A new Marvel Cinematic Universe theory could completely change how we view Iron Man’s heroic sacrifice in ‘Avengers: Endgame’, and it all ties back to Doctor Strange, the multiverse, and the long-awaited debut of Doctor Doom. With Robert Downey Jr. officially returning in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, speculation has exploded.
Fans have debated how Marvel would justify bringing back the face of the MCU without undermining Tony Stark’s emotional farewell. Now, a wild and strangely convincing theory suggests Doctor Strange may have known this all along, and that Tony’s death wasn’t just about defeating Thanos. It may have been about preventing Doom from ever existing.
Doctor Strange’s Knowledge Of The Multiverse Could Explain Everything
When it comes to understanding the multiverse, few MCU heroes are as experienced as Doctor Strange. Yes, Loki might technically have more hands-on experience with timelines and variants, but in the film side of the MCU, Stephen Strange is the go-to sorcerer for anything involving alternate realities. In ‘Avengers: Infinity War’, Strange told Tony Stark he had viewed 14,000,605 possible futures, and only one led to the Avengers’ victory.
Related: Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Reportedly Has A Scarred Face In ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
So, what if that single path to victory wasn’t just about defeating Thanos, but also about stopping something even worse from rising? This idea gains traction when we remember Strange’s later adventures. In ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’, he became deeply entangled in the chaos of multiversal breaches. He learned about “dreamwalking,” incursions, and the existential dangers that come when powerful beings tamper with the fabric of reality.
Those lessons retroactively make his decision in ‘Infinity War’ even more fascinating. A Reddit theory proposes that Strange’s “one chance” was never purely about Thanos; it was about who would come next. The theory claims that the MCU’s upcoming ‘Secret Wars’ story is a cycle. It’s a cycle that keeps repeating endlessly. In this cycle, Doctor Doom must rise, destroy the multiverse, and allow it to be reborn again. Strange, having glimpsed these cycles, may have believed that by letting Tony Stark die, he could prevent Doom’s emergence.
After all, both characters, Iron Man and Doom, share striking similarities: genius inventors, armored titans, and men whose ambitions often border on godlike. If Strange saw a timeline where Robert Downey Jr.’s face appeared again, not as Tony, but as Victor Von Doom, it might have terrified him. In that case, Tony’s sacrifice wasn’t just noble, it was necessary. Strange wasn’t only saving the universe from Thanos; he was trying to save it from Tony Stark himself, or at least a version of him.
Doctor Doom’s Connection To Iron Man Can Reshape ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
Robert Downey Jr.’s confirmed return as Victor Von Doom in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ immediately raised questions. Could Marvel really bring him back as a villain after his perfect send-off in ‘Endgame’? It turned out to be a yes, and perhaps more meaningfully than anyone expected. In the comics, Tony Stark and Victor Von Doom have a long, complicated history. They’re intellectual equals, two of the smartest men in the Marvel Universe.
In case you missed it: Marvel Just Killed Thor, But It Could Be The Best Thing For ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
However, they represent opposite paths. Tony uses his intellect to atone for his past mistakes, while Doom uses his to dominate and reshape the world in his image. That’s where the theory becomes almost poetic. If Secret Wars is truly based on a cycle, then Tony’s death may have merely delayed the inevitable. Doom must rise, and this time, it wears a familiar face. This connection becomes even more intriguing when we revisit comments made by the Russo Brothers.
In a recent interview with The Times, the directors refused to discuss Iron Man’s death, saying it’s “part of the story” of the next Avengers movies. That cryptic remark suddenly feels loaded. What if Tony’s death isn’t the end of his story but a pivot point that leads to his rebirth? If the theory holds, Strange’s decision in Endgame may be viewed in a new light. His calm “There was no other way” might carry more weight than we ever realized.
