During Marvel’s appearance at San Diego Comic-Con, the astounding news was revealed:
Robert Downey Jr. is scheduled to make a comeback to the Fantastic Four film franchise as the iconic villain Doctor Doom in the upcoming May 2026 release of Avengers: Doomsday and May 2027 release of Avengers: Secret Wars. Additionally, Kevin Feige formally declared that the Russo brothers will helm the next two Avengers movies.
Iron Man (2008) marked the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Downey went on to become one of the biggest movie stars in the world. His contributions enabled the MCU to surpass all previous box office records, and he was richly rewarded, taking home paychecks totaling $50 million. Following his character’s death in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame while rescuing the universe, Downey announced his retirement from the role of Iron Man/Tony Stark. Finding a hero to fill the big void left by Downey has proven difficult for Marvel, which makes Saturday’s announcement all the more significant.
Downey spoke to the crowd from the stage, “New mask, same task.”
In an almost ritualistic ceremony, Downey was unveiled alongside Feige and the Russo Brothers, surrounded by roughly twenty olive-robed men wearing masks reminiscent of Doctor Doom made of metal. Joe Russo stated, “If we’re going to bring Victor Von Doom to the screen, this could be one of the most entertaining characters in all of fiction. He is one of the more complex characters in all of comics.” “The world’s greatest actor will be required if we are to pull this off.”
The crowd was tense, having been exposed to an hour of Marvel Hall H madness earlier in the evening. “We give you the one person who could play Victor von Doom as proof of the unimaginable possibilities of the Marvel Universe,” he went on.
Next, a man wearing a green suit and wearing a mask came forward and removed his mask. He seemed proud and prepared for the attention. It happened instantly, as the more than 6,500 audience members lost all mental clarity.
That four-movie run was incredible
Anthony Russo remarked,following the screening of a montage of their flicks. And it left us completely exhausted, with every feeling strewn across the floor. Joe and I have subsequently been able to possibly see a path forward with all of you thanks to a very special story. It’s the biggest story that Marvel Comics has ever told, and it’s the first comic book run that I read as a kid that made me fall in love with comics, Joe Russo continued where his brother had left off. Ant and I are standing up here because of it. And I believe that you are all aware of its name. The title of Avengers: Secret Wars appeared on the large screen.
The upcoming Avengers films will be written by Stephen McFeely, who collaborated with Christopher Markus on the Russos’ Marvel films. Secret Wars, the title of two 1980s Marvel event books, has long been considered the Russo brothers’ ideal project. Marvel’s heroes and villains were taken to a world named Battle World in Secret Wars by an all-powerful creature known as The Beyonder, where they were made to engage in combat.
The decision was made in the midst of Deadpool & Wolverine’s record-breaking first weekend, which is expected to rank as the highest-opening R-rated film of all time and has given the MCU new life.
The Avengers franchise is the pinnacle of Marvel Studios, which established its name by uniting the heroes of Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor in a team-up that became a genre-defining success in 2012. Many believed that this feat was unachievable.