There are a lot of exciting projects on the Marvel Studios horizon, but none are bigger in scale, size, and sheer potential than Avengers: Doomsday. The first of two movies that the studio has been working towards ever since the Marvel Cinematic Universe officially launched its Multiverse Saga, the 2026 film will bring together a ton of Marvel legends, mainstays, and the current chapter's new arrivals as the Avengers reunite in the hopes of saving the multiverse.
There may be just one person standing in the way of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and that is the nefarious Doctor Doom. As game-changing as that is alone, what's even more game-changing is that Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the MCU to play the villain in what is no doubt the most extensive example of what the Multiverse Saga is capable of, because the heroes will no doubt be wondering why their new adversary looks like Iron Man.
Of course, there is an alternate sight that they will be seeing too, and that is the sight of Doom in his infamous silver mask. Now, we have an idea of what the MCU's version of that signature look will look like.
The MCU's Doctor Doom appears in Avengers: Doomsday crew merchandise
We now have an idea of what inspiration the MCU is seeking when it comes to their version of Doctor Doom. The man behind the character, Robert Downey Jr. himself, gave us a glimpse when he appeared on Good Morning America via a recorded message and donned Avengers: Doomsday crew merch (which can be viewed here in a tweet).
The cap boasts a Pinewood Studios logo, which is where the upcoming Avengers movie is also being filmed. However, it also features an image of Doctor Doom just above that logo. As pointed out by The Direct, the version of Victor von Doom that appears on the cap looks to be inspired by the character's design in the Silver Age of Marvel Comics, which has led to fans speculating that this will be what the MCU's iteration of the character will ultimately be based on. And, well, that's a pretty safe assumption to make.
Although the image is small and clearly a drawing based on Doom's Silver Age design, it's the first "official" merchandise to feature the character. Now, the crew merch obviously won't be made available to wider audiences, but we've seen in the past that any kind of Marvel merchandise tends to "spoil" the first look at multiple important characters. This has been the case even more recently, with merchandise confirming the Red Hulk's role in Captain America: Brave New World, Wiccan's involvement in Agatha All Along, and even Galactus' appearance in the upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps all being revealed ahead of each title's official release.
Downey Jr. appeared on Good Morning America to wish both Dominique Thorne and Anthony Ramos luck and love as they star in Disney Plus' upcoming Ironheart. This is particularly wholesome as that show's main character, Riri Williams, is seen by many as a successor to Iron Man himself as Ironheart looks to carry on his legacy. The endorsement from RDJ is no doubt a lovely moment and a huge recommendation to MCU fans to watch the show.
This isn't the first time that Robert Downey Jr. has shared his love for Ironheart as Thorne previously revealed that the MCU legend gave her "two thumbs up" and told her that he was so excited for the show, rooting for them all to succeed.
The star will make his long-awaited return to the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday next December when Earth's Mightiest Heroes will battle him to save the multiverse from his reign of terror. If he looks anything like that official design, audiences all over the world are in for one heck of an adaptation.
Ironheart premieres on Disney Plus on June 24, 2025. Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on December 18, 2026.