Photo Credit: Marvel Studios
Robert Downey Jr. will be pulling double duty in Avengers: Doomsday if the latest rumor about the Marvel Cinematic Universe crossover event is to be believed.
Will Iron Man appear in Avengers: Doomsday?
Outside of some animated appearances, Tony Stark/Iron Man has not appeared in the MCU since his demise in Avengers: Endgame (2019). However, that seems set to change with the latest rumor from noted scooper James Mack.
According to Mack’s latest X post, Avengers: Doomsday will feature “a Tony Stark variant… and it will be RDJ himself, not some random actor.” While this is an exciting update, especially for fans of Downey’s Iron Man, it’s worth noting that rumors are not always precise, so fans should take this update with a grain of salt until it has been officially confirmed by Marvel Studios.
There will already be a Tony Stark variant in Avengers Doomsday, and it will be RDJ himself, not some random actor https://t.co/LEEwEa71y8— James Mack (@JamesMackwl) January 11, 2026
Theories have been running rampant since Downey was announced to be playing Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom in Doomsday, with many wondering whether the supervillain would be revealed as a Tony Stark variant. Marvel Studios has debunked those theories in particular, stating that Doctor Doom is not an Iron Man variant.
Marvel seemingly doesn’t put much weight behind actors playing two major, unrelated characters, as Chris Evans was brought in to reprise his non-MCU role of Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) after having retired as Captain America. Still, given Iron Man’s impact and legacy in the MCU, Doom sharing his face will certainly elicit some very strong emotions and reactions from the Avengers when they first meet him.
Joe and Anthony Russo are directing both Avengers: Doomsday and its direct sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars. Plot details remain under wraps for the two-part crossover event, although the movies are confirmed to bring together the Avengers, the New Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men for the first time on the big screen.
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to hit theaters on December 18, 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars following one year later on December 17, 2027.
