Robert Downey Jr. is making a comeback to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but this time not as the beloved superhero Iron Man. At Marvel's Hall H panel during San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, the renowned actor made an unexpected appearance to reveal his involvement in Avengers 5, officially named Avengers: Doomsday, where he will take on the role of Doctor Doom.
The Russo Brothers, who previously directed Downey Jr. in films such as Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, are set to helm both Avengers: Doomsday and its direct sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars. Introducing Downey Jr. at Comic-Con, Joe and Anthony Russo highlighted the importance of producing another pivotal film before addressing Secret Wars. Given Marvel's recent trends, this strategy becomes more understandable.
"There is one crucial character needed to do Secret Wars justice... it might be the most significant character in the entire Marvel universe," Joe Russo explained. "If we are to bring Victor Von Doom to theaters globally, we need the world's finest actor for this role," he added. "As evidence of the limitless potential in the Marvel multiverse, we present the one individual capable of portraying Victor Von Doom." Following this introduction, a choir wearing robes and Doctor Doom masks took the stage, and Downey Jr. emerged to a cheering audience.
Downey Jr.'s return to Marvel comes after his first Oscar win for his performance in Christopher Nolan's 2023 film Oppenheimer. He said goodbye to Tony Stark in 2019's Avengers: Endgame, where Tony Stark sacrificed himself to save the universe. Although Tony Stark is deceased, the character Downey Jr. will portray in Doomsday is likely a variant—an alternate universe version of Tony Stark who took a different path.
Downey Jr.'s comeback marks another move towards Marvel's resurgence, following Hugh Jackman's Wolverine's integration into the MCU. In the film Deadpool & Wolverine, the popular X-Men character, along with several others, was incorporated into the universe. This film felt like a prelude to the major events that could unfold in the future. Avengers: Doomsday is slated for release on May 1, 2026.
