Many fans are eager to learn about Robert Downey Jr.‘s surprising return as Doctor Doom in Avengers 5: Doomsday. The anticipation surrounding his new role has generated significant buzz, particularly given Downey Jr.’s iconic portrayal of Iron Man. He was initially expected to return as a Tony Stark variant, but the recent announcement confirmed his casting as Victor von Doom.
If you’re curious about how Robert Downey Jr. will portray one of Marvel’s most notorious villains and its impact on the MCU, here’s everything you need to know.
Is Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom a variant of Iron Man in Avengers 5: Doomsday?
Robert Downey Jr. famously portrayed Tony Stark / Iron Man in the MCU, but his return as Doctor Doom represents an entirely new character, who could be a variant of Stark named Victor Von Doom. Being a variant, he will originate from a different Earth in MCU’s ever-expanding Multiverse.
Marvel Studios made a surprising announcement at San Diego Comic-Con. Robert Downey Jr. will return to the MCU as the iconic villain Doctor Doom. His return as an Iron Man variant is still possible. But the shift marks a significant departure from Downey Jr.’s previous role. The focus of the upcoming fifth Avengers movie, now titled Avengers: Doomsday, pivots to Victor von Doom.
The decision to cast Downey as Doctor Doom leverages the MCU’s ongoing Multiverse Saga, which has established multiple variants of characters. It will be similar to how certain actors returned in Deadpool & Wolverine to play a different character than they did earlier in the MCU (spoilers here). This paves the way for Robert Downey Jr. to return as Doctor Doom from a different timeline.
Interestingly, in the 2016 comic “Infamous Iron Man,” Doom did rebrand as Iron Man for a period. While Marvel could explore a similar storyline through the multiverse, the Russo Brothers will introduce Downey specifically as “Victor von Doom” in Doomsday.
Fun Fact: Downey originally auditioned to play Doom in the original 2005 Fantastic Four movie. Now, he will fulfill his destiny in Avengers 5: Doomsday in a much bigger way, with the Russo Brothers directing the project alongside Avengers: Secret Wars, where he could go on to become God Emperor Doom from Jonathan Hickman’s Secret Wars storyline.
Will Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom appear in The Fantastic Four: First Steps?
It is currently unconfirmed whether Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will appear in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The film is set in a different timeline and focuses on the Fantastic Four taking on Galactus. But a cameo by Downey Jr.’s Victor von Doom does not seem unlikely.
Doom’s roots are tied to the Fantastic Four in the comics. Furthermore, Marvel Studios has announced that Pedro Pascal’s Fantastic Four team will be part of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. So, it creates a potential opportunity for Downey Jr.’s Doom to appear somewhere in The Fantastic Four: First Steps to set up his role in the next two Avengers movies. But again, it is not confirmed at the moment of writing.