Iron Man's Return? Not So Fast! Robert Downey Jr. To Play Victor Von Doom

Robert Downey Jr. is making a triumphant return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but not as the beloved Iron Man. Instead, the actor is set to portray the iconic villain Victor Von Doom in the upcoming Avengers film, "Avengers: Doomsday." This news came as a shock to fans attending Marvel's San Diego Comic-Con presentation, where Downey made a surprise appearance to announce his role.

The "Avengers: Doomsday" film will be directed by the Russo brothers, who previously helmed the MCU blockbusters "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame." This marks their return to the franchise, and they are also set to direct the following Avengers film, "Avengers: Secret Wars."

Downey's initial foray into the MCU came in 2008 with "Iron Man," the film that kickstarted the interconnected universe envisioned by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. He went on to portray Tony Stark/Iron Man in a total of ten Marvel films over the next eleven years, including "Iron Man 2," "Iron Man 3," "The Incredible Hulk," "The Avengers," "Captain America: Civil War," "Avengers: Age of Ultron," "Spider-Man: Homecoming," "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame."

The latter film saw Iron Man's tragic demise, a moment that Marvel Studios has repeatedly stated they wouldn't revisit. In a December interview with Vanity Fair, Feige explicitly said, "We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again. We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way."

However, Downey has hinted at a potential return to the MCU in recent interviews. Following his Oscar win for "Oppenheimer," he was asked by Esquire magazine about a possible return. He responded enthusiastically, saying, "Happily. It’s too integral a part of my DNA. That role chose me. And look, I always say, ‘Never, ever bet against Kevin Feige.’ It is a losing bet. He’s the house. He will always win."

While a return to the MCU was expected, no one predicted it would be in the form of the formidable Doctor Doom. Downey's recent career highlights include his performance in Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He also starred in Park Chan-wook's HBO miniseries "The Sympathizer," earning an Emmy nomination for his role as CIA operative Claude.

With Downey's new role as Doctor Doom, the MCU is set for a thrilling new chapter. Fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of "Avengers: Doomsday" and "Avengers: Secret Wars," which promise to be epic cinematic experiences filled with action, suspense, and unexpected twists.