Robert Downey Jr. unlikely to play Doctor Doom after Avengers: Secret Wars

Robert Downey Jr. may not continue as Doctor Doom after Avengers: Secret Wars, with the role likely being recast.

Robert Downey Jr. may not continue portraying Doctor Doom after Avengers: Secret Wars, with speculation growing that the role will be recast. According to Alex Perez in a recent Q&A with The Cosmic Circus, the likelihood of Downey Jr. being replaced after the Secret Wars film is high, mainly because his Doom is from a different universe than Earth-616. Perez hinted at this, saying, "I think so, yes," suggesting that the storyline might conclude for this version of Doctor Doom​.

This revelation comes after Downey Jr. was officially announced to play the villain Victor Von Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Marvel Studios made this announcement during the San Diego Comic-Con in 2024, where Downey shared his excitement about playing the complex role of Doctor Doom. "New mask, same task," he said at the event, embracing the challenge of taking on another multifaceted character after years of playing Iron Man​.

However, as the MCU's multiverse saga evolves, fans and insiders speculate that the character’s arc will lead to a recasting. Perez’s discussion covered many future MCU projects, including potential character interactions and new dynamics between actors like Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange and Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom.

This potential recast has sparked widespread conversation among Marvel fans, many of whom are curious to see how the character of Doom will be handled post-Secret Wars. As the film’s release approaches, audiences are eagerly awaiting what could be the final appearance of RDJ in the role, leaving the future of the iconic villain in the MCU uncertain.