Robert Downey Jr. has returned to the MCU as Fantastic Four villain Doctor Doom for the newly titled Avengers:
Doomsday, which will release in May 2026. The actor announced the news during Marvel’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday. He will also star as Doctor Doom in the subsequent Avengers: Secret Wars, set to be released in May 2027. Both new Avengers films will be directed by the Russo brothers, who previously directed Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and the Captain America movies The Winter Soldier and Civil War.
At the event, Downey Jr. was introduced as Doctor Doom in a dramatic ceremony. The stage was occupied by men in olive robes and metal Doctor Doom-like masks. “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,” said Joe Russo.
He added, “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…” Then one of the masked men stepped to the center and took off his mask, revealing Robert Downey Jr., which made the crowd go berserk.
The Russos also spoke about directing four MCU films in the past. “That four-movie run was incredible. And it left us really spent, with all of our emotions on the floor. In the time since, through a very special story, Joe and I have come to potentially see a road forward with you all,” said Anthony Russo.
