Amid fans’ excitement surrounding the recently released Deadpool & Wolverine movie, Marvel dropped yet another intriguing announcement. Attending the San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, Joe and Anthony Russo confirmed Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU. Only this time, the Oscar winner won’t be stepping into his legendary Iron Man suit; instead, he’s going to appear as Doctor Doom.
The news of Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU has spread through the internet like wildfire, and Marvel fans are simply going crazy over it. Most people were failing to fathom this news when Avengers star Anthony Mackie addressed Downey Jr.’s return and reflected on his opinion.
After Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. Will Now Play Doctor Doom in MCU
After we lost Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame (2019), fans had been constantly looking for loopholes in timelines, and theories to somehow bring back the beloved actor. Finally, it seems Joe and Anthony Russo heard people’s pleas. Therefore, appearing at the San Diego Comic-Con during the Marvel panel, the sibling directors announced Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU.
However, while fans had been expecting him to return as Iron Man, Joe and Anthony Russo seemingly added a plot twist when they revealed that the actor will make his comeback as a supervillain. According to video footage posted online from inside Hall H, the Oscar winner, at the age of 59, announced his return as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday (2026), followed by Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
New mask, same task. What did I tell ya? I like playing complicated characters. Downey Jr. announced.
For all this time, Marvel successfully managed to keep Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU a secret. But now that the studio confirmed his comeback, there appeared several questions about how Marvel will balance Downey’s double duty. Although Endgame had concluded Iron Man’s chapter, fans now wonder if the MCU is set to follow the storyline of Infamous Iron Man (via Marvel Fandom) or come up with something far more intriguing.
Anthony Mackie Joked About Robert Downey Jr.’s Return as Super Villain
Meanwhile, as the announcement about Robert Downey Jr.’s return hit social media, fans, and even a few actors offered their opinions on the star’s villain era. Considering RDJ’s strength and stamina at 59 to play a supervillain, few of his co-stars dropped their positive message for the actor. Among all, it was Avengers star Anthony Mackie, whose cryptic message for Downey Jr. stole attention.
During his conversation with THR at San Diego Comic-Con, when Anthony Mackie found out about Robert RDJ’s new Marvel role, the actor simply began by expressing his shock, followed by his excitement. However, midway through the conversation, Mackie took to his hilarious antics and said that he wishes to be the first one to take down Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, in a showdown.
It was just revealed in Hall H that your fellow Avenger Robert Downey Jr is back in the MCU as Doctor Doom. They just shared it. How does it feel to welcome him back into the MCU? Interviewer asked
I better kill him first. I get first dibs to knock him off. Yeah, he’s going to pull a hamstring or something, I am going to take him down. I am not going lightly into this dark night. Mackie responded.
Apart from the hilariously welcoming message from Anthony Mackie, Robert Downey Jr’s return to the MCU as a supervillain was also met with an eye-popping reaction from his Oppenheimer co-star Florence Pugh. Speaking with Variety, the actress appeared visibly shocked before stating that she did not see this coming. So it seems that Marvel is always one step ahead with their tricks up their sleeves.
