There are many things for MCU fans to be excited about this year at Comic-Con as Marvel announced many new updates on upcoming films. Apart from updates on The Fantastic Four: First Steps (which is the latest title) and Thunderbolts*, the highlight was Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the franchise but as Doctor Doom.
The actor was announced as the villain for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars films. The penultimate film in the Multiverse Saga is rumored to have multiple heroes, with as many as sixty Marvel heroes joining the fold, including Ryan Gosling and Henry Cavill’s rumored appearances as Ghost Rider and Captain Britain.
Will Ryan Gosling And Henry Cavill Join Robert Downey Jr. In Avengers 5?
The hierarchy in the Marvel universe is about to change. After a well-needed bounce back to the franchise with Deadpool & Wolverine, the MCU is now back with new announcements at Comic-Con. Kevin Feige announced that the Russos would be returning to direct the next two Avengers films, titled Doomsday and Secret Wars.
However, the highlight of the day had to be the reveal that Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. woud be returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. The films would reportedly be based on the Secret Wars storyline from the comics, with multiple superheroes joining the fold.
With as many as 60 heroes and teams rumored to appear, the film is set to be packed with more people than Infinity War and Endgame. The rumored appearances also include Captain Britain and Ghost Rider, who is rumored to be played by Henry Cavill and Ryan Gosling respectively (via MyTimeToShineHello)
Though Cavill already made an MCU appearance recently, the actor wished to play Captain Britain (via THR) and it has widely been rumored that he will be joining the MCU. Gosling, on the other hand, has been rumored to either play Nova or Ghost Rider, with the latter being the actor’s favorite.
Robert Downey Jr. And The Russos Have a Huge Task At Hand With Avengers 5
The Russos have proved their track record for handling a huge roster of superheroes in films like Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. Both films reportedly earned more than $2 billion at the box office, with the latter being the highest-grossing film of all time for a brief period before being surpassed by an Avatar re-release.
With the duo returning to helm the next two Avengers films and Robert Downey Jr. returning to play Doctor Doom, the trio have a huge task at hand. Handling the multiverse while also positioning Doctor Doom as the main antagonist, without Downey Jr.’s legacy as Iron Man being tarnished is the perfect recipe for disaster which they have to avoid.
The film will reportedly also see the Fantastic Four, Thunderbolts, Deadpool, Wolverine, and more A-list heroes and teams. The Russos themselves have called the comic book storyline the most ambitious one to date (via Variety),
When we directed ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ we really believed it was the end for us in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That four-movie run was incredible, and it left us creatively spent. [Since then, we have found a] very special story…it’s the biggest story that Marvel comics ever told. It’s the reason that Anthony and I are standing up here.
While the passion seems to be strong with the duo, it is still a humungous task for the duo to make sure the films deliver and hopefully, not tarnish Marvel’s legacy.
Avengers: Doomsday will be out in cinemas in May 2026 while Secret Wars will be out in May 2027.
