Robert Downey Jr playing Iron Man in Avengers Endgame and Doctor Doom in Marvel's Secret Wars

Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as the MCU’s new Doctor Doom not only affects Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, but probably Armor Wars as well. The biggest news from Marvel at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 was Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Doctor Doom in the Russo Bros.’ Avengers: Doomsday, set to release in May 2026. Downey’s return seven years after Iron Man’s death in Avengers: Endgame comes as a surprise to fans, as Downey will play a character on the opposite side of the moral spectrum than his beloved Iron Man portrayal.

In the source material, Victor von Doom is a brilliant scientist and sorcerer with a lifelong grudge against Reed Richards, and consequently, against the Fantastic Four. Doom’s thirst for power and conquest has led him to battle the Avengers, and his mastery of technology has occasionally made him a formidable Iron Man villain. However, Doctor Doom and Iron Man don’t have any further connections in the comics. The fact that both characters are played by Robert Downey Jr. in the MCU inevitably links them together.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Might Lessen Armor Wars’ Iron Man Tribute

Armor Wars Might Not Be As Emotional Knowing Robert Downey Jr Is Playing A Villain Now

Armor wars iron man causing major problems after avengers endgame death

Regardless of how Marvel Studios adapts the source material, the MCU’s Armor Wars movie will likely deal with Iron Man’s legacy to some degree. Don Cheadle’s Rhodey Rhodes will likely try to stop the titular war to acquire Iron Man’s technology, defending Tony Stark’s creations from various villains who attempt to become the world’s next Iron Man. Tony Stark’s absence is key to a movie where Iron Man’s legacy is at the center of the plot, but Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU return as Doctor Doom may be a distraction. While Downey is playing a new character, he has become synonymous with Tony Stark.

What’s worse, Armor Wars will likely be released after Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom introduction in Avengers: Doomsday. There haven’t been any recent updates for Armor Wars, which suggests that it won’t be released sooner than 2026. Seeing Rhodey and his armored enemies fight over Tony Stark’s legacy soon after Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom makes his debut on the big screen would only call attention to the fact that both Iron Man and Doctor Doom are played by the same actor.

What’s Going On With The MCU’s Other Upcoming Movies?

Armor Wars And Other MCU Movies May Be Released Sooner Than Expected

Rhodey in the War Machine armor in the MCU

Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are gearing up to be the Multiverse Saga’s equivalent of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. But if Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars wrap up the Multiverse Saga, then projects such as Armor Wars, Doctor Strange 3, Shang-Chi 2, Spider-Man 4, and Thor 5 will probably have to be released in 2026 and 2027 as well, following the MCU’s reduced output. In that case, Doctor Strange 3 and Thor 5 might have multiverse-themed plots, and Armor Wars will likely be released quite close to Robert Downey Jr.’s return in Avengers: Doomsday.