RUMOR: Marvel Studios Is Considering Keeping Robert Downey Jr. As Doctor Doom After AVENGERS: SECRET WARS

According to a new report, Marvel Studios is mulling over whether to keep Robert Downey Jr. as the MCU's Doctor Doom after Avengers: Secret Wars. We also have updates on Ghost Rider and the Blade movie.

News

By JoshWilding - Jul 28, 2025 07:07 AM EST

Filed Under: Avengers: Secret Wars

Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. bid farewell to the MCU and Tony Stark in 2019's Avengers: Endgame. However, he'll return to the franchise as the villainous Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

The casting has divided opinions and raised concerns that Victor Von Doom will be an Iron Man Variant. We'll have to wait and see on that, and rumours are already swirling about which reality the new Multiverse Saga's big bad hails from.

Today, scooper Daniel Richtman brings word that Marvel Studios is currently discussing having Downey continue playing Doom after Avengers: Secret Wars is released at the end of 2027.

We'd imagine the success of The Fantastic Four: First Steps has something to do with that, as it makes perfect sense for Marvel's First Family to share the screen with Doom after his quest to "save" the Multiverse fails. Whether Downey wishes to stick around remains to be seen, but Victor deserves to be more than just a one-off big bad.

Other updates from the insider include the news that an actor has been cast as the MCU's Ghost Rider (the Spirit of Vengeance has previously been rumoured to appear in Avengers: Doomsday), and plans for Blade to start shooting next year.

"We had started even before what had happened to the actor [Jonathan Majors] happened, we had started to realize that Kang wasn’t big enough, wasn’t Thanos, and that there was only one character that could be that, because he was that in the comics for decades and decades," Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige recently revealed. "Because of the Fox acquisition, we finally had it, and it was Doctor Doom."

"So we had started talking about Dr. Doom even before we officially pivoted from Kang. And in fact, I had started talking with Robert [Downey Jr.] about this audacious idea before Ant-Man 3 even came out," the executive continued. "It was a long plan that we had, to take one of our greatest characters and utilize one of our greatest actors."

Yesterday marked a year to the day since Downey was announced as the MCU's Doctor Doom. The Russo Brothers took to Instagram to share a throwback video of that momentous occasion, which you can watch below.

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A post shared by AGBO (@agbofilms)

Avengers: Doomsday stars Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Winston Duke, Tom Hiddleston, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, and Robert Downey Jr. Wyatt Russell, Simu Liu, Tenoch Huerta Mejia, Florence Pugh, Danny Ramirez, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Lewis Pullman all make the Avengers franchise debuts in the movie.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps leads Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn join them, as do X-Men franchise stars Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, and Deadpool & Wolverine star Channing Tatum.

The Russo Brothers direct the movie from a script by Stephen McFeely, with whom they previously collaborated on the Captain America and Avengers franchises.

Avengers: Doomsday is set to be released on December 18, 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars scheduled to arrive on December 17, 2027.

Kevin Feige On Post-AVENGERS: SECRET WARS Reboot, MCU's X-MEN, And Why Doctor Doom REALLY Replaced Kang

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98 Comments

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ProfessorWhy - 7/28/2025, 7:18 AM

They must be incredibly confidant in what they've got on their hands right now to be planning such a huge investment in RDJ and an FF sequel

Sinner - 7/28/2025, 7:42 AM

@ProfessorWhy - 100%. The experiment is over and Feige is back in build mode. You only have to look at the level of talent he’s put behind Spider-Man, X-Men and Fantastic Four to see that.

Apophis71 - 7/28/2025, 8:24 AM

@ProfessorWhy - They may go discount RDJ by having Doom masked almost always post Secret Wars thus can use a body double and voice over for the most part, time will tell.

CorndogBurglar - 7/28/2025, 9:02 AM

@Apophis71 - Thats exactly what they SHOULD do. Since they are obviously going to show Doom's face in Doomsday and Secret Wars, they should do the opposite after the restart.

NEVER show his face. Bring back the mystery of who Doom really is. Is he the same Doom from Secret Wars? Does he look like Stark under that helmet? Or is this a different variant/person entirely?

We should never know what Doom really looks like. Even if we know RDJ is still playing him, in-story it should be a mystery.

Pimpanzee - 7/28/2025, 9:21 AM

@CorndogBurglar - He won't be a Stark variant.

CorndogBurglar - 7/28/2025, 10:11 AM

@Pimpanzee - I didnt say he would...

KennKathleen - 7/28/2025, 12:21 PM

@CorndogBurglar -

"We should never know what Doom really looks like. Even if we know RDJ is still playing him, in-story it should be a mystery."

vectorsigma - 7/28/2025, 7:27 AM

Marvel in overdrive for script changes with F4 performance at the BO.

