Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the Marvel superhero world after five years, but not as Iron Man. Instead, he will portray Dr. Victor Von Doom, a significant villain in the comic book series. Downey Jr. will appear in Avengers: Doomsday, set to release in May 2026, followed by Secret Wars a year later. The announcement was made at Comic Con in San Diego, where Downey Jr. appeared on stage dressed as Doctor Doom before revealing himself.
He expressed excitement about the role, saying, "I like playing complicated characters." Downey Jr., now 59, was a pivotal figure in launching the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with *Iron Man in 2008. His last Marvel appearance was in *Avengers: Endgame in 2019. Earlier this year, he won an Oscar for his role in *Oppenheimer.
Marvel is planning three more films in 2025 before the Avengers returns to the big screen. Captain America: Brave New World will feature Harrison Ford replacing the late William Hurt as General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross. Florence Pugh will star in Thunderbolts, and Pedro Pascal will debut in the Marvel Universe in *The Fantastic 4: First Steps. While the Marvel franchise has generated $30 billion in box office revenue, recent profits have slowed. However, the success of *Deadpool & Wolverine*, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, which made $96 million on its opening day, suggests a potential revival.
Last year, Marvel dropped Jonathan Majors, who played the villain Kang the Conqueror, following his conviction for assault.
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