Summary
Robert Downey Jr.is rumored to return to theMarvel Cinematic Universein the near future, and the actor’s possible shocking role could serve as the perfect replacement for Kang the Conqueror. Disney+‘sLokiset up Kang to be the new Thanos, serving as the main villain of the Multiverse Saga. However, with the villain’s formal debut inAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniabombing at the box office andKang actor Jonathan Majors getting dropped by Marvel Studiosfollowing his legal situation,Kang’s future in the MCU seems to have been destroyed.
Previously titledAvengers: The Kang Dynasty, the future return of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes will happen under a different name.Avengers 5will reportedly get a new title and story, leaving its planned focus on Kang and his variants behind. With Marvel Studios having a panel at San Diego Comic-Con,Avengers 5’s new storyand what will happen with Kang the Conqueror and the Council of Kangs could be revealed. With rumors that Marvel wants to bring back the original Avengers,Downey Jr. recently had a possible shocking MCU role teased, and that could be how the MCU replaces Kang.
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Robert Downey Jr. As Doctor Doom Could Give The Multiverse Saga Its New Kang
The Villain Would Be Perfect For The MCU’s Avengers Plans
Marvel could be bringing back RDJ to the MCU as a villain rather than a hero, which would be a shocking move. A report revealed that a possible story route to bring back Downey Jr. would be for theIron Man actor to return as Doctor Doom. That would not mean that RDJ would be the MCU’s Victor von Doom, but rather that the actor would be amultiverse variant of Tony Stark, who turned into Doctor Doominstead of becoming Iron Man like on Earth-616. WithThe Fantastic Fourcoming in 2025, that could soon be confirmed or not.
Rumors of the original Avengers returning to the MCU have been going on for some time. In November 2023, it was reported that Marvel was considering anew Avengers movie with the original MCU Avengers. More recently, Downey Jr. sparked speculation that he could be coming back as Tony Stark soon.RDJ commented on a possible Iron Man return, saying, “It’s just crazily in my DNA… I’ve become surprisingly open-minded to the idea.“With Downey’s comments coming in June and the influx of new MCU rumors, the actor’s return is starting to look ever more likely.
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RDJ’s Doctor Doom Would Ensure Iron Man’s Sacrifice Remains Untouched
Tony Stark’s Death Is One Of The MCU’s Biggest Moments
One of the most interesting aspects of Downey Jr. possibly returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom is the fact that it would avoid creating a major problem. Tony Stark’s death is easily the biggest in the MCU, with the character’s sacrifice inAvengers: Endgameleading to Thanos and his army turning to dust and the Avengers saving the day. That was the perfect ending to Downey’s long tenure in the MCU, withIron Man going from a selfish billionaire to a selfless hero. As such, many would feel betrayed if the character were to be resurrected.
Well, a multiverse variant of Tony Stark is a great way of getting RDJ back for more MCU appearances without messing with Tony Stark’s arc. Downey coming back as Doctor Doom would also allow his return to stand as far away from what the MCU previously did with Iron Man as possible. It would be a shocking but interesting move that has the potential tobring in a whole new element to Downey’s time as Tony Stark, offering a fresh look at the actor as a villain that makes his MCU return matter.
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How Marvel Comics Has The Perfect Setup For A Tony Stark Doctor Doom Variant
The MCU Could Follow An Intriguing Storyline
Downey’s possible role as a Tony Stark who becomes Doctor Doom has a precedent in Marvel Comics. In a “What If?” issue,Doctor Doom and Tony Stark’s minds end up swapping bodies. That led to Stark being in Doom’s body, eventually beating the fake Tony Stark but deciding to continue living as Victor von Doom. A version of that could be in play for the MCU, with RDJ’s multiversal Tony Stark actually being Tony’s body with Doctor Doom’s mind, which would explain a villainous turn.
Doctor Doom also needs to debut as fast as possible in the MCU. With Kang’s future up in the air, Doom is the best possible villain to take his role in the Multiverse Saga.Doctor Doom was crucial in the comics’ Secret Warsand could become the main threat the MCU heroes and other multiverse players get together to defeat inAvengers: Secret Wars. With the Fantastic Four rumored to come from another Earth,Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom could also be from there, with Earth-616’s Doom being revealed afterAvengers: Secret Wars.
Avengers: Secret Wars
Cast
Avengers: Secret Wars is an anticipated installment in Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, serving as the finale of The Multiverse Saga. Scheduled for release in December 2027, the film’s plot remains under wraps, fueling curiosity about its role in the expansive Marvel narrative.