Sinner - 7/28/2025, 7:37 AM

@vectorsigma - First Steps is going to end up being the highest grossing Marvel movie of the year, the second highest grossing CBM of the year, and the highest grossing movie of the franchise.

Superman is going to struggle to beat Man of Steel, a movie that came out 12 years ago, which was considered a colossal disappointment by the studio and led to this reboot. It’s not hard to see which movie is doing objectively worse.

Two things are happening here right now. RDJ is obviously killing it as Doom alongside the FF cast, and the FF’s unanimous praise has brought them back to forefront of the conversation. Their future is now at the utmost importance, and that includes Doom.

vectorsigma - 7/28/2025, 7:46 AM

@Sinner -

"highest grossing Marvel movie of the year"

Dont be like josh wilding and his spins. This is no big feat

"Superman is going to struggle to beat Man of Steel"

You are now sounding like a snyder bot. Mos was released at such an ideal time for cbms. International is a bummer but this has been a darling domestically. And why bring MOS and superman in the conversation?

"RDJ is obviously killing it as Doom"

We havent seen him yet. What are you talking about?

Sinner - 7/28/2025, 7:51 AM

@vectorsigma - No, but Marvel have and if they’re planning to bring him back already, what does that tell you?

We got two reboots this year and only one of them is struggling to beat their predecessor, and it isn’t Fantastic Four. If you’re going to try spin First Steps as some sort of disappointment, keep that same energy for Superman.

AllsGood - 7/28/2025, 7:54 AM

@vectorsigma - HELLO! Marvel Studios Fantastic Four: First Steps movie Opened the Same as Superman Box Office Numbers.

vectorsigma - 7/28/2025, 8:00 AM

@Sinner - dude. This is a rumorfrom an unreliabke source. What's constant with marvel is changing scripts depending on thr weather.

A lot were disappointed they put rdj as doom, good luck when the GA gets confused.

F4 is tracking to have bad legs, beaten by Superman OW, DOA in china. What is there to spin?

And why has this become a comparison of BO by predecessors? 😭😭😭😭

vectorsigma - 7/28/2025, 8:08 AM

@AllsGood -

https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/fantastic-four-first-steps-box-office-opening-weekend-1236471441/

https://variety.com/2025/film/box-office/superman-box-office-opening-weekend-1236459080/

AllsGood - 7/28/2025, 8:11 AM

@vectorsigma - FLOPS because both movies will Lose Money for the Studios.

vectorsigma - 7/28/2025, 8:17 AM

@AllsGood - i agree they are still flops atm.

But the other one is a "well-received flop" 😂

Sinner - 7/28/2025, 8:21 AM

@vectorsigma - Because Superman is the only movie that is struggling to live up to the franchise potential set by its predecessors. You can try brush that under the carpet that if you want, but not while you’re making noise about First Steps.

AllsGood - 7/28/2025, 8:24 AM

@vectorsigma - Lets Compare.

Marvel Studios Fantastic Four: First Steps Rotten Tomatoes Score Critics 87% with Audience Score of 93%

James Gunn, Superman Rotten Tomatoes Score Critics 83% with Audience Score of 91%

bobevanz - 7/28/2025, 8:47 AM

@Sinner - you keep bringing up Man of Steel which came AFTER TDK trilogy. The reviews weren't great, the only reason it made money was because of what came before it and also the staggered OS release dates. Superman will get close to the 667 million, the legs will be even better if tje front loaded F4 ends up like Thunderbolts. Right now it has a multiplier closer to Thor 4 lol. I'm not trying to take sides, idk why you have to. I see F4 barely making 600M. I also see the general audience hating the "mustache twirling" villain swaps of their beloved characters. But what do I know lmao

bobevanz - 7/28/2025, 8:51 AM

@AllsGood - "WAKE UP! James Gunn Superman is ALREADY Box Office Flop. Not even close to Man of Steel Box Office Numbers. "

Not a flop. Almost to the break even with plenty of room to go.

"James Gunn already Confirmed there will be No Sequel to Superman." Taken out of context lmao.

Don't be like this!

kider2 - 7/28/2025, 8:57 AM

@AllsGood - Lets Compare.

Marvel Studios Fantastic Four: First Steps Score Critics 64 with Audience Score of 6.6 on Metacritic

James Gunn, Superman Rotten Tomatoes Score Critics 68 with Audience Score of 7.4 on Metacritic

So all your Rotten Tomatoes score says is more people would recommend Fantastic Four. But overall Superman got the higher ratings.

CorndogBurglar - 7/28/2025, 9:04 AM

@Sinner - So, thats the problem though. Yes, F4 made more money this year than the other Marvel movies, but that still isnt even close to impressive.

mountainman - 7/28/2025, 9:06 AM

@Sinner - Comparing to Man of Steel is so lame. The overall box office was higher back then, CBMs were a more consistently performing genre, and that movie didn’t have the crap of the DCEU burdening it down.

