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Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU, but Iron Man isn’t. Instead, he’ll be taking a new name and wearing a new mask–that of Victor von Doom, one of Marvel’s greatest villains. RDJ kicked off the MCU and introduced superheroes to Earth-616 in 2008’s Iron Man and ended his run as Tony Stark in 2018’s Avengers Endgame. This could be the MCU’s coolest moment–or its silliest.
Downey revealed his new role on the Hall H stage, coming out in a Dr. Doom mask and tearing it off to reveal his face to a surprised audience. His comment was simple: “New mask, same task.”
As part of Marvel Studios’ San Diego Comic-Con 2024 panel, the studio announced that directing team Joe and Anthony Russo will return to direct a pair of new Avengers films, with Avengers: Doomsday coming in 2026 and Avengers: Secret Wars following a year after. Victor von Doom will act as the primary antagonist for this pair of movies.
Downey had said in recent interviews that he would return to the MCU “happily.” “It’s too integral a part of my DNA,” Downey said. “That role chose me. And look, I always say, never, ever bet against Kevin Feige. It is a losing bet. He’s the house. He will always win.”
Victor von Doom is the long-time enemy of Marvel’s founding family, the Fantastic Four, so the character’s introduction now, just after the upcoming Fantastic Four: The First Steps, makes sense.
Details aside from the titles and directors are light; we’re very excited and very curious to see how Marvel Studios makes Robert Downey Jr.’s return–as a brand-new character, no less–make sense.
Fantastic Four: The First Steps hits theaters in one year on July 25, 2025. Avengers: Doomsday comes a year later in May 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars in May 2027.
