In what could be one of the most daring creative moves in the MCU to date, Robert Downey Jr.’s return not as Iron Man but as Doctor Doom promises a game-changing twist. With ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ shaping up to be a colossal crossover featuring Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men, there are a lot of speculations.
And the main theory among them suggests Doom might not be the villain we expect, at least not right away.
Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Could Help The Avengers Before Betraying Them
According to mounting speculation and cryptic hints from Marvel Studios, Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom could initially present himself as a heroic ally from a destroyed universe. This false persona would hide a darker agenda. It would not only mirror past betrayals in the MCU but potentially surpass them in scale and consequence. It’s a classic Marvel twist.
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However, with Downey’s gravitas and the stakes of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, it could be very impactful. One of the most compelling theories emerging post-’Thunderbolts*’ involves the mysterious arrival of a ship marked with the iconic “4” which is the symbol of the Fantastic Four in Earth-616. But as sharp-eyed fans and even Marvel boss Kevin Feige have hinted, that ship may not belong to the Fantastic Four at all.
This version of Doom wouldn’t attack immediately. That would be too blunt, too expected. This Doom builds trust first. He might even help solve early threats, all while subtly undermining the heroes from within. And if anyone could sell this complex arc, it’s Robert Downey Jr. It’s the perfect disguise. And it wouldn’t be the first time Marvel played with expectations. From Mysterio’s “hero from another Earth” routine in ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ to Loki’s many betrayals, the MCU has long thrived on character deception. But Doom could take it to a whole new level.
What Could Drive Doctor Doom’s Wrath?
In Marvel Comics, Victor Von Doom is many things: a genius, a monarch, a magician. However, most importantly, he is a man who is forever at odds with Reed Richards. The rivalry between Doom and Mr. Fantastic is central to the ‘Secret Wars’ comic arc and is deeply personal. Marvel Studios may be playing the long game with this dynamic. They could reveal in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ that Doom and Reed were once allies before their timeline was annihilated.
In case you missed it: How Doctor Strange Made Doctor Doom Earth-616’s Greatest Enemy In ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
If that timeline’s destruction is what truly breaks Doom, it would give his villainy emotional depth. He doesn’t turn evil “just because.” He turns because he believes no one else is worthy of protecting the multiverse. Reed Richards failed. The Fantastic Four failed. Doom alone survives and in his mind, that’s proof of his superiority.
His betrayal, then, wouldn’t be purely treacherous. It would be inevitable. Once he earns the Avengers’ trust, gains access to advanced multiversal tech, or even allies like Strange or Captain Marvel, he can make his move. And when he does betray them (when the mask finally drops) it won’t just be another villain reveal. It’ll be a gut punch.
