Robert Downey Jr. As The MCU’s Doctor Doom? There’s Two Explanations

Late Saturday at SDCC, Marvel Studios shocked fans by announcing Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU, not as Tony Stark, but as Doctor Doom in the upcoming film, Avengers: Doomsday.

While the revelation was met with explosive excitement, it left many fans puzzled. How will this work? What exactly is Marvel planning?

There are two primary theories, one of which seems more plausible and favorable than the other.

Theory One: Robert Downey Jr. is Playing an Evil Tony Stark Variant

This theory suggests that before Avengers: Doomsday, Doctor Doom will appear in the Fantastic Four movie, set in a non-MCU universe. In this alternate world, Tony Stark might have taken a darker path, becoming a masked, armored villain instead of a hero.

This idea isn’t without precedent. In the comics, Victor Von Doom once took up the Iron Man mantle in the Infamous Iron Man series. Additionally, in an alternate universe (Earth-11029), Tony Stark and Doom switched minds, allowing Doom to inhabit Stark’s body. This could technically align with the Russo Bros. stating that Downey Jr. is playing Victor Von Doom, not Stark, though it’s a less preferred option.

Theory Two: Robert Downey Jr. is Playing Victor Von Doom Without Stark-Strings Attached

This simpler explanation posits that Downey Jr., being a versatile actor, is cast as Victor Von Doom and will deliver a performance distinct from his portrayal of Tony Stark. Marvel Studios will likely make significant changes to his appearance, potentially beyond just removing his iconic goatee.

Another factor is Doctor Doom’s mask, which he wears most of the time, suggesting that this role would involve a lot of voicework. This straightforward approach sees Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom in the Fantastic Four universe, without any Tony Stark multiverse twists. However, since the storyline still involves the multiverse, surprises can’t be ruled out.

This casting decision carries significant risk. Doctor Doom is a legendary character, and fans have strong opinions about who should portray him (Cillian Murphy was a recent fan favorite). While Downey Jr.’s involvement generates excitement, it also brings confusion and some anger, with concerns that this might be a gimmick to draw audiences back to the MCU.

Whether this move is good or bad remains to be seen, but the two theories above seem to be the most plausible explanations for Robert Downey Jr.’s surprising new role.

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Internal Links

• Read more about Avengers: Doomsday on our Avengers page.
• Discover the latest updates on the Fantastic Four movie on Uptoskills.
• Learn about the MCU multiverse in our Multiverse Explained section.