Marvel’s presentation at this year’s Comic-Con was a true blast from the past, and it saw an old hero being cast as a new villain. Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU in the next two Avengers movies, as their main antagonist Doctor Doom.
Marvel fans at Comic-Con were treated to one epic surprise after another, but the announcement of the new Doctor Doom was certainly the most epic moment. The crowd of 6,500 people erupted into applause when a man in green stepped on stage, revealing he was Robert Downey Jr. after taking off the mask.
The Russo brothers described his casting as “proof of the unimaginable possibilities of the Marvel Universe.” They’re returning to direct Downey in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, set to hit the theatres in 2026 and 2027.
Seeing Downey cast as Doctor Doom was quite a shocker for fans, but he made it clear he’d be happy to return to the MCU after winning an Oscar for Oppenheimer.
“It’s too integral a part of my DNA. That role chose me. And look, I always say, ‘Never, ever bet against Kevin Feige.’ It is a losing bet. He’s the house. He will always win,” he told Esquire earlier this year.
