Robert Downey Jr. Returns to the MCU as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday
Vanessa Kirby calls Downey “our Godfather” on set, fueling excitement for Marvel’s boldest casting move yet
Los Angeles, July 28 EST: Robert Downey Jr. is coming back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he’s not putting the Iron Man suit back on. This time, he’s going dark. Like, Latverian dictator dark.
Downey is officially suiting up as Doctor Doom, Marvel’s most operatic villain, in Avengers: Doomsday out December 2026 with a small but juicy tease baked into next summer’s Fantastic Four: First Steps. Fans won’t see his face just yet, but the mid-credits scene reportedly shows Doom watching Franklin Richards from the shadows, signaling big moves ahead.
And yes, the Russo brothers are directing again. Which means this isn’t just a cameo it’s a full-circle moment with some serious multiverse flavor.
Vanessa Kirby Is All In And She’s Seen the Work Up Close
Nobody’s seen more of Downey-as-Doom than Vanessa Kirby, who plays Sue Storm in First Steps. And according to her, Marvel’s big casting swing is absolutely paying off.
“He’s doing incredible work,” Kirby told People, adding that Downey’s presence on set has been less “Hollywood legend” and more “camp counselor with a PhD in villainy.” She even called him “our Godfather,” which in Marvel-speak roughly translates to: the cool dad who knows all the lore and keeps everyone’s spirits up between takes.
Kirby’s praise comes at a key moment not just for Marvel, which is rebuilding its post-Endgame momentum, but for Downey, who’s fresh off an Oscar win and finally done with the iron suit.
Doom as the Anti-Stark? That’s the Point.
Fans spent years asking if Downey would ever return to the MCU. The twist: he has but not as the man who started it all. Instead, Marvel is flipping the table and casting him as the one villain who might outthink and out-charm Stark himself.
It’s a brilliant bit of meta-casting. Doom is all ego, intellect, and tragic grandeur exactly the kind of role Downey thrives in when he’s not shackled to quips and clean-shaven hero arcs. And the fact that it’s him playing the guy the next-gen Avengers (plus the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Thunderbolts) have to stop? That’s some next-level narrative judo.
So, What’s Coming?
Avengers: Doomsday started filming back in April at Pinewood Studios and is set to wrap this fall. It’s part of MCU Phase Six, and if early reports hold, it’s shaping up to be Marvel’s next Endgame-scale event. Not just the OG Avengers, but the full Marvel bench is expected to show up.
And with the Russos back behind the camera, expect long shots, major deaths, and at least one reality-breaking character turn. Probably more than one.
Why It Matters (And Why Fans Should Be Paying Attention)
Downey as Doom isn’t just a casting coup it’s a signal that Marvel’s finally playing offense again. The multiverse isn’t just an excuse to bring back fan favorites anymore; it’s a canvas. A space where Tony Stark’s face can show up but not in the way you expect.
It also tells us where the tone is heading. If Endgame was Marvel’s emotional peak, Doomsday might be its existential one. And anchoring that with the same actor who helped build the MCU from the ground up? That’s smart business and good storytelling.
For now, the hype is real and the fans, many of whom grew up with Downey’s Stark, now get to watch him reinvent himself all over again. Not as the man in the suit… but as the man behind the mask.
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A bi-coastal pop culture critic and former indie screenwriter, Gia covers Hollywood, streaming wars, and subculture shifts with razor wit and Gen Z intuition. If it’s going viral, she already knew about it.
