Shocking news is coming! Big news breaks from San Diego Comic-Con!
Marvel fans, get ready for earth-shattering news! At the just-concluded San Diego Comic-Con International, Marvel Studios announced an incredible piece of news - "Iron Man" Robert Downey Jr. will Return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (mcu)!
As we all know, Tony Stark, played by Downey, sacrificed his life to save the universe in 2019's "Avengers: Endgame", completely bidding farewell to the character he portrayed for 10 years. A classic character for many years.
However, what surprised everyone was that Downey's return this time was not to play Iron Man again, but to play another heavyweight character in the Marvel universe - Victor von Doom, also It’s the famous Doctor Doom!
Doctor Doom appeared in the hall
Downey revealed his face and shocked the audience.
At the hall h special session of Marvel Studios, in order to promote the upcoming "Avengers: Doomsday", the director The Russo Brothers and Kevin Feige stand in front of a group of Doctor Doom wearing capes and masks.
There was a brief silence when the Russo brothers mentioned that they needed "the greatest actor in the world" to portray one of Marvel's most powerful villains.
Afterwards, one of the "Doctor Doomsday" took off his mask, revealing the familiar face of Robert Downey Jr.! This scene instantly detonated the audience, and fans were excited.
But what exactly is going on? Why is Downey playing Dr. Doom? Let’s take a closer look at the possible reasons behind this surprising decision.
Inspiration from comics
Iron Man and Doctor Doom swap identities
To understand this exciting character choice, we need to look back at an interesting story in Marvel comics. In "What If?" published in 2010 In Iron Man: Demon in Armor, readers are taken to Earth-11029. In this parallel universe, young Tony Stark essentially takes Reed Richards' (Mr. Fantastic) place as Victor von Doom's roommate.
Stark's talents and achievements aroused Doom's jealousy and contempt. Early in the story, Doom tricked Stark into helping him build a high-tech machine to exchange each other's brains. Trapped in Doom's body, Stark lost the Stark family's vast wealth and was forced to "return" to Latvia. Doom, on the other hand, enjoys prosperity and wealth as Tony Stark.
The story then evolves into a high-stakes game of "face-swapping," in which Stark must overcome depression, addiction, and, of course, Doom himself to reclaim his identity.
Although Kevin Feige has always insisted that Tony Stark's character should have a perfect ending in "Endgame", now that Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU and Marvel movies are getting deeper and deeper into the multiverse concept, it seemed like a brilliant idea to draw on this particular "what if" story.
Not only would this be a perfect example of how terrifying and evil Doctor Doom is, but it would also give Downey the opportunity to challenge a character with a strong duality.
Imagine what it would be like to have Tony Stark's brain hijacked by one of Marvel's most evil villains? It would be an unforgettable acting experience.
Regarding his decision to accept the role of Doctor Doom, Downey simply explained at Comic-Con: " New mask, old mission. What can I say? I like playing complex characters." These words make it clear The change in role also hints at his desire for challenges.
Doctor Doom and Robert Downey Jr.
Fill the huge vacancy in the MCU
"Avengers: Doomsday" is scheduled to be released in theaters in May 2026. It's unclear whether Downey will play a multiverse variant that combines the traits of Stark and Doom, or simply play the villain Doctor Doom himself. Interestingly, Downey was only introduced as "Victor Von Doom" at Comic-Con.No matter which route Disney and Marvel ultimately decide to take, it's clear that Doctor Doom and Downey Jr. are heavyweight names capable of filling the huge void currently in the MCU.
After Marvel Studios parted ways with Jonathan Majors, who was originally scheduled to be the next big villain, they were in desperate need of a villain who could take on the heavy responsibility. Now that Kang the Conqueror no longer seems to be a candidate for the MCU's ultimate villain, Doctor Doom is undoubtedly the perfect candidate to fill the role.
Admittedly, it's a little strange to see the character's name associated more with the Avengers than with his traditional nemesis, the Fantastic Four. However, Doctor Doom has always been the enemy of all Marvel heroes. Seriously, the green-cloaked ruler of Latvia is always ready to fight everyone.
So, let us wait and see what exciting stories Feige and the Russo brothers can bring to the MCU with the return of Downey. In any case, this news undoubtedly makes Marvel fans full of expectations for the future!
