The Russo Brothers Dropped a Bombshell: Stark and Doom Are Connected By More Than Just Looks

The “Avengers: Endgame” finale left fans heartbroken over Tony Stark’s sacrifice, but the Russo Brothers just dropped a bombshell: his story isn’t as disconnected from the future of the MCU as we thought. According to them, there’s a direct link between Iron Man and one of Marvel’s most iconic villains: Doctor Doom. And to make things even wilder? Robert Downey Jr. himself is stepping into Doom’s shoes.

Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom? The Russos Said “Yes.”

Yep, you read that right. The man who made Tony Stark a household name is now taking on Victor von Doom. ​The news was originally announced by The Russo Brothers on behalf of Marvel Studios at San Diego Comic-Con on July 30, 2024 to an explosion of applause from the fans seated in the acclaimed Hall H.

Joe Russo confidently told The Times in a recent interview, “There’s nobody else in the world who could play this character the way he’s about to,” indicating that the brothers fully back the casting. Hard to argue with that. And, per Entertainment Tonight, Downey is diving deep into Doom’s character, involved in everything from costume design to the villain’s backstory. He’s taking this role as seriously as he did Iron Man, which means we’re in for something special. Imagine all the charisma, intelligence, and intensity of Tony Stark channeled into one of Marvel’s most dangerous villains.

The Russos first MCU film, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” in 2014 was called “a straight-up masterpiece of action and intrigue” by The Hollywood Outsider, who went on to claim that between the “superhero moments,” the film has “the sort of spy thrills you’d normally expect from a Bond movie.” Given their track record for crafting intricate, high-stakes narratives, it’s no surprise they’re bringing that same level of storytelling to “Avengers: Doomsday.”

How Is Tony Stark Connected to Doctor Doom?

That’s the million-dollar question. The Russos teased that Doom’s arrival in “Avengers: Doomsday” is tied to Tony’s death in “Avengers: Endgame,” but, of course, they’re keeping the details under wraps. Anthony Russo simply said, “We can’t explain that as it’s part of the story,” in that same interview with The Times. Cue the fan theories (which have been running rampant since the original announcement).

One of the biggest possibilities? The multiverse. With Marvel cracking open alternate realities, there’s a strong chance this Doctor Doom is a Tony Stark variant from another universe. That would explain the casting while keeping the core Iron Man storyline intact. One fan brought up a great point on a Reddit post, “I think their whole point of getting RDJ was to really emphasize how whacky the Marvel multiverse can really get by having the villain looking to tear it all down be played by the same actor that anchored the early MCU as it’s protagonist.”

Imagine a version of Tony who never became a hero… one who went full mad scientist instead. Earlier in that same post, the fan who sparked the discussion said, “I think it’s a Tony Stark variant from Iron Man 2 who didn’t heal his palladium poisoning. He constantly wears his suit to survive, melds with his suit on a physical level (like in that one comic), goes crazy, and goes to Latveria and become the Doom of whatever flawed Iron Man 2 universe that is.”

Whatever the case, “Avengers: Doomsday,” which is set to theaters May 1, 2026, is shaping up to be a must-watch. The Russos have always been masters at weaving complex narratives, and with RDJ back in the mix, this could be one of the most mind-blowing MCU entries yet. One thing’s for sure: Tony Stark’s legacy isn’t fading anytime soon.