There is a character who, in some ways, surpasses even Tony Stark in genius. A character who could rival Doctor Strange in mastery. This character will be portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. But how will Marvel introduce such an incredible character? Recently, Robert Downey Jr. confirmed on his podcast that his portrayal of Doctor Doom will not be a variant of Tony Stark, marking the biggest reveal from the discussion.
With this revelation, it will be fascinating to see how the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) plans to introduce a Doctor Doom who bears a strong resemblance to Tony Stark. This task is far from easy. In fact, some fans are apprehensive about Robert Downey Jr. taking on the role of Doctor Doom. In this article, we’ll explore potential ways Marvel could introduce Doctor Doom in the MCU in a way that satisfies every fan.
“Let’s get Victor Von Doom right.” This was the directive from Kevin Feige when he pitched the idea of Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU. But what does this mean? Kevin Feige wasn’t just talking about bringing a comic-accurate Doctor Doom to the screen. The concept of introducing the character perfectly has been previously discussed between Kevin Feige and Amy Pascal, who worked on the Spider-Man movies. Feige pitched the idea of Tony Stark creating Spider-Man’s suit, which launched Spider-Man’s journey in the MCU.
Similarly, Feige is now considering how Doctor Doom could be introduced through Tony Stark. Earlier, many fans speculated that a Tony Stark variant might become Doctor Doom after experiencing a tragic event that turned him evil. However, this plot seems more fitting for a “What If…?” episode rather than an Avengers-level movie, and it wouldn’t do justice to the introduction of Victor Von Doom in the MCU. Robert Downey Jr. hasn’t agreed to such an idea either.
We learned about the discussions between Robert Downey Jr. and Kevin Feige through the Hollywood Reporter’s Award Chatter podcast, where they expressed their desire to bring Downey back to the MCU. However, they want to avoid repeating the same narrative and disappointing fans’ expectations. This is where the idea of Doctor Doom emerged. This version of Doctor Doom will be complex, staying true to the comics while fitting seamlessly into the MCU, much like Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. In this portrayal, Doctor Doom should be Reed Richards’ rival—a character who worships knowledge, overlooks nothing, and is both arrogant and concerned about the world. Like Tony Stark, he will possess the capability to save the multiverse.
One prevailing theory is that Doctor Doom will be introduced in “Fantastic Four: First Steps.” The origin stories of the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom are intertwined. As discussed in our article titled The Origin of Doctor Doom Reed Richards and Victor Von Doom were college peers, and even Doctor Doom’s disfigurement is linked to Reed Richards. This theory suggests that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, interacting with Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards, will appear in “Fantastic Four: First Steps.”
This version of Doctor Doom will not be Tony Stark but Victor Von Doom, who merely resembles Tony Stark from the main 616 universe. He will assist the Fantastic Four in dealing with Galactus and, at that moment, will realize that the multiverse is in grave danger. For this theory to work, it’s crucial that Robert Downey Jr. appears in “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” whose casting announcement coincided with the start of filming for “Fantastic Four.” Whether coincidental or not, it would be thrilling to see Robert Downey Jr. receive a proper introduction before “Avengers: Doomsday.”
Another theory is Iron Man was the anchor of the MCU. Similar to how Logan was the anchor of the Fox Marvel Universe, whose death led to that universe’s decline, many have wondered who holds this role in the MCU. As we discussed in our The Flaws and Brilliance of Deadpool & Wolverine article, Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man is the anchor of the MCU. Now, if Doctor Doom is portrayed as the new anchor—one who seeks to rule over people for his own benefit—it would create a compelling dynamic.
It’s still unclear which universe Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom hails from. In our view, the universe where Monica Rambeau ventured seems the most fitting for RDJ’s Doctor Doom. This is where Monica could inform Doom and others about the events in her universe. Armed with this knowledge, Doom could enter the MCU, deceiving others with his plan for world domination.
“New mask, same task.” This was the line Robert Downey Jr. used when revealing his role as Doctor Doom. It signifies that just as he donned Iron Man’s mask to save the world, he will now wear Doctor Doom’s mask to undertake the same mission.
At the end of the Infinity Saga, Thanos first halved the universe’s population and then, in his alternate form, declared that he would obliterate the universe entirely and rebuild it from scratch. The universe was in grave danger, and Iron Man saved it from Thanos. Similarly, this time the multiverse is at risk, and Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will embark on an incredible journey—first to identify the problem and then to find its solution.
In our What Secret Wars? article, we discussed how, in the comics, the multiverse was threatened by the Beyonders, the creators of the multiverse. In the MCU, the universes are created by the Celestials, who are currently occupied with judging the Eternals. If their judgment concludes that all universes should be destroyed, they will begin wiping out the multiverse. The multiverse has already started decaying due to incursions. In the comics, Doctor Doom discovered this issue alongside Doctor Strange. Now, we must see what this Doctor Doom will do. It’s not just about stopping the Celestials but also seizing their powers.
The last theory is Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom is merely a setup. The discussion of Robert Downey Jr. becoming Doctor Doom coincided with the announcement of “Avengers: Doomsday.” It was never explicitly stated that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom would be a villain in “Secret Wars.” However, we’ve seen a similar template in the Russo Brothers’ previous projects: the main villain of “Avengers: Infinity War,” Thanos, completed his mission and then a different version of him appeared in “Avengers: Endgame.” This pattern seems to be repeating. Robert Downey Jr. will be the main antagonist in “Avengers: Doomsday.” However, he might not even be a villain but rather a character striving to save the multiverse.
According to the theory, fans who were excited about Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom will be pleased, and those who were skeptical will also be satisfied. The theory suggests that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will reveal his true nature in “Avengers: Doomsday,” after which the real and more dangerous Doctor Doom will emerge. This future Doctor Doom will eliminate Robert Downey Jr.’s version at the end of “Doomsday,” then wipe out the entire multiverse and become the ruler of Battleworld—or rather, the Void—shaping everything according to his will, where no one can oppose him. This will pose the ultimate challenge for the remaining Avengers, who may include Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man or Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in “Secret Wars,” as they attempt to restore everything to the way it was before.
Many significant reveals are on the horizon. The direction Marvel takes will be captivating, but even more so will be how the studio converges every project toward “Secret Wars.”
