Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom to Debut in MCU Before Avengers: Doomsday

Marvel has officially confirmed the news that MCU fans have eagerly awaited: Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the Avengers movies. However, in a surprising twist, he won’t be reprising his iconic role as Iron Man in Avengers 5, now titled Avengers: Doomsday. Instead, Downey will take on the role of Victor von Doom, a major villain from The Fantastic Four comics, surprising those who anticipated this character’s debut in The Fantastic Four reboot.

Downey is also expected to appear in Avengers: Secret Wars. This return to the MCU, even in a different role, has sparked much discussion and speculation. Some fans theorize that Downey’s new character might be a version of Tony Stark who, in an alternate reality, adopts the Doctor Doom mantle instead of becoming Iron Man. This would explain why the MCU’s Doctor Doom shares the same face as the beloved Iron Man.

The focal villain for the Multiverse Saga hasn’t had as much screen presence as Thanos did in the Infinity Saga. Initially, Kang was set to be the saga’s main antagonist, but real-life legal issues for Jonathan Majors, who portrayed Kang, forced Marvel to change course. This paves the way for Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom to take center stage as the villain in the upcoming Avengers movies.

Sources indicate that Doctor Doom will appear onscreen before Avengers: Doomsday. Though his appearance is supposed to be a surprise, insiders have leaked some details.

After Infinity War, Marvel realized too late that it should have given Thanos more screen time before his big showdown in the film. To avoid a similar mistake, the studio aimed to provide more exposure to Kang throughout the Multiverse Saga. When those plans had to be scrapped, Marvel chose to bring in Downey’s Doctor Doom earlier to build anticipation.

The rumor mill has been churning with reports that Downey’s Doctor Doom will make his first appearance in The Fantastic Four, newly subtitled The Fantastic Four: First Steps. It’s said that Downey will show up in a post-credits scene, setting the stage for his involvement in Avengers: Doomsday.

Fans might remember previous rumors suggesting that Doctor Doom would cameo in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a glimpse that never materialized. This time, however, Marvel insiders seem more confident about his impending debut.

There’s still speculation about which reality Downey’s Doctor Doom originates from. According to some theories, he might hail from Earth-838, the same universe visited in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness where John Krasinski’s Reed Richards met his end. However, this complicates matters regarding The Fantastic Four’s storyline, as it remains unclear if they belong to the same universe.

The MCU’s take on The Fantastic Four is set in the ’60s and presents a different version of New York City, further deepening the multiverse complexities. Whether The Fantastic Four will encounter Doctor Doom while navigating the multiverse or share the same reality with him will be revealed when the movie releases in July 2025.

Despite some contradicting viewpoints, a piece of insider information supports the theory that Downey’s Doctor Doom is actually an alternate-universe Tony Stark. It’s rumored that this alternate Tony Stark, who becomes Doctor Doom, will first be seen in a post-credits scene.

Robert Downey [Jr.] is coming back to [the] MCU as an alternate multiverse Tony Stark, who is actually Doctor Doom. Lucrative payday, etc. Will be first appearing in an end credit kicker. Enjoy.

This insider tidbit adds an intriguing layer to the saga, but fans are advised to temper their excitement. There are other sources that contradict this theory, suggesting that Downey will indeed be portraying Doctor Doom without any ties to Tony Stark.

The storylines and character arcs will undoubtedly keep fans on edge until more details emerge. Until then, the anticipation for Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU, even in a villainous new role, remains sky-high.

Source: Collider, BGR