According to the Russo Brothers, Robert Downey Jr. is “very focused” on his role as Doctor Doom and in the Avengers.

      Robert Downey Jr. surprised Marvel enthusiasts by appearing as Victor Von Doom at Hall H during the 2024 Comic-Con. After a decade of portraying Iron Man, Downey will take on the darker role of Doctor Doom, who will serve as the main antagonist in the upcoming Avengers films: Doomsday and Secret Wars.

      Additionally, he is not the only prominent figure making a return to the Marvel universe. Joe and Anthony Russo, known as the Russo Brothers, will direct both Doomsday and Secret Wars. The Russo Brothers have previously helmed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.

      In a recent chat with Entertainment Tonight, the Russo Brothers hinted at Downey's involvement and his influence on the character's development. "He is deeply engaged. He’s fully committed," Joe noted regarding Downey’s role in shaping Doom. "He’s creating backstories, costume ideas... We were just on the phone with him this morning discussing it. He has a passion for complex, multi-dimensional characters and sees a great opportunity with this one."

      The Russo Brothers are prepared to begin filming Doomsday in London next month. Details about the Avengers projects are limited, given the secretive approach these movies take. Doomsday and Secret Wars are expected to feature large ensemble casts, including many MCU heroes in various roles.

      So far, the only confirmed characters for Doomsday are the Fantastic Four: Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing.

      Avengers: Doomsday is set to premiere in theaters on May 1, 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027.

      Following Avengers: Endgame, the MCU's leading stars have taken on drastically different roles.

      Chris Hemsworth stars as Dementus in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, where he portrays a ruthless warlord who spends his time in violence and chaos. Despite being an unrepentant monster, Dementus displays a charismatic, party-loving side reminiscent of a rock star in a post-apocalyptic world. He’s not the typical villain you love to hate; instead, he’s one whose appeal you might be reluctant to admit. In a different world, you could envision sharing a drink with him at a grim Outback bar featured in Wake in Fright.

      In the realm of movies, Robert Downey Jr. — now an Academy Award winner — has been an actor for over 40 years. He gained fame in the 1980s, but it was his performance as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that catapulted him to global stardom in the 2000s. Despite experiencing ups and downs in his career, Downey Jr. has consistently demonstrated remarkable resilience, always finding his way back to success. He is set to appear in the new HBO series, Park Chan-wook's The Sympathizer, affirming that he is still at his career's peak. Among his many notable films, the following selection stands out as his finest works.

      7. Chaplin (1992)

      Regarding a return to the MCU, Robert Downey Jr. recently won his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Oppenheimer. However, that success does not mean he would decline the opportunity to reprise his role as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the future. In a recent interview with Esquire, Downey expressed his openness to collaborating with Marvel again.