Anticipation continues to build for Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated 2026 blockbuster. While official details remain tightly under wraps, new reports suggest that Victor von Doom—better known as Doctor Doom—will emerge as the film’s central antagonist, setting the stage for a massive Multiversal showdown.
Doctor Doom’s Multiversal Vendetta
According to industry insider Daniel Richtman, Avengers: Doomsday will introduce a variant of Doctor Doom portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. Unlike his decade-long run as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Downey’s Doom is said to harbor a “vendetta against the Multiverse.”
This twist marks a dramatic departure from the character fans associate with Downey Jr., but it could cement Doom as one of the most dangerous villains in Marvel’s history. Richtman teased:
“Some news about Avengers: Doomsday: They’re wrapping filming this week, with reshoots planned for a later date. I’ve heard that Doom has a ‘vendetta against the Multiverse.’ Whatever that means, feel free to theorize.”
The X-Men Connection
The report also claims that a major portion of the plot will revolve around the Fox X-Men universe colliding with other realities, including the MCU’s Earth-616. This storyline links directly to Doom’s vendetta, as the Multiversal instability could threaten all known worlds.
Richtman added:
“This part isn’t too surprising, but a big chunk of the plot involves the X-Men universe being on course to destroy other universes—MCU’s Earth-616 included.”
This raises the stakes significantly, setting up Doom not only as an adversary to the Avengers but as a threat to existence itself.
Cast and Production Updates
Avengers: Doomsday began production in April 2025 under the direction of Joe and Anthony Russo, who return to the MCU after helming Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. Filming is expected to wrap soon, with reshoots scheduled later this year.
The film features a star-studded ensemble cast:
- Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom
- Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America
- Chris Hemsworth as Thor
- Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic
- Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova
- Returning X-Men legends Patrick Stewart, James Marsden, and Ian McKellen
The Road to Secret Wars
With its release date set for December 18, 2026, Avengers: Doomsday will serve as a direct lead-in to Avengers: Secret Wars (2027). If the rumors are true, Doom could become the driving force behind the MCU’s most ambitious crossover yet, uniting heroes and teams from across the Multiverse in a battle for survival.
Marvel Studios has yet to officially confirm Doom’s role or the rumored plot details. Still, the possibility of Robert Downey Jr. reinventing himself as one of Marvel’s most iconic villains is already sending shockwaves through the fandom.
I love the idea of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom—it’ll be interesting to see how he plays this version with a vendetta against the Multiverse. If the X-Men really are involved, it could open up a whole new dimension to the MCU’s future!
The idea of Robert DowneyBlog comment creation guide Jr. returning as a variant of Doctor Doom is fascinating because it flips fan expectations on their head—going from the MCU’s ultimate hero to one of its most dangerous villains. If Doom truly has a vendetta against the Multiverse, it could tie together story threads from Loki, Secret Wars, and even the X-Men in a way we haven’t seen before. I’m curious to see whether Marvel uses this to reframe Doom not just as a Fantastic Four enemy, but as a cosmic-level threat to all realities.