Robert Downey Jr. Will Play Doctor Doom in Marvel's 'Avengers ...

Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom in a new “Avengers” movie titled “Avengers: Doomsday,” which will be directed by Joe and Anthony Russo in their own return to Marvel. The directing duo is on deck to helm two new “Avengers” movie: “Doomsday,” which will introduce Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom, and “Avengers: Secret Wars.”

While Downey had said in recent interviews that he was open to returning to Marvel, fans naturally assumed that meant he would come back as Iron Man/Tony Stark. Downey’s return as the villainous Victor von Doom comes as a massive shock to the fandom, including the ecstatic audience at Marvel’s presentation at San Diego Comic-Con. Downey made a victorious appearance to Hall H on Saturday evening to reveal his return.

Downey’s very first appearance as the playboy super-genius Stark came in 2008’s “Iron Man,” which was the first installment in the interconnected Marvel Cinematic Universe devised by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. Over the next 11 years, Downey would reprise the role in 10 Marvel films, including “Iron Man 2,” “Iron Man 3,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “The Avengers,” “Captian America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame.”

“Endgame” featured the death of Iron Man. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige stressed to Vanity Fair last December that he had no interest in messing with Downey’s emotional exit.

“We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again,” Feige said at the time about Iron Man’s death. “We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.”

Downey is now returning to Marvel, but not as Iron Man. The actor had been quite open this year about his interest in coming back to the franchise. Speaking to Esquire magazine after his Oscar win for “Oppenheimer,” the actor was asked if he would ever return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe now that he is officially an Academy Award winner. The actor didn’t hesitate to answer yes.

“Happily. It’s too integral a part of my DNA,” Downey said. “That role chose me. And look, I always say, ‘Never, ever bet against Kevin Feige.’ It is a losing bet. He’s the house. He will always win.”

The Victor von Doom news continues a huge year for the actor. His performance as Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” won him the Academy Award win for best supporting actor in March. Most recently, Downey was featured in the cast of Park Chan-wooks’ mini-series “The Sympathizer” on HBO, where he played CIA operative Claude and several other roles. He earned an Emmy nomination for supporting actor in a limited series or anthology.