Robert Downey Jr. is no stranger to redefining superheroes, but his next Marvel role may be his most daring yet. After over a decade of being the face of the MCU as Tony Stark/Iron Man, the actor is returning in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ as the iconic villain Victor von Doom.
The casting choice stunned fans when it was unveiled. Moreover, with the Multiverse Saga nearing its conclusion in Phase 6, Marvel Studios has made it clear that Doctor Doom won’t be a side character. And one person who believes this casting will be nothing short of seismic is ‘Iron Man 3’ director Shane Black.
“He’s Going To Reinvigorate The Industry”: Shane Black On Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU Return
In a new conversation with ComicBook, Shane Black reflected on working with Robert Downey Jr. in 2013’s ‘Iron Man 3’ and shared his reaction to the actor’s unexpected return as a villain. Far from being skeptical, Black believes Downey will reshape the entire trajectory of the genre. “I think he’s going to singlehandedly reinvigorate the entire comic book movie industry with that,” Black said. “At first, it sounded like a cynical idea, going back to the one guy who always saves us. But it’s going to work. It’s really going to work.”
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Coming from a filmmaker who steered one of the MCU’s biggest box office hits, that confidence carries weight. Downey has already wrapped filming for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, which releases in December 2026, and is expected to continue the role in ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ shortly after. What makes this move even more significant is how it reshapes the MCU’s villain landscape. Following Jonathan Majors’ departure and the end of Kang’s arc, Marvel needed a powerful, beloved, and bankable figure to command the final phase of The Multiverse Saga.
Instead of introducing a new face, the studio took a high-stakes gamble: recasting their ultimate hero as their ultimate villain. Some fans see this as inspired. Others are wary. Still, there’s no denying the momentum this decision has already created. Doctor Doom isn’t just entering the MCU; he’s entering with the star power of a franchise-defining legend. However, whether Downey’s Doom becomes the genre-saving force Shane Black envisions will depend largely on how the upcoming Avengers films utilize him.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Might Have Confirmed Her ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Involvement
While Downey’s casting dominates headlines, fans are buzzing about another unexpected MCU revelation: Julia Louis-Dreyfus may have just confirmed her involvement in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ without meaning to. Julia, who plays Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in the MCU, appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and tried hard not to spoil anything. However, Kimmel had other plans.
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When asked point-blank if she’s in ‘Doomsday’, she dodged with a playful “No, no… I can’t answer that.” But while she was recounting an interaction with The Rizzler during the ‘Thunderbolts’ press tour, Kimmel expertly trapped her with a follow-up. “Is there any possibility that when you’re doing press for Avengers: Doomsday, you’ll have another visit with The Rizzler?” Without thinking, Louis-Dreyfus replied, “I suppose so!” before realizing the implication.
However, she immediately tried to walk it back, claiming it was a misunderstanding. Louis-Dreyfus is fully aware of Marvel’s spoiler minefield, yet even she slipped. And she’s not the only mystery. Multiple cameos remain unconfirmed, fueling speculation that ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘ could rival ‘Endgame‘ in scope. With the film slated for December 18, 2026, hype is building months ahead of marketing.
