Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom in “Avengers: Doomsday” – What to Expect?

With Avengers: Doomsday approaching, excitement is mounting over Robert Downey Jr.’s highly anticipated return to the MCU, this time as the iconic villain Doctor Doom. Naturally, fans are buzzing with theories on how RDJ’s Doom will debut, with some drawing connections to Marvel Comics’ Superior Iron Man storyline. Could Downey’s Doom be a twisted version of Tony Stark from an alternate universe? Let’s explore the possibilities.
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The Superior Iron Man Connection
In Marvel’s Superior Iron Man series, Tony Stark becomes a darker version of himself after the Axis event. Drunk on power, he views himself as a god, ultimately leading to a final confrontation with Captain America, which ends in both of their deaths before reality is reset. This storyline sparked major fan speculation leading up to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, with rumors suggesting that Tom Cruise would portray an alternate Iron Man in the film. Though that never happened, elements of Superior Iron Man could still influence RDJ’s Doctor Doom.
This version of Doom might start as a dark, power-hungry genius like Superior Iron Man, setting up the character as a major threat in Avengers: Doomsday and potentially Avengers: Secret Wars. But before that, Doctor Doom’s debut might occur in an entirely different Marvel franchise.
Doctor Doom’s Comic History with the Fantastic Four
Doctor Doom is most famously the arch-nemesis of the Fantastic Four, not the Avengers. In the comics, Doom’s bitter rivalry with Reed Richards (aka Mister Fantastic) goes back decades, and this antagonism might serve as the perfect introduction for RDJ’s version of Doom. With Pedro Pascal cast as Reed Richards in the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps, it would make sense for Doom to first appear in that film, perhaps in a post-credits scene teasing his larger role in the MCU.
Much like Thanos’ smirking introduction at the end of The Avengers, this reveal would position Doom as the next major villain, primed to clash with the Avengers after squaring off against the Fantastic Four. However, RDJ’s familiar face as Doom wouldn’t go unnoticed by Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, leading to some intriguing reactions within the MCU.
Could Doom Be an Iron Man Variant from the Multiverse?
One of the more intriguing fan theories is that RDJ’s Doctor Doom could actually be an alternate version of Iron Man from Earth-838, introduced in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. With Ultron guards present in that reality, there may have been a Superior Iron Man lurking in the shadows. Following the destruction caused by Scarlet Witch, this version of Tony Stark could seek revenge by traveling across realities, eventually transforming into Doctor Doom.
This iteration of Doom could blend Stark’s genius with the mystical powers of Doom, donning the iconic green cloak and armor. With magic, science, and multiversal chaos on his side, Doom could be a truly formidable adversary for the Avengers and Fantastic Four alike.
Will RDJ’s Doctor Doom Live Up to the Hype?
Theories abound, but whether RDJ’s Doom will be a Latverian monarch or a twisted Iron Man variant, one thing is certain: his arrival will have seismic effects on the MCU. Whether he faces off against Sam Wilson’s Captain America, Carol Danvers’ Captain Marvel, or even the Fantastic Four, the MCU is about to meet its next great villain, and Doom is bound to be a game-changer.