A new MCU theory could explain how Robert Downey Jr. can return as Doctor Doom, while also solving a huge two-year-old mystery from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. To replace Kang the Conqueror and his variants as the Multiverse Saga’s primary antagonist, Marvel Studios revealed that Doctor Doom would be introduced, with Downey Jr. cast as the iconic villain after eleven years of playing Tony Stark’s Iron Man. This casting, while exciting, has led to some confusion about how Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU return will be explained.

There has been speculation that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom might not actually be Victor Von Doom, the Latverian ruler, but rather a variant of Tony Stark. It could also be that Victor Von Doom adopts the Infamous Iron Man moniker instead of Doctor Doom, or Downey Jr. may return as an entirely new character altogether, without his previous role being mentioned whatsoever. However, a new theory posed by Reddit user Daveoos77 suggests that Robert Downey Jr.’s debut as Doctor Doom could connect the villain to one huge Phase 4 adventure.

Robert Downey Jr. As Earth-838’s Doctor Doom Answers A Major 2-Year-Old Illuminati Mystery

There Was An Empty Chair In The Illuminati Chamber In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

Daveoos77’s theory points to Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom being the version of the Marvel villain from Earth-838, which was the reality that Doctor Strange and America Chavez explored in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This universe was protected by the Illuminati, a superteam comprised of the leaders of other superhuman groups, including the Avengers, the X-Men, the Inhumans and the Fantastic Four. However, while Doctor Strange spoke to six members of Earth-838’s Illuminati, the team’s chamber also contained an empty chair, the owner of which hasn’t been revealed.

The theory states that Doctor Doom could have sat in this empty seat as a member of Earth-838’s Illuminati. However, after the team learned of incursions ravaging the multiverse, such as those created by other Doctor Strange variants, Doom may have left the team to find his own way to stop these disastrous events. This is exactly what Doctor Doom does in Marvel Comics, leading to the events of 2015’s Secret Wars, so it would make sense for this storyline to also be told in the live-action MCU ahead of Avengers: Secret Wars’ release.

Doctor Doom Theory Gives The Scarlet Witch A Prominent Role In Avengers: Secret Wars

The Scarlet Witch Could Replace Molecule Man In The MCU’s Avengers: Secret Wars

As well as suggesting that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom could come from Earth-838, this Reddit theory also replaces Marvel Comics’ crucial Molecule Man with Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch. In 2015’s Secret Wars, Owen Reece’s Molecule Man was revealed to have been created by the Beyonders to act as a bomb – when his variants died, their respective realities would also die. Daveoos77’s theory posits that this role could be filled by the Scarlet Witch in the MCU, who has been described as a Nexus Being.

Marvel Studios debuted the concept of Anchor Beings in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine , individuals who are essential to the survival of their universe, and lead to its deterioration upon their death, which bears similarities to Molecule Man’s role in Secret Wars .

Wanda Maximoff’s Scarlet Witch certainly has enough power to allow Doctor Doom to create something such as Battleworld, should he absorb the power from as many Scarlet Witches as possible. She could also easily be used as a weapon against the likes of the Beyonders, which is Molecule Man’s purpose for Doom in Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars. The Scarlet Witch, however, lost her life during Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but this theory might have also found a way to bring Elizabeth Olsen’s popular witch back to the MCU.

MCU Theory’s Post-Credits Scene Suggestion Marks A Dark Debut For Doctor Doom

Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Could Debut In The Post-Credits Scene Of The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Daveoos77 reinforces this theory with a suggestion for a possible post-credits scene, perhaps attached to an upcoming MCU project such as The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which is set in another alternate universe aside from the MCU’s Earth-616 and Earth-838. Doctor Doom’s connection to the Fantastic Four in Marvel Comics means this would be a great place to tease the villain’s debut, possibly in a post-credits scene that revisits Earth-838 in the wake of the Scarlet Witch’s massacre. This could confirm Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom to helm from Earth-838.

Following the Scarlet Witch’s brutal and terrifying attack, only Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Baron Mordo, Earth-838’s Sorcerer Supreme, has survived, and the fate of Lashana Lynch’s Captain Marvel is uncertain, though she is presumed dead. Daveoos77 posits that Doctor Doom could question them about what happened to the Illuminati, and begin his vendetta against the Scarlet Witch across the multiverse after learning of her involvement. He could begin with Earth-838’s own Wanda Maximoff, allowing Elizabeth Olsen to return to the MCU in a pivotal role in Phase 6.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Would Benefit From Being Separate From The MCU’s Heroes

Doctor Doom Is A Powerful Enough Character To Carry An Independent Storyline

Introducing Robert Downey Jr. as the version of Doctor Doom from Earth-838 would mean that he has no prior connection to any of the MCU’s current heroes. Doctor Doom is a strong enough character to carry a storyline independently, as he has in Marvel Comics, so it would be great to see him debut as an independent villain in the MCU. The heroes of Earth-616 would know his face as Tony Stark, while the Fantastic Four of their new reality may have had run-ins with Doctor Doom, but Robert Downey Jr.’s new villain would be completely unexpected and unpredictable.

Earth-838’s Doctor Doom being the focus of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars also has the added benefit of stopping Marvel Studios from rushing to introduce the MCU’s official Doctor Doom. The villain from Earth-616 can still be set up gradually after Robert Downey Jr. hangs up the mask and cape after Secret Wars, and after wrapping up this mystery from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The likes of Cillian Murphy, Mads Mikkelsen and Andrew Lincoln have been suggested to portray the MCU’s own Doctor Doom, so the future is looking bright for the beloved villain.