The topic “Robert Downey Jr. Will Return to the MCU Next Year BEFORE Avengers: Doomsday (Report)” has two versions, a written one, and a video version below the written version.
Robert Downey Jr. is confirmed to return to the MCU with Avengers: Doomsday. However, according to a new report, he may be back sooner. Marvel Studios sent shockwaves through Hollywood this summer when Downey Jr. was announced as the MCU’s Doctor Doom at San Diego Comic-Con. The former Iron Man actor is set to lead Avengers: Doomsday.
Robert Downey Jr.'s MCU Return Is Coming Sooner Than Expected
According to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Daniel Richtman, Robert Downey Jr. is set to make more appearances in the MCU as Doctor Doom beyond the two Avengers films scheduled for release in 2026 and 2027. The insider mentioned that Downey Jr. will also appear in The Fantastic Four: First Stepps and “potentially some other projects” between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, after which “that’ll likely be it for him.” If he appears in The Fantastic Four, it would bring Downey Jr. back to the MCU in July 2025, just under a year before Doomsday releases in May 2026.
In the Marvel universe, Doctor Doom has always been a major threat, particularly to the Fantastic Four, and is considered to be the complete opposite of Reed Richards. According to a report by Alex Perez from The Cosmic Circus, in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, there is very little interaction between Mr. Fantastic and Doctor Doom. Perez compared their dynamic to Thanos and Tony Stark in Infinity War. In this comparison, Tony Stark was only aware of an anonymous threat coming from space, while Thanos knew almost everything he needed to know about Iron Man.
The director of “The Fantastic Four,” Matt Shakman, confirmed to Collider earlier this year that he had known “for a while” that Downey Jr. had been cast as Doctor Doom and was forced to keep it “under wraps.” The villain is reportedly set to appear in his 2025 MCU movie, which explains why it was kept a secret.
In the MCU, Doctor Doom will obviously come from another universe, as the face on Earth-616 already belongs to Iron Man. Since “The Fantastic Four” is confirmed to take place elsewhere in the Multiverse, it wouldn’t be surprising if Doom’s home universe was the same as the new first family.
It is uncertain whether Robert Downey Jr. will film his scenes shortly before The Fantastic Four wraps principal photography later this year or at a later date. As the Oscar winner will be filming Doomsday for around three months next year, he could shoot his Fantastic Four role then in time for its release in July.
Fans shouldn’t expect to see much from Downey Jr. and Doctor Doom next year, as Galactus will be the main threat faced in The Fantastic Four. However, his arrival and Multiversal plot might be teased in a post-credits scene after being referenced at various points in the movie.
With less than a year to go until The Fantastic Four hits theaters next July, fans won’t have to wait long to see Downey Jr. back in the MCU and to catch their first look at Doctor Doom. For moviegoers who don’t follow online casting news, his appearance will undoubtedly be a jaw-dropping shock.
In terms of where Doctor Doom could appear between Doomsday and Secret Wars, Spider-Man 4 and Doctor Strange 3 are both possibilities. These much-anticipated sequels are likely to be released between the Avengers blockbusters and are expected to have Multiversal connections.
It’s interesting to think about what will happen to the character of Doom after the Multiverse Saga, especially since it’s unlikely that Downey Jr. will continue in the role for the long term. Maybe we’ll get to see Earth-616’s Victor von Doom, portrayed by a different actor, who could then develop his own rivalry with Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” will be released in theaters on July 25, 2025.
