Kevin Feige Says the MCU Multiverse Enabled Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom

Marvel Studios is gearing up for what’s expected to be its biggest movie release ever this year: Avengers: Doomsday, coming in December. This film will be the epic conclusion to over 18 years of storytelling, bringing together everything from the Infinity Saga and the more recent Multiverse Saga. The Multiverse Saga, which started in 2021, has gradually introduced us to alternate realities beyond our own. We’ve already seen glimpses of these worlds, like the Illuminati’s Earth-828 in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Earth-10005 in Deadpool and Wolverine, and the possibilities for this franchise seem endless.

The upcoming movie Doomsday will heavily feature the multiverse, showcasing at least three different realities. We’ll see multiple Avengers teams from our main Earth (Earth-616), the Fantastic Four from another universe (Earth-828), and the X-Men from a brand new, currently secret world – which might be the same one seen in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine. This ambitious approach to the multiverse is paving the way for a potentially game-changing casting decision for Marvel’s next big event movie.

At CinemaCon 2026, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige discussed Robert Downey Jr.’s upcoming role as Victor Von Doom in Avengers: Doomsday with Entertainment Weekly. Feige explained that Downey Jr. is deeply connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, largely due to his iconic 11-year portrayal of Tony Stark/Iron Man. He revealed that he and Downey had numerous conversations over the years about the possibility of him returning to the MCU in some capacity.

As Robert Downey Jr. gained momentum towards winning his first Oscar (for Best Supporting Actor in 2023’s Oppenheimer), people began calling him one of the greatest actors alive. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige heard this and, inspired by the possibilities of the multiverse, realized they could do anything. He immediately called Downey to pitch him the idea of playing what would become Marvel’s most iconic villain.

When Robert Downey Jr. was gaining momentum towards his Academy Award win for ‘Oppenheimer,’ everyone was talking about how incredible he was. We thought, ‘Now’s the perfect time!’ Because we’re building a universe with endless possibilities – a multiverse, really – we can do anything. He’s already embodied the most famous hero, so let’s have him play the ultimate villain.

More to come…

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2026-04-19 18:32