According to rumors, Robert Downey Jr., known for his role in Iron Man, may make a comeback in the MCU. However, it may not be in the way that fans are anticipating.
According to Jeff Sneider’s Insneider newsletter, there are strong rumors suggesting that the iconic actor may make a comeback to the MCU as Doctor Doom, rather than reprising his role as Iron Man.
According to Sneider, there is still no confirmation about who will be portraying Doctor Doom in the upcoming Fantastic Four film. Rumors of Robert Downey Jr. returning as an alternate-universe Tony Stark who becomes Doctor Doom instead of Iron Man were denied by insiders when Sneider inquired about it.
“While it may seem unlikely, I couldn’t help but think that if there was any possibility of Downey returning, there must be a new element for him to incorporate into his performance. And so, we must continue to wait for any updates…”
MCU founding father Robert Downey Jr. could be back in the MCU, but as a villain.
Despite previous discussions about Downey Jr. making a comeback, nothing ever materialized. In December 2023, Kevin Feige himself dismissed the possibility in an interview with Vanity Fair, stating that the actor would “never”reprise his role as Tony Stark. However, if the rumors of Doom being cast are true, it could provide an entertaining loophole that still honors his sacrifice in Endgame.
Despite his character’s heroic sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame, Downey Jr has expressed interest in returning to the MCU. In a recent interview with Esquire, he mentioned his willingness to reprise his role as Tony Stark, stating that it is “part of my DNA”and that he would be “happy”to return.
Evil Tony Stark: A Fresh Take
Despite seeming unlikely, the notion of Downey Jr. reprising his role as Tony Stark, now as Doctor Doom, in the MCU has some basis. In fact, there are a few instances in the comics where Tony has been portrayed as a villain, and even one where he and Doom swapped identities.
Two instances of a malevolent Tony Stark stand out in my mind. The first, in 1995’s The Crossing, exposed that Tony had been manipulated into becoming a sleeper agent for Kang the Conqueror.
The intention of the twist was to bring a younger version of Tony into the main universe, however it was met with widespread disdain and quickly disregarded during the Heroes Reborn event.
The second Tony Stark, also known as Superior Iron Man, experienced a “personality inversion”during the AXIS event. This incarnation of Iron Man was heavily speculated to make a cameo in the MCU, with rumors suggesting that Tom Cruise would portray the character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
With Tony Stark dead, Doctor Doom briefly dabbled in heroics in Infamous Iron Man.
Lastly, there was The Infamous Iron Man, a variation of the character introduced in 2015’s Secret Wars, that is speculated to influence future Avengers movies. This version of Iron Man was not portrayed by Tony, but rather by Doctor Doom. After the events of Secret Wars and the apparent death of Tony, Doom took on the role of Iron Man in an attempt to redeem his reputation and heal his facial scarring.
It is uncertain when we will find out if Downey Jr. will return to the MCU, whether as a villain or not. However, this possibility presents an exciting prospect. With the current state of fans’ attitudes towards the MCU, this could potentially revitalize the franchise.
The upcoming addition to the MCU will feature numerous cameos from Deadpool and Wolverine. For further insights into the film, read about the influence of Willy Wonka on Cassandra Nova or the unexpected performer portraying Cowboy Deadpool.
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