After bidding adieu to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and his beloved character Tony Stark, 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.
In a ceremony filled with theatrics, Robert Downey Jr returns to Marvel, will play Doctor Doom in the next two Avengers movies. pic.twitter.com/rsmNY5mzfD
— Borys Kit (@Borys_Kit) July 28, 2024
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.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Indian Express Entertainment (@ieentertainment)
Joe Russo added, “It’s the biggest story that Marvel Comics ever told, it’s the first comic book run that I read as a kid that made me fall in love with comics. It’s the reason why Ant and I are standing up here. And I think you all the know the name of it.”
Robert Downey Jr. launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe with 2008’s Iron Man. His association with Marvel propelled it to become the highest-grossing film franchise of all time. Downey retired from the role of Tony Stark/Iron Man after 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, in which his character dies in an attempt to save the universe.
RDJ will transform from a superhero to a super villain in the new Avenger films. Doctor Doom, a supervillain character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, first appeared in The Fantastic Four. In the comics, Doctor Doom’s ambition is to impose order on humanity through global domination. He is the primary antagonist of Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four, but his adversaries extend to other Marvel superheroes, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Black Panther, the X-Men, and the Avengers. Although predominantly a villain, Doom has occasionally allied with heroes when their objectives align and if it serves his interests.
Click for more updates and latest Hollywood News along with Bollywood and Entertainment updates. Also get latest news and top headlines from India and around the World at The Indian Express.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
