Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe will come in the form of the actor playing Doctor Doom, which raises questions about Iron Man‘s possible MCU return. Downey is the most popular and important actor in the MCU. He started the franchise all the way back in 2008 with Iron Man, later finishing an Iron Man trilogy and appearing in multiple other films in supporting roles as Tony Stark. 2019’s Avengers: Endgame seemed like the end of the road for Downey in the MCU, with Iron Man sacrificing himself to take down Thanos and his army.
While that could still be Iron Man’s final MCU appearance, it will not be Downey’s. At San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel announced that Robert Downey Jr. will play Doctor Doom in the next two Avengers movies. No further details were given as to how that casting was possible. The Russo Brothers, who directed Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, will be in charge of the anticipated MCU movies. With RDJ now back in the MCU, his casting as Doctor Doom could mean either positive or negative news for an Iron Man return, though one option might be more likely.
RDJ’s Doctor Doom Casting Circumvents A Major Iron Man Problem
Downey’s Iron Man Return Theories All Tried To Avoid One Element
While Downey Jr.’s MCU return has only now been confirmed, theories and rumors about Iron Man coming back to the franchise have been around for years. All of them tried to avoid one major obstacle to Downey’s possible return as Iron Man, which would be messing with Tony Stark’s death. The character had a perfect arc in the MCU. RDJ’s Tony Stark started being selfish, mellowing out when he got to know the Avengers, and by the time Avengers: Endgame rolled around, he was a loving father who sacrificed his life to save the universe from Thanos.
That arc is one of the most special stories the MCU has built, and because of that, the thought of bringing Iron Man back always clashed with the possible need to resurrect Tony Stark. Well, by coming back to the MCU as Doctor Doom, Downey takes on a new role that does not impact Iron Man’s death at all. Everything that happened to Tony Stark in the MCU can be left untouched. Despite Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU return, Iron Man does not need to come back to life, as this is a new MCU chapter for Downey.
RDJ Could Return For A Dual Role In Avengers 5 And/Or 6
The MCU Has The Perfect Explanation For It
While Downey playing Doctor Doom is the sign of a new chapter in the MCU for the popular star, that does not have to mean that RDJ will never play Iron Man again. In fact, the MCU already has the perfect way to make that happen, even if Downey is already said to be coming in as Victor von Doom. Marvel is currently in the middle of its Multiverse Saga. That setup is all that is needed for the actor to play Iron Man again without the need to resurrect his version of Tony Stark.
Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars will deal with the multiverse and characters from both the MCU and other universes. As such, the MCU could very well have Downey play one or more characters on either side of the fight. To rule the multiverse, Doctor Doom will likely have some variant villains by his side along with his Doombots, and one of them could be RDJ as the evil Superior Iron Man version of Tony Stark from the comics. Likewise, the MCU’s heroes could find one or more Iron Man variants to aid them in the fight against Doctor Doom.
Downey himself seems to be leaving the door open for him to come back as Tony Stark in some way. In an interview before he was announced to be playing Doctor Doom, Robert Downey Jr. said he is open to returning as Iron Man. According to the actor, he has “become surprisingly open-minded to the idea” of coming back as Iron Man. Downey’s comments make it seem like he would not be opposed to playing a Tony Stark variant alongside his new MCU role as Victor von Doom. There are even ways both roles could be connected.
How RDJ’s Doctor Doom And Iron Man Could Be Connected
The Comics Show A Way
In the Marvel Comics series “What If? Iron Man: Demon in an Armor,” Doctor Doom and Iron Man were part of a story that the MCU could be adapting for Downey’s MCU return. In the comic, Victor von Doom and Tony Stark switch bodies, with Doctor Doom in Iron Man’s body and vice versa. The MCU could use that story as the basis for a multiverse variant of Iron Man. In this reality, Victor von Doom might have taken over Tony Stark’s body, later killing his original body and making Tony the new Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom.
There is also a chance that Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will not be the MCU’s main version of the villain. The reason for that is he could come from the Fantastic Four’s universe. It is all but confirmed that The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place in a different universe. That could lead to RDJ’s Doctor Doom coming from there, with another version of Victor von Doom existing in Earth-616. If Marvel used the story about Iron Man and Doctor Doom switching bodies, then whoever plays the original Doom in the film could reappear later as the MCU’s Doctor Doom.
Despite Playing Doctor Doom, RDJ’s Iron Man Return Is Now More Likely
It Could All Lead To Tony Stark’s Return
The multiverse allows RDJ to play Iron Man without the need to resurrect Earth-616’s Tony Stark, and Doctor Doom. The comics show a way to integrate both roles into one. Downey has said that he is open to coming back as Iron Man. Fans have asked Downey Jr. to return and play Iron Man again for years. With all those factors and RDJ already back in the MCU, it would make less sense if he never played Tony Stark again than if he did.
Marvel Studios already has two nearly guaranteed box office juggernauts in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, with the Russo Brothers directing them and Downey playing Doctor Doom. However, the studio could draw even more excitement if Downey were to pull double duty. Audiences would surely show up in droves for an RDJ Iron Man variant fighting his Doctor Doom in the Avengers movies. With so many factors increasing his chances, Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man return is now more likely.
