Marvel Studios has announced a major change for the upcoming fifth Avengers film. Originally named The Kang Dynasty, the movie will now be called Avengers: Doomsday. The Russo Brothers will return to direct the film, and Robert Downey Jr. will portray the iconic role of Doctor Doom. The movie is scheduled for release in May 2026. The announcement was made at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, surprising fans. The film’s title change from The Kang Dynasty to Doomsday suggests a shift in the storyline from Kang to the introduction of Doctor Doom as a key antagonist.
This major change signifies Marvel’s shift away from the multiverse and Kang-centric storylines that they had been developing from 2021 to 2024. The decision comes after Jonathan Majors was let go from his role as Kang the Conqueror. With Majors no longer part of the project, Marvel has chosen to use this as an opportunity to take the story in a new direction, focusing on a villain who is more down-to-earth and dangerously threatening.
Who Is Doctor Doom?
Victor von Doom, also known as Doctor Doom, is one of Marvel’s most formidable and iconic villains. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, he was introduced in The Fantastic Four #5 in 1962. Doom is the ruler of the fictional nation of Latveria and possesses an unparalleled genius-level intellect. He is a master scientist and sorcerer, and his armor provides him with superhuman strength, durability, and a wide range of advanced technologies.
Doom is often motivated by a mix of personal vendetta, a thirst for power, and a twisted sense of duty to save humanity, albeit through his authoritarian rule. His complex character has made him a compelling adversary not only for the Fantastic Four but for the entire Marvel Universe. Doom’s introduction into the MCU, especially portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., is expected to bring a new level of depth and intrigue to the franchise. It’s uncertain whether Downey will play Victor von Doom or simply Tony Stark who becomes Doctor Doom as a variant character, but hopefully it is the former.
