Robert Downey Jr.’s coming back to the MCU to play Doctor Doom

Marvel Studios brought big news to San Diego Comic Con’s Hall H panel by unveiling the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s updated release schedule. However, the biggest tremor hit when the panelists announced Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU, not as Iron Man, but as Victor von Doom.

The now Oscar-winning actor is returning to play legendary Marvel villain Doctor Doom, just in time for the Fantastic Four to make their long-awaited MCU debut. This casting sheds much light on Marvel Studio’s plans for the MCU’s future, so let’s break down what Downey’s return means and what kind of Doom the ex-Iron Man could play.

The new Doom

While this year’s Hall H shared some new info about Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts, and Fantastic Four: First Steps, we also learned that Joe and Anthony Russo are back to direct two new Avengers films: Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

A choir of robed, steel-masked figures stepped on stage to herald the latter film’s announcement. Joe and Anthony, ever the showmen, stressed that only “the greatest actor in the world” could play someone as charismatic and complex as Victor von Doom. Cut to Downey Jr. stepping out from the assembly and unmasking himself before a roaring crowd.

Doom’s MCU incarnation might go in two different directions

Some praised Downey’ Jr.’s casting as a welcome return to form, but others denounced it. Most, I imagine, were just confused. As Iron Man, Downey Jr. was the long-time face of the MCU, and many fans are wondering how the franchise will handle the fact that its new big bad has the same face as its greatest hero.

If I had to guess, Marvel’s going in two ways with this. The first involves the multiverse, which the MCU has focused on throughout Phases 4 and 5. The MCU’s Doctor Doom could be a variant of Tony Stark from another universe who broke bad and used his incredible intellect for evil. Downey Jr.’s  Doctor Doom could come from the retro-futuristic alternate universe that Fantastic Four: First Steps’ set in, so we could even see Downey’s Doom debut there before making his way into the MCU’s “Sacred Timeline.”

Alternatively, Downey’s Doom might have nothing to do with Tony Stark. Downey Jr.’s a great actor, something his Oscar-winning performance in Oppenheimer proved beyond a doubt. Victor von Doom spends most of his time behind a mask, so we might never see Downey Jr.’s face in this new role. Going this route would allow the MCU to preserve many of the unique and exciting elements of Victor’s history, including his profoundly personal rivalry with Reed Richards and his tragedy-born affinity for magic.