Marvel's Multiverse Saga is around the halfway mark and it has had a number of bumps in its journey to that point. The franchise that had enjoyed something of a flawless run throughout the entirety of its Infinity Saga struggled with its expansion into streaming television and risked diluting the Marvel Cinematic Universe's new story with too many titles. Some of those titles began to struggle at the box office for the first time ever, forcing the studio to pivot from its direction and its release strategy.
One of the other major issues came when its "endgame" was thrown into uncertainty after the studio parted ways with Kang the Conqueror actor Jonathan Majors, seemingly forcing them to rethink their plan for the next big Avengers movie (as it was subsequently revealed that it would no longer be called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty).
But all is now back on track as the studio has revealed the new plans for Avengers 5, including its new title. And with that, it's jaw-dropping new villain.
Avengers: Doomsday is bringing back Robert Downey Jr. in a new role
Marvel Studios closed out its Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con with a bombshell of an announcement, as president Kevin Feige and the Russo Brothers confirmed that Avengers 5 would now be titled Avengers: Doomsday and that Robert Downey Jr. would make his return to the franchise to play none other than Victor von Doom, a.k.a. Doctor Doom.
It marks a huge change for Downey, who previously portrayed Iron Man in the MCU. He was there from the very beginning, playing Tony Stark in 2008's Iron Man and going on to become one of the franchise's leaders, returning for two more Iron Man movies, as well as appearing in all four Avengers movies and playing a supporting role in a Captain America film and a Spider-Man movie. When the character sacrificed himself in the ending sequence of Avengers: Endgame, the actor officially departed the franchise. That is, until now.
🚨 FULL LOOK at both the Avengers: Secret Wars and AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY announcements.
— Bam Smack Pow (@BamSmackPow) July 28, 2024
Also featuring Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Doctor Doom. #Marvel #MarvelSDCC #SDCC pic.twitter.com/gGZCmBZVlX
Avengers 5 was initially titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty but after the studio parted ways with Jonathan Majors, it was quietly changed. Of course, fans knew that this wouldn't be the final title and they were simply waiting for the moment that Feige would reveal the new one. It was expected that SDCC would bring that announcement. What wasn't expected was the jaw-dropper of an announcement that came with it.
As for Kang himself, while rumors have been floating around suggesting that his presence in the saga will be diminished and he will ultimately be replaced as the Multiverse Saga's Big Bad with a new villain, he was expected to be recast in the meantime. Naturally, there has been a lot of speculation as to who would replace Jonathan Majors in the role. But now, it seems that he might not return at all.
Avengers: Doomsday will be led by Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom who seemingly replaces Kang as the main villain. The new team of Avengers will seek to stop the character, who according to rumors will be a variant of Tony Stark from another dimension. And speaking of Avengers, the Russo Brothers have officially confirmed that they will be back to direct both those movie and that was also music to fans' ears.
After a lot of uncertainty about the Multiverse Saga's endgame, Marvel Studios' SDCC panel has left fans more excited about the future of the franchise than they have been in a very long time.
Welcome back. RDJ!