There have been undying rumors that Robert Downey Jr. will return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to reprise his role as Tony Stark / Iron Man after his iconic character’s demise in Anthony and Joe Russo’s 2019 Avengers: Endgame. The A-list actor himself has been teasing his possible comeback, though it remains to be seen how and when it will happen. Now, insider Jeff Sneider claimed that RDJ could make an epic comeback in the MCU in an unexpected role as Doctor Doom.
In Sneider’s latest newsletter, he claimed that the Russo brothers would return to the MCU to direct the upcoming Avengers movies, Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars. Allegedly, Marvel Studios finds it hard to find the perfect director/s to helm its next big films, so it eyes Anthony and Joe after the success of their Marvel movies. He then discussed that Downey could play a role in one of the two projects, and he could be the multiversal version of Doctor Doom.
"Speaking of Doctor Doom, there's still no word yet about his casting in Fantastic Four, as insiders denied my inquiry about Robert Downey Jr., who I was told might come back as an alternate-universe Tony Stark who becomes Doctor Doom instead of Iron Man," he wrote.
Sneider admitted that the idea seemed far-fetched, but it could be the only hope to see Downey return. If this happens, Marvel Studios may adapt Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev’s 2016 Infamous Iron Man, where Doctor Doom takes on the mantle of Iron Man after Tony’s death.
"I figured that if there was any hope of Downey coming back, there'd have to be a new wrinkle for him to play," Sneider added. "So, for now, we continue to wait."
Who is Infamous Iron Man?
Infamous Iron Man follows the story of Victor Von Doom as he assumes the role of Iron Man after Civil War II. Doom wears one of Tony’s suits after getting his hand on Stark Tech, turning himself into his own version of the Invincible Iron Man. But instead of Iron Man’s iconic scarlet and gold armor, he appears on a sheer silver with green accents and his iconic green hood.
As the Infamous Iron Man, Doom uses his knowledge of the supercriminal world to stop all the wrongdoings in the universe. However, despite his good intentions, his lack of social skills and past deeds make the S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Fantastic Four refuse to believe him. His old adversaries, like the Thing, doubt if he has truly changed, while his rivals, Wizard and Hood, see him as an enemy.
Will Robert Downey Jr. return to the MCU?
Though Downey’s return to the MCU isn’t confirmed yet, the actor himself has been open about the possibility. After his exit following End Game, the 59-year-old said on Variety’s Actors on Actors that being Iron Man is part of his DNA. He even called the role the most “like-me character” he had ever played.
"It’s just crazily in my DNA. Probably the most like-me character I’ve ever played, even though he’s way cooler than I am," he said. "I’ve become surprisingly open-minded to the idea."
After playing Iron Man in 10 MCU movies, there’s no denying that Downey has made a huge impact. Sure, he has the perfect send-off after sacrificing himself to save the universe, with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige saying there’s no way for him to return. However, giving him a new arc and character to play could be the perfect comeback that won’t hurt his sacrifice.
Avengers 5 and Avengers: Secret Wars are scheduled to release on May 1, 2026, and May 7, 2027, respectively.
