Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2026 for Avengers: Doomsday, but this time as Victor von Doom, a.k.a. Doctor Doom. While details on the Avengers: Doomsday story have been kept heavily under wraps, Marvel is now giving more clues regarding the former Iron Man star’s return to the franchise.
Bleeding Cool revealed that Marvel is set to reprint a famous Iron Man comic series, Infamous Iron Man, from Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, but with a big catch. Interestingly enough, the book is getting a subtitle, The Rise of Doom, as the marketing specifically addresses Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom for the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday. Read the details below:
Iron Man’s very own Robert Downey Jr. returns as Doctor Victor Von Doom (you read that right!) in Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday, in theaters December 18, 2026. The Marvel Universe’s greatest villain is no stranger to armor, but now he’s trying something new on for size: heroism. And where Tony Stark failed, Doom will succeed. But what is Victor’s master plan?
That’s what a great number of folks want to know — including Ben Grimm, Pepper Potts and the other Iron Man: Riri Williams! In his heroic quest, Doom faces a cosmic-level adversary — and his most mortal enemy, whom he thought he would never see again! But what is the shocking truth behind Victor’s reincarnated mother? With enemies on all sides, how can Victor continue to carry on the legacy of Iron Man when the legacy of Doom haunts him at every turn?
The reprinted collection, featuring the entire 12-issue run, will be available as of July 14, 2026, nearly five months before Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters. It’s currently available for pre-order at $19.99.
As the Avengers: Doomsday cast wrapped filming on September 19, 2025, the first trailer is set to debut this month in the previews of Avatar: Fire & Ash, giving the world a proper look at the major Phase 6 installment. The footage is also bound to give more story clues about Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom.
With Marvel doing its Infamous Iron Man reprint, it’s also worth remembering how Downey Jr., during his San Diego Comic-Con 2024 announcement, stated, “New mask, same task,” when revealing that he would be in the next Avengers films as Doctor Doom. The Rise of Doom could strongly allude to how the MCU timeline will pull some inspiration from how they are tackling Victor.
If Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom sees himself as a hero rather than a supervillain and threat to the multiverse, that also increases the stakes for the overall story. With potential deaths in Avengers: Doomsday, there is a lot at risk as they head into Avengers: Secret Wars.
Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18, 2026.
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Avengers: Doomsday
- Release Date
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December 18, 2026
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Vanessa Kirby
Sue Storm / Invisible Woman
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Johnny Storm / Human Torch
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Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Ben Grimm / The Thing
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- Birthdate
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April 4, 1965
- Birthplace
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New York City, New York, USA
- Height
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5 feet 8 inches
- Notable Projects
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Iron Man, Oppenheimer, The Avengers, Sherlock Holmes, Tropic Thunder, The Judge, Avengers: Endgame, Iron Man 3, Sherlock Holmes 3, Dolittle, Iron Man 2
- Professions
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Actor, Producer, Singer
Discover the latest news and filmography for Robert Downey Jr., known for Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes.
