'Avengers' then and now: How 12yrs have flipped the MCU
In a surprising turn of events, Marvel announced that Robert Downey Jr—renowned for his portrayal of Iron Man—will return to play Doctor Doom in the upcoming 2026 film Avengers: Doomsday. The exact nature of Downey Jr's character remains uncertain, leaving fans speculating whether he will depict a dark variant of Iron Man or embody Victor von Doom. This unexpected development adds a new layer to the interconnected storytelling of the MCU across its multiverse.
A look back at Downey's journey in the MCU
Downey first appeared as Iron Man in the eponymous 2008 film, marking the beginning of the MCU. His character played a pivotal role in assembling Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the Avengers, to counter Loki's threat in 2012. After their victory over Loki and Thanos's Chitauri armies in New York, Iron Man and his team successfully saved Earth. However, a twist occurred with time travel creating a variant of Loki who escaped custody with the Tesseract, leading to a new timeline.
Loki's evolution: From villain to multiverse savior
Tom Hiddleston's character, Loki, underwent a significant transformation in the MCU. After his defeat in 2011's Thor, Loki returned to Earth as an antagonist in the 2012 Avengers movie. However, by 2023's Loki Season 2, he had transitioned from villain to hero. The former God of Mischief became the savior of the multiverse, maintaining harmony among various timelines and preventing their destruction. This marked a dramatic shift in his character arc within the MCU narrative.
Role reversal: Downey and Hiddleston's characters will swap paths
The upcoming Avengers: Doomsday will see a role reversal for Downey and Hiddleston's characters from the 2012 Avengers movie. While Loki has evolved into a hero protecting the multiverse, Downey is set to portray Doctor Doom, potentially threatening the stability of the multiverse as the film's main antagonist. This dramatic shift underscores over a decade of interconnected storytelling in the MCU and highlights the limitless possibilities offered by an entire multiverse.
