Anthony Mackie welcomes Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU return as Doctor Doom

Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been confirmed, but not as Iron Man—this time, he’s stepping into the villainous role of Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday.

The shocking twist has sparked major buzz, and co-star Anthony Mackie has now weighed in.

Mackie, who now leads the Avengers as Captain America following the events of Captain America: Brave New World, addressed the casting in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight. He described Downey Jr. as "an integral part" of his early Marvel career and expressed excitement about working with him again.

"You know, the fun part is Robert Downey Jr. was such an integral part of the beginning of my career at Marvel," Mackie said. "It’s great to have him back and continue the legacy he built with the MCU."

Mackie and Downey Jr. previously shared screen time in films like Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War, though their characters rarely interacted directly. Now, with Mackie’s Captain America assembling a new Avengers team, the stakes are higher than ever—especially as they face off against Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom.

Downey’s cryptic “New mask, same task” line during his villain reveal hints at a thematic continuation of Iron Man’s legacy through Doom. The movie is set to release on December 18, 2026, and marks the first time Downey Jr. and Mackie will reunite onscreen since Avengers: Endgame.

As anticipation builds for Avengers: Doomsday, fans are eager to see how this new chapter reshapes the MCU’s power dynamics.