“New mask, same task…”
In what could be one of the biggest mic drops in Marvel Studios history, we just got confirmation of a new Avengers film and the wild return of Robert Downey Jr. all at once.
At San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel’s Kevin Feige led a slow and steady panel that slowly built up to this jaw-dropping moment. As confirmed at the panel, Robert Downey Jr. will star as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. The Russo Brothers will return to direct this epic task, helming this film and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Doomsday will be released in May 2026, while Secret Wars will be released in 2027. Little else is known about the project besides the insane fact that RDJ is back in the MCU but not playing Iron Man again.
Robert Downey Jr. retired the Tony Stark/Iron Man after the character died in Avengers: Endgame, but the actor is not done with Marvel yet. His role as Victor Von Doom, aka Doctor Doom, will likely be controversial, although the MCU is no stranger to drama these days.
While we don’t have many details at the time of writing, Robert Downey Jr notes to the stunned SDCC crowd: “What I tell ya, I like playing complicated characters.” That’s the understatement of the century!
Check out the confirmation post below…
Just announced in Hall H:
The Russo Brothers return to direct Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. Only in theaters May 2026. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/oqnSwWKnYn
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
