Robert Downey Jr. to Play Doctor Doom in ‘Avengers 5’
Robert Downey Jr. returns to the MCU in a much less heroic role than usual.
During the Marvel panel at San Diego Comic Con in Hall H on Saturday, the Russo Brothers and Marvel president Kevin Feige revealed Downey Jr. as Victor Von Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, the new name for Avengers 5. The Russos have been officially confirmed as the directors of Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, set to hit theaters in 2026 and 2027 respectively.
“Joe and I came to the conclusion that we can see a way forward with the biggest story Marvel comics has ever told,” Anthony Russo said of Secret Wars. “It’s the first comic series I read as a kid that made me fall in love with comics.”
However, to outline “the scope of the film, the grandeur of the story and the epic, colliding worlds,” Anthony Russo revealed the “unimaginable possibilities in the Marvel multi-universe” and introduced Downey Jr. as the man who would take on the iconic mask and mantle of the villain.
Read More: Deadpool & Wolverine Review: A Bloody, Hilarious Marvel Sensation
Just announced in Hall H:
The Russo Brothers return to direct Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. In theaters only May 2026. #SDCC photo.twitter.com/oqnSwWKnYn
—Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
Downey’s introduction as Tony Stark in 2008’s Iron Man kickstarted the MCU and rocketed the actor into the pop culture stratosphere. In the decade that followed, he’s played Stark in 10 Marvel titles: Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3, The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
Downey Jr. recently stated that he’s open to returning to Marvel in some capacity , but no one had Victor Von Doom in mind. An epic casting announcement to be sure, it’ll be interesting to see how the Russos handle his introduction and inclusion in Marvel’s film canon going forward.
“New mask, same job,” Downey Jr. told a cheering audience, adding, “I love playing complicated characters.” And I think I can speak for everyone when I say we enjoy watching him do that.
