Why Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Won’t Be an Evil Tony Stark

We have assumed from the start that if Robert Downey Jr. was returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to play Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday that his take on the character would be some kind of evil variant of Tony Stark. After all, few actors are more closely associated with a comic-book character than Downey and Iron Man. How could he possibly play someone else, even if Doom has always been a totally distinct character from Iron Man in the pages of Marvel Comics?

While that’s true, we’re starting to come around to the idea that Downey is playing a different character in Doomsday, not another version of Tony Stark from a different, darker timeline. In our latest Marvel video, we’ll explain why, breaking down the histories of Doom and Iron Man in Marvel Comics, and how MCU precedent regarding variants explains how Downey could be Tony Stark and Victor Von Doom all at once.

Watch our theory below:

If you liked that video on the true identity of Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, check out more of our videos below, including one on the Avengers’ future villains and the possible return of Kang (could it happen?), one on the X-Men’s role in Avengers: Doomsday, and one on the full season of Wonder Man and all of its secrets and Easter eggs. Plus, there’s tons more videos over at ScreenCrush’s YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe to catch all our future episodes. The next big Marvel multiverse movie, Avengers: Doomsday, is scheduled to open in theaters on December 18, 2026.

Sign up for Disney+ here.