to need the greatest actor in the world.”
“As proof of the unimaginable possibilities of the Marvel Universe, we give you the one person who could play Victor von Doom…” Russo further added before RDJ seized the spotlight and revealed himself to be Doctor Doom.
RDJ was spotted wearing a metal mask and the recognizable green Doctor Doom gown in a video from the Comic-Con event that went viral. When he revealed his return, the audience erupted in applause as he removed the mask. He declared, “New mask, same task,” confirming his return to the MCU. He teased, “What can I say, I like playing complicated characters.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, RDJ is coming back for two more Avengers movies. The Oppenheimer actor is collaborating with the Russo Brothers on Avengers: Doomsday, which is scheduled for release in May 2026. He is also reportedly returning to the character in Avengers: Secret Wars, which is targeted for release in May 2027. In the films Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019), Robert Downey Jr. and the Russo Brothers collaborated.
Following Avengers: Endgame, Robert Downey Jr. declared his resignation from the MCU. Throughout the MCU’s ten years, he played Iron Man. In Avengers: Endgame, Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man, passed away, making room for RDJ to leave.
