Robert Downey Jr. is returning to Marvel Studios for two new Avengers movies, but not as Iron Man.
Kevin Feige announced the exciting news Saturday evening at Comic-Con in San Diego, while also confirming the Russo Brothers -- Anthony Russo and Joe Russo -- who were present for the announcement, will direct and produce both films.
As Tony Stark/Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. helped the MCU become the highest-grossing film franchise in movie history, but when his character died while saving the universe in Avengers: Endgame in 2019, he had to step away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The MCU has struggled a bit since (although the record-setting opening weekend of Deadpool & Wolverine proved that fans are ready for more), so the news that Downey Jr. is back was extremely well-received by fans, especially those in the audience, who went wild.
Downey Jr. was on hand -- in costume -- for the announcement, telling the audience, "New mask, same task." He will be playing Doctor Doom, a classic Fantastic Four villain, in Avengers: Doomsday, which is scheduled to release in May 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars, to hit theaters exactly one year later in May 2027.
The films will feature an all-star cast besides Downey Jr., including Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, and Wyatt Russell.
Joe Russo said, "If we’re going to bring Victor Von Doom to the screen — he is one of the more complex characters in all of comics… then we are going to need the greatest actor in the world." ~Alexandra Heilbron