UPDATE (7/30/2024): It has been revealed that Robert Downey Jr. will NOT be a Tony Stark variant and will be playing Victor Von Doom in a new role. He also agreed to return to the MCU if the Russo Brothers would be at hand to direct the next Avengers films. (Dark Horizons)

Fans were in for the biggest shock of a lifetime at San Diego Comic-Con this past weekend when it was revealed that the Marvel Cinematic Universe unveiled that Kang the Conqueror is out and Doctor Doom will now be the new main villain of the Multiverse Saga. This was announced by Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, who unveiled the new title for the 5th Avengers film will be Doomsday (originally The Kang Dynasty) and the 6th film is still keeping the Secret Wars title.

However, that’s only a piece of the pie. Joe and Anthony Russo were officially announced as the directors of the next ensemble films after their stellar work in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. If anyone could put the ultimate team together, it’s the Russos. However, the major shock comes in the form of who will be playing Victor Von Doom. The stage was set as Feige and the Russos brought out a mystery actor decked out in the mask and cloak…

The actor unmasked himself and it is…Robert Downey Jr.?! That’s right. The former Tony Stark aka Iron Man, who sacrificed himself in Endgame, is returning to the MCU but now as the metal-faced Doc, announcing to the audience, “New Mask…Same Task”.

A theory that has arrived immediately is that considering this is a multiverse/time variant angle, Doctor Doom may in fact be a time variant version of Stark, using his intelligence for evil. Then again, we’ve seen Gemma Chan play two different characters in Captain Marvel and Eternals, Benedict Cumberbatch play both Doctor Strange and voice Dormammu. This proves in the MCU, anything is possible!

Avengers: Doomsday is set for a May 2026 release and Avengers: Secret Wars is set for a May 2027 release date.