At the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios unveiled some great announcements including Robert Downey Jr.’s surprising return to the MCU. This time the beloved actor is not reprising his role as Iron Man but is set to portray one of Marvel’s most notorious villains Doctor Doom.
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Robert Downey Jr. is set to return to the MCU as Victor von Doom also known as Doctor Doom, in the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday.
The announcement took fans by surprise as many had expected his return would involve reviving his iconic role as Iron Man.
This unexpected casting choice was unveiled during Marvel’s presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, where Downey appeared dramatically on stage wearing Doctor Doom’s mask and green cloak.
Robert Downey Jr.’s appearance was met with enthusiasm and shock. The Hall H audience erupted in applause as he removed his mask and revealed his face.
Robert Downey Jr.’s transformation into a villain is a bold new direction for the actor within the Marvel universe. Downey stated, “I like playing complicated characters.”
The announcement was made during Marvel Studios’ panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. The news was delivered by MCU President Kevin Feige alongside the returning directing duo, the Russo Brothers known for their work on Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
Fans were taken by surprise when Robert Downey Jr. appeared on stage at Hall H, not as Tony Stark, but as Victor Von Doom, the iconic villain known as Doctor Doom.
The Russo Brothers who have previously directed some of the MCU’s most successful films are set to helm two upcoming Avengers sequels: Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars scheduled for release in May 2026 and May 2027.
Doctor Doom is also known as Victor Von Doom and it is a character with a rich and complex history in Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, Doom first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 in 1962.
As the archenemy of the Fantastic Four, Doom is known for his genius-level intellect, mastery of science and magic and his ruthless pursuit of power.
With the introduction of Doctor Doom, the MCU is entering a new phase that promises to bring fresh challenges and dynamics to the superhero universe.
This casting decision is part of Marvel Studios’ strategy to rejuvenate the franchise following the conclusion of the Infinity Saga and the mixed reception of some Phase 4 and Phase 5 projects.
The decision to focus on Doctor Doom comes after Marvel’s previous plans to center the next phase around Kang the Conqueror played by Jonathan Majors encountered setbacks.
Issues arose after the actor’s legal troubles and the character’s lukewarm reception in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Doctor Doom with his storied history and established connections to the Fantastic Four is poised to fill the void left by Kang.
Acclaimed directors Joe and Anthony Russo are returning to the MCU to helm two major films, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
This is their return after directing several key films in the franchise including Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
During the panel, Anthony Russo shared, “When we directed Avengers: Endgame, Joe and I truly believed that it was the end of the road for us in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because we had put all of our passion, our love, our imagination into the series.”
The Russo brothers are set to bring their expertise to two of Marvel’s most anticipated films. Avengers: Secret Wars is particularly exciting for fans as it is based on what Joe Russo described as the biggest story that Marvel Comics ever told.
With Robert Downey Jr. stepping into this villainous role, the film is expected to go into Doom’s motivations and his complex relationships with the Avengers.
The movie will likely explore the theme of power, control and the ethical dilemmas faced by superheroes and villains alike.
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The Secret Wars storyline is known for its vast scope and epic battles featuring numerous Marvel characters.
Joe Russo’s admiration for the comic book series hints at a faithful adaptation that will bring the larger-than-life narrative to the big screen.
The film features Anthony Mackie reprising his role as Sam Wilson, who has taken up the mantle of Captain America.
The cast also includes Giancarlo Esposito as the villain Seth Voelker and also known as Sidewinder. A sneak peek revealed Harrison Ford’s character, President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross transforming into the Red Hulk.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan and David Harbour lead the cast of this film centered around a team of anti-heroes.
The dynamic between the characters is set to explore the morally grey areas of heroism with Harbour’s character, the Red Guardian making a grand entrance at Comic-Con.
The film stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach with filming set to begin in London soon.
Director Matt Shakman’s vision promises a fresh take on the Fantastic Four, addressing their origin story with a retro twist, as showcased in a special video created for Comic-Con.
The Deadpool & Wolverine film set records as the highest-grossing R-rated film ever. The panel featured a lively Deadpool choir performance.
Doomsday are still under wraps, fans are speculating about how Doctor Doom will be introduced into the MCU. Given his history with the Fantastic Four, it’s likely that the film will explore his origins and his complex relationships with other Marvel characters.
With the introduction of Doom, there is potential for exciting team-ups and conflicts with existing Marvel heroes.
The Avengers, who are known for their teamwork and resilience will face a new kind of threat in Doom.
Following Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel Studios is set to release Avengers: Secret Wars in May 2027. This film is expected to continue exploring the multiverse and introduce even more characters and storylines from the comics.
The casting of Robert Downey Jr. as Doom and the upcoming slate of films and series indicate Marvel’s commitment to expanding the MCU with new characters and story arcs.
Fantastic Four: First Steps is scheduled for release before Avengers: Doomsday, this film will introduce the Fantastic Four to the MCU, setting the stage for their encounter with Doctor Doom.
Marvel Studios continues to develop a range of projects including Captain America: Brave New World (February 2025), Daredevil: Born Again (March 2025) and the Eyes of Wakanda series (2024), among others.
These projects will expand the MCU and build towards the climactic events in the Avengers sequels.
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