“New mask, same task” Downey quipped to the audience from the stage.
Robert Downey Jr. is set to return to the cinematic landscape, embodying the iconic Fantastic Four antagonist Doctor Doom in the newly titled Avengers: Doomsday slated for release in May 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars arriving in May 2027. Kevin Feige has also officially confirmed that the Russo brothers will helm these next two Avengers installments.
Downey ascended to the zenith of stardom with his portrayal of Tony Stark in the 2008 film Iron Man a cornerstone in the establishment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). His portrayal not only catalyzed the MCU’s evolution into the most lucrative film franchise to date but also garnered him substantial financial rewards, with earnings reaching $50 million per film. Downey bid farewell to the role of Tony Stark/Iron Man in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, where his character’s sacrificial act saved the universe. Marvel has since grappled with the challenge of filling the void left by Downey, rendering the recent announcement particularly significant.
“New mask, same task” Downey quipped to the audience from the stage.
The reveal unfolded in a ceremonious spectacle as approximately two dozen individuals clad in olive robes and metallic Doctor Doom like masks ascended the stage, joining Feige and the Russo brothers. “If we’re going to bring Victor Von doctor Doom to the screen — one of the most multifaceted characters in all of comics — this could potentially be one of the most captivating characters in all of fiction,” stated Joe Russo. “If we’re going to do this… then we need the greatest actor in the world.”
Doctor Doom in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
The audience, already fervently engaged from the previous hour’s Marvel Hall H excitement, was on the edge of their seats. As proof of the boundless possibilities of the Marvel Universe, they presented the one individual capable of portraying Victor Von Doctor Doom…
A masked figure in a green suit stepped forward, removing the mask to reveal Downey, basking in the audience’s adulation. The reaction was immediate and overwhelming, with all 6,500-plus attendees erupting in applause.
Just prior, the Russo brothers had been introduced as the directors of these new Avengers films, roles they will also produce. “That four-movie run was incredible,” remarked Anthony Russo after a montage of their films played on screen. “It left us emotionally spent. However, through a very special story, Joe and I have found a path forward with you all.” Joe Russo continued, “It’s the biggest story that Marvel Comics has ever told. It’s the first comic book arc I read as a child that made me fall in love with comics. It’s why Anthony and I are standing here today. And I think you all know its name.” The title Avengers: Secret Wars flashed on the big screen.
Stephen McFeely, who co-wrote the Russos’ Marvel films alongside Christopher Markus, will pen the new Avengers movies. The Russos have long expressed that Secret Wars — which was the title of a notable 1980s Marvel event comic — was their dream project. In Secret Wars, an omnipotent entity known as The Beyonder transports Marvel’s heroes and villains to a planet called Battleworld, where they are compelled to fight.
This news signifies a creative overhaul for the newly titled Avengers: Doomsday, which will precede Secret Wars and act as Avengers 5. Feige had previously announced a different Avengers 5, titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, two years ago in Hall H. The film was set to star Jonathan Majors as the time-traveling villain Kang. However, following Majors’ conviction on charges of harassment and assault of a former girlfriend, Marvel severed ties with the actor, necessitating a revamp of the film.
This development comes amid the record-breaking opening weekend for Deadpool & Wolverine, which is on track to become the highest-grossing R-rated feature of all time, revitalizing the MCU’s energy.
The return of the Russo brothers is also noteworthy. They enjoyed a record-breaking run with Avengers: Endgame (2019), which momentarily surpassed Avatar as the highest-grossing film of all time. They also directed Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), and Avengers: Infinity War (2018). In recent years, they’ve directed streaming films such as Cherry and The Gray Man, but they remain most beloved among audiences for their Marvel work.
The Avengers franchise remains the crown jewel of Marvel Studios, a studio that built its reputation by accomplishing what many deemed impossible: uniting the heroes of the Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor movies in a genre-defining team-up in 2012.
Downey is coming off a career high with his first Oscar win earlier this year for his role as Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. The actor also recently earned an Emmy nomination for HBO’s The Sympathizer.
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