Avengers: Robert Downey Jr. returns to the MCU... but not as Tony Stark

Here's a surprise we weren't expecting... Robert Downey Jr., known for his iconic role asIron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will finally be making his return to Marvel in Avengers 6, which will change everything since the film, originally centered on Kang the Conqueror, will finally revolve around DoctorDoom, the nemesis of the Fantastic 4. Entitled Avengers: Doomsday, the superheroic feature was unveiled on Saturday July 27 at San Diego Comic Con, and is scheduled for release in May 2026.

But it's not as Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, that the actor makes his return... He'll be playing Doctor Doom, much to everyone's surprise. The actor, recently seen in Oppenheimer, made a theatrical entrance on the Comic-Con stage, surrounded by masked characters, before revealing his big comeback to the crowd."New mask. Same task. What did I tell you? I like playing complex characters," he said. This return marks a turning point for Marvel, which has suffered from complex storylines and the departure of key characters, notably Iron Man.

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The Marvel universe is also set to welcome Harrison Ford and Pedro Pascal, in an attempt to breathe new life into a franchise that, despite its 30 billion box-office receipts, is struggling. Harrison Ford will play Thaddeus Ross, an American president transformed into the Red Hulk, in Captain America: Brave New World, scheduled for 2025. Meanwhile, Pedro Pascal joins the cast of The Fantastic 4: First Steps, as Reed Richards, scheduled for July 2025.

With three new films slated for release in 2025, including Thunderbolts, and the expected return of the Russo brothers to direct the next Avengers, Marvel is hoping to win back its fans and rekindle the flame of the franchise. The announcement of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom already seems to be generating huge excitement... Fingers crossed!