I liked Man of Steel and Superman. Both good for different reasons. Superman is unlikely to pass Man of Steel, but it’ll likely outperform all 3 MCU movies this year. Do you think WB isn’t happy with that result? I do.

FF won’t perform anywhere close to past Marvel movies from pre-2019 either, but Disney will consider this a success if it keeps performing as it has.

If Doomsday makes less than Endgame and Infinity War will you consider it a flop as well?

AllsGood - 7/28/2025, 9:25 AM

@kider2 - MISSING 4 CRITICS! Marvel Studios Fantastic Four: First Steps Score Critics 64 with Audience Score of 6.6 on Metacritic.

Let's talks after Fantastic Four: First Steps gets 4 more Critics.

regularmovieguy - 7/28/2025, 9:38 AM

@AllsGood

"We all know Superman budget was 400 million plus Marketing Cost."

Lolwut

vectorsigma - 7/28/2025, 9:41 AM

@AllsGood - why conpare rt score now??? 😭😭😭😭

You just said

"Fantastic Four: First Steps movie Opened the Same as Superman Box Office Numbers"

AllsGood - 7/28/2025, 9:42 AM

@regularmovieguy - We have discussed many times on this site.

AND if you're going to use ALL Marvel Studios Movies Budgets and Marketing Cost against them. Same RULE should apply to WB/DC DCU movie.

AllsGood - 7/28/2025, 9:45 AM

@regularmovieguy - You tell me what DCU Superman Budget and Marking Cost was? HUGE!

For Marvel Studios movies it's been 2 TIMES the movie Budget.

AllsGood - 7/28/2025, 9:50 AM

@vectorsigma - I thought both movies were GREAT but I both movies were Flops.

You tell me what DCU Superman Budget and Marking Cost was? HUGE!

For Marvel Studios movies it's been 2 TIMES the movie Budget.

regularmovieguy - 7/28/2025, 9:54 AM

@AllsGood

Lol. You’ve lost your marbles, dude.

AllsGood - 7/28/2025, 10:11 AM

@vectorsigma - The film's success will depend on its box office performance, with projections suggesting it needs to gross around $700 million globally to break even.

regularmovieguy - 7/28/2025, 10:11 AM

@AllsGood

The general rule is production budget x 2.5. 225x2.5 means the break even is 562.5.

ObserverIO - 7/28/2025, 10:22 AM

@AllsGood - $350M total for Superman.

$700M would be twice that if all theaters took 50%, but apparently it's less than that for Superman. But there's no way it's $500M or whatever they want us to believe. Probably a lot closer to $600-650M.

Matador - 7/28/2025, 10:38 AM

@AllsGood - Will see how F4 fares in it's second week and how much it drops percentage wise. That will determine how much legs and will make overall.

Matador - 7/28/2025, 10:57 AM

@AllsGood - I really could care less for both I'll just watch them both at some point when they hit streaming on Disney + or Max.

I'm not defending them both as I have no stake nor do they pay me to care.

But bro you sound like a fanatic crazy fan thinking your going to get your points across people that care.
And the General Audience doesn't give a crap about what we both think.

AllsGood - 7/28/2025, 11:04 AM

@Matador - As a Marvel Fan I'm beaten over the head with this stuff. On all Marvel Studio Movies.

Matador - 7/28/2025, 11:09 AM

@AllsGood - I gave up after Dr. Strange MoM & Spider-Man Far from Home and haven't even watched the shows just the Netflix stuff. Been disappointed with DC movies during Snyder's reign only watched BvS, W.W, & Aquaman, Shazam, and gave up on the rest.

For me DC & Marvel have sucked ass since then.

Sinner - 7/28/2025, 7:27 AM

Well, they kind of have to. Doom isn’t a one and done. He’s thee comic book villain.

Apophis71 - 7/28/2025, 8:27 AM

@Sinner - He is BUT if looking like Tony was some form of glamour and not the characters true form prior to a narrative event or tech they could have switched to another actor post Secret Wars, but yeh I doubt they ever planned to kill him off or sideline after Secret Wars or IF they did kill him there would be a Variant to take his place.

RUMOR: Marvel Studios Is Considering Keeping Robert Downey Jr. As Doctor Doom After AVENGERS: SECRET WARS

According to a new report, Marvel Studios is mulling over whether to keep Robert Downey Jr. as the MCU's Doctor Doom after Avengers: Secret Wars. We also have updates on Ghost Rider and the Blade movie.

Kevin Feige On Post-AVENGERS: SECRET WARS Reboot, MCU's X-MEN, And Why Doctor Doom REALLY Replaced Kang

RUMOR: Here's How AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY Will Alter One Key Plot Point From THE KANG DYNASTY - SPOILERS

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.