A beloved MCU alum is returning to play Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday

Since Marvel parted ways with disgraced actor Jonathan Majors last year, many have been wondering what the studio would do to address its Kang problem. We now have the answer.

At San Diego Comic-Con's Marvel Studios Hall H Presentation, it was announced that Avengers: The Kang Dynasty has been officially retitled Avengers: Doomsday. So it seems that Marvel is content moving on from the villain Kang. The film is scheduled to release in May 2026.

This honestly feels like a smart move because as amazing Majors was in the role of Kang the Conqueror, it never really felt like the villain was catching on with fans. He just didn't give us the same vibes as Thanos. Not to mention, the whole multiverse has felt like its been stuck in mud.

So moving from Kang to Doctor Doom — a more well-known Marvel villain — feels like a good decision.

But the bigger surprise coming out of the Hall H Presentation is who Marvel got to play Doctor Doom.

Marvel shocks the world with Doctor Doom reveal

I could tell you who is playing Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, but it's honestly something you should experience yourself. The reveal was amazing.

Yes, Robert Downey Jr. is back in the MCU. The beloved actor bid his farewell to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2019's Avengers: Endgame when Tony Stark/Iron Man sacrificed his life to defeat Thanos. It felt like the perfect goodbye.

But as mentioned during the panel, anything is possible in Marvel. Characters return all the time in the comic books. Now it's important to note that Robert Downey Jr. is returning as Victor Von Doom, aka Doctor Doom, and NOT Tony Stark. So how exactly is Marvel going to explain this? Will this Doctor Doom be a Multiverse variant of Tony Stark?

The return of Robert Downey Jr. to the Marvel Cinematic Universe was met with thunderous applause and ravenous excitement, but the real intrigue starts now.

Avengers: Doomsday will be directed by the Russo Brothers. Joe and Anthony Russo directed both 2018's Avengers: Infinity War and 2019's Avengers: Endgame, so clearly the film is in good hands. It's scheduled to arrive in theaters in May 2026.

The Russo Brothers are also returning to direct Marvel Studios' Avengers: Secret Wars which will arrive in theaters a year later in May 2027.

Interestingly, there was no announcement of the rumored Avengers vs. X-Men, or any sort of mutants at all. So pulling off the Secret Wars storyline without the X-Men is certainly an interesting approach. Perhaps Marvel has something surprising up their sleeve for D23 next month.