‘We Can’t Explain That As It’s Part Of The Story’ Did the Russo Brothers Just Confirm An Avengers: Doomsday Fan Theory?

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Summary

  • The Russo brothers will direct the next two Avengers movies, generating high expectations from fans due to their success in the MCU.
  • Robert Downey Jr. will return as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, with a mysterious connection to his character Iron Man.
  • Fans speculate that Doctor Doom’s role is linked to Tony Stark, making RDJ the ideal actor for the character.

Fans of Marvel have been brainstorming various theories regarding the upcoming Avengers films due to the reappearance of a significant actor in the franchise. Directors Joe Russo and Anthony Russo, who are back with Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, appear to have validated one theory.

The Russo brothers will direct the next two “Avengers” films, a decision that has been met with enthusiasm by fans, as the box office performance of many recent Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies has been lackluster. However, the Russos were responsible for some of the most successful MCU films, such as “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014), “Captain America: Civil War” (2016), “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018) and “Avengers: Endgame” (2019). They also served as executive producers for “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015) and “Captain Marvel” (2019). Given their track record with MCU hits, there are high expectations surrounding the upcoming “Avengers” film.

One standout aspect of “Avengers: Doomsday” is the reappearance of Robert Downey Jr., stepping into the role of the infamous supervillain Doctor Doom. Even Anthony Mackie, star of “Captain America: Brave New World,” was taken aback by this unexpected return in the franchise. Known for his portrayal of Tony Stark, aka Iron Man among the original Avengers, Downey Jr.’s character made a shocking sacrifice in “Endgame” to save Earth, leading to his untimely demise. However, astonishingly, he appeared at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con panel and was announced as Doctor Doom. In a conversation with The Times, directors Joe and Anthony Russo hinted that Downey Jr.’s casting could be linked to Iron Man’s death and that his return would significantly impact the narrative of “Doomsday.” They suggested:

The specifics of this can’t be revealed because they’re essential to the plot. However, there’s no other person on earth who could pull off portraying this character quite like the one you’ll soon see.

When Robert Downey Jr.’s new role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was unveiled, fans were left puzzled as they couldn’t comprehend how Iron Man could transform into a villain. Even Gwyneth Paltrow, who starred alongside Downey Jr. as Iron Man, appeared perplexed. She questioned on Instagram, “Wait, are you playing a bad guy now?“. The return of Downey Jr. in an entirely different character left most fans scratching their heads due to the abundance of talented actors capable of portraying Doctor Doom. However, if Doctor Doom is somehow connected to Iron Man, as suggested by Downey Jr.’s Instagram post featuring him as Doctor Doom, with the caption “New mask, same task“, it could make sense. In the “Infamous Iron Man” comic book series by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, Victor Von Doom took over as Iron Man after Tony Stark’s demise following the Civil War II. He used his modified Iron Man armor but retained his mystical abilities, depicting his internal struggles between heroism and his dark nature.

Given the Russo brothers’ statement about Robert Downey Jr.’s (RDJ) return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it seems likely that RDJ’s new character, Doctor Doom, has some ties to his previous role as Tony Stark/Iron Man. It would be simpler to cast a different actor for Doctor Doom if he were not connected to Tony Stark. However, since RDJ is such a beloved character in the MCU, it makes more sense that he would reprise his role as the main antagonist with some connection to his past. In other words, having RDJ play Doctor Doom without any link to his Iron Man history might be difficult for fans to accept – so there should definitely be a connection between the two characters.

Avengers: Doomsday will be released on May 1, 2026.

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2025-03-19 19:08