As the MCU prepares for its most ambitious chapter yet, “Avengers Doomsday” is pulling back the curtain on a storm of returning heroes, cosmic tyrants, and multiversal chaos—all under the ominous shadow of Doctor Doom.
This week, Robert Downey Jr. reignited fan speculation with a cryptic behind-the-scenes photo. While some speculated he’s playing Doom himself, the telltale motion capture dots suggest a Superior Iron Man variant instead—a more ruthless, reality-hopping Stark who survived Ultron and weaponized the multiverse for profit. The actor’s $100M deal hints he may be playing both versions: hero and villain.
But the real tell? A follow-up image Downey posted shows a comic—Doom #1 by Jonathan Hickman—positioned next to a script marked “Doctor Doom.” This Doom was resurrected post-Galactus war and now commands science, sorcery, and surviving relevance. If Marvel's teasing this specific version, we’re likely headed toward a Doom who has already beaten death and is orchestrating the chaos behind the scenes.
Galactus himself might not be far behind. In the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot, Galactus is unlikely to be defeated outright. Instead, as in the comics, he may retreat after a weapon like the Ultimate Nullifier is used against him. This keeps the Devourer of Worlds intact for larger conflicts in Doomsday and Secret Wars. One eerie Easter egg: Sue Storm is reportedly pregnant in the film, opening the door for her child—Franklin Richards—to eventually revive or bond with Galactus in future stories.
On the mutant front, multiple insiders suggest Neve Campbell may be cast as Polaris, Magneto’s daughter. This elegantly sidesteps Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver's murky lineage, while pulling in a fan-favorite mutant with deep X-Men ties. Campbell’s involvement also connects to X-Men ’97—where showrunner Beau DeMayo teased her casting before his exit.
Adding fuel to the fire, leaked images show a decapitated Sentinel on what appears to be the Xavier Mansion lawn—pointing heavily to the X-Men: Days of Future Past timeline. Kelsey Grammer (Beast) has confirmed talks to return, though he hasn’t seen a script yet. Expect his return to bridge timelines and deepen the mutant narrative in “Doomsday.”
As for Spider-Man, Tom Holland remains in negotiations. Although his chair was absent from the cast photo drop, Marvel insiders suggest he’s a lock for “Secret Wars,” and may cameo in “Doomsday” to solidify his multiverse-hopping credentials.
And what about the future? After “Secret Wars,” Marvel intends to launch a new, younger X-Men team—distinct from past iterations. The groundwork laid in “Doomsday” could set the stage for these fresh mutants to emerge post-reset, after timelines collapse and reform around a new status quo.
From Doom’s cryptic workstation to the fiery horizons of Muspelheim-like battlefields, the multiverse is cracking—and what leaks through may forever reshape the MCU’s DNA. One thing’s clear: Doom isn’t just coming. He’s already watching.