In one of the most surprising - not to mention divisive - Comic-Con announcements yet, we learned that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday during Marvel Studios' Hall H presentation back in 2024.
Rumors had claimed that RDJ would be playing an evil Multiversal variant of Tony Stark, but the actor was introduced as "Victor Von Doom," and follow-up comments from the Oppenheimer star seemed to confirm that he has indeed been cast as an entirely new character.
Over the past couple of years, fans have been weighing up the pros and cons of Downey being reintroduced to the MCU as Doctor Doom, and while a lot of people did initially have some concerns that this was blatant stunt casting, many have been won over by seeing the villain in action in the Doomsday trailers and learning more about the movie's plot.
Whether Doom turns out to be an alternate universe Iron Man who went down a darker path or a completely new character (the Russo Brothers have indicated that we will eventually find out why he resembles Stark), most fans seem to be on board with RDJ's casting at this stage - but what if he also returns as Tony Stark?
Though this isn't the first (or second) time we've heard this, MTTSH has repeated the rumor that Downey will be back as Iron Man for Avengers: Secret Wars. Doom is one thing, but if he does step back into his most iconic role, many feel that it will tarnish the character's powerful send-off in Avengers: Endgame.
Sure, plenty of characters have been killed off in superhero movies only to be resurrected in some form or fashion, but Stark's was the one that was supposed to stick. Iron Man gave his life so that the universe could be restored following Thanos' genocidal actions, so how could bringing him back - even as a variant - do anything but cheapen that sacrifice?
An argument could be made that enough time has passed, and we are far enough removed from the events of Endgame that Stark could return with his heroic legacy intact. But if everything can be undone, why should we care about anything?
Marvel recently rereleased Endgame (for the second time), and for many, the fact that "Encore" was marketed as "essential viewing" before Doomsday left a bad taste - especially when the new scenes added very little and one, in particular, only detracted from the original ending.
Some of the new material worked well enough as teases for what's to come, but the one additional sequence that really stood out is Loki calling on Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter immediately after they share their kiss at the very end of the original theatrical cut.
Does this moment that finally gave the former Captain America his happy ending after he sacrificed a life with his true love in The First Avenger still hit the same now that we know Rogers will be dragged back into the fight in Doomsday?
How would you feel about RDJ reprising the role of Tony Stark in Secret Wars?
Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars were hit with significant delays last year, with Doomsday now set to arrive in theaters on December 18, 2026, and Secret Wars positioned for December 17, 2027.
Both movies will be directed by the Russo brothers, who also make their MCU return after helming Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
"Universes collide and the Multiverse Saga begins its final chapter in Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday. Beloved heroes from three distinct universes will be set on a deadly collision course and ultimately face an existential threat unlike anything they’ve ever encountered. This epic film will lay the foundation for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe."
Doomsday will star:
Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Lewis Pullman as Sentry, Florence Pugh as Yelena, Danny Ramirez as Falcon, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Sebastian Stan as Bucky, Winston Duke as M’Baku, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Kelsey Grammer as Beast, James Marsden as Cyclops, Channing Tatum as Gambit, and Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent
Along with Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, Letitia Wright as Black Panther, Tenoch Huerta Mejia as Namor, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, and, of course, Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom.