Robert Downey Jr. dramatically reveals MCU return for upcoming ‘Avengers’ movies as villain Doctor Doom

Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the Marvel Universe as notorious Fantastic Four villain Doctor Doom.

Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, made the stunning reveal at Marvel’s San Diego Comic-Con panel on Saturday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

For more than decade, Downey Jr. starred as Marvel’s beloved superhero Iron Man before the character was killed off in saving the universe in 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.”

Downey coyly walked out onto the stage in an olive-green robe with dozens of others wearing Doctor Doom’s iconic metal mask. He dramatically pulled it off and revealed his face to wild cheers, video shows.

“New mask, same task,” Downey told the audience from the stage.

The Russo brothers, who directed a number of MCU movies including “Infinity War,” have been tapped to direct the next two Avengers films, Feige confirmed.

Downey will play the antagonist in  “Avengers: Doomsday,” due out in May 2026, and “Avengers: Secret Wars,” set to be released in May 2027.

“If we’re going to bring Doctor Doom to the screen — he is one of the most complex characters, most entertaining characters in all of fiction,” said Joe Russo.

“If we’re going to do this … then we are going to need the greatest actor in the world,” he added.

The move comes after a record-setting opening weekend for “Deadpool & Wolverine” and a renewed enthusiasm for the MCU, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The latest “Fantastic Four” movie has been scheduled to be released in July  2025.

Pedro Pascal will star as Reed Richards/ Mr. Fantastic, while Vanessa Kirby is portraying Sue Storm/Invisible Woman.