“New mask, same job”: Robert Downey Jr. returns to Marvel, but not to play Iron Man!

The big surprise of Comic-Con 2024 comes from the MCU: the actor who plays Tony Stark will return in 2026 in Avengers Doomsday.

San Diego Comic-Con is happening all weekend, and Marvel just made the biggest announcement: Robert Downey Jr. will soon be returning to the MCU, five years after bidding farewell to Tony Stark/Iron Man in Avengers EndgameHe will no longer play the wealthy businessman who became one of the studio's most popular superheroes, but a character just as popular with comic book readers: Doctor Doom.

At 59 years old, and after eleven years in the shoes of Stark, the actor recently won an Oscar for Oppenheimer arrived at the panel held at the famous Hall H in the heart of an army of people dressed as Doctor Doom, before removing his mask and revealing his face to the crowd. The spectators, overexcited to recognize the actor, were also treated to some additional information: Kevin Feige specified that RDJ would be making his return in Avengers 5scheduled for May 2026 in theaters, now titled Avengers Doomsday and directed by the russo brothers (Captain America: Civil War, Avengers Infinity War And Endgame). No. 6 will be released a year later under the title Secret Warsand will also be staged by the same duo.

Robert Downey Jr. Would Be “Very Happy” to Return to Marvel

This big baddie from the Marvel universe seems set to be Kang's replacement (an idea abandoned following the firing of Jonathan Majors, accused of violence towards his ex-partner) and to face the Avengers in several films. In particular the Fantastic Four, now played by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach: the shooting of their first film, subtitled First Stepsis just starting under the direction of Matt Shakman (WandaVision), then they should all be back in Avengers Doomsday And Secret Wars.

“New mask, same stain”commented Robert Downey Jr. by sharing photos and a video of the event on Instagram, not a little proud of having created a surprise with Kevin Feige by keeping the secret until Comic-Con. There had been rumors about his return to Marvel, and the name of this cult character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1962 was regularly mentioned by fans. Downey Jr. himself had publicly mentioned his desire to return to Marvel in the future… but he is so associated with Iron Man in the public's mind that we must admit that we didn't really believe it. The actor will however indeed be the new interpreter of Dr. Doom, after he was played in the cinema by Julian McMahon (in 2005 and 2007) and Toby Kebell (in the 2015 reboot).

Pedro Pascal Announces Start of Filming of Fantastic Four with Photos