Robert Downey Jr. is rumored to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the near future, and the actor’s possible shocking role could serve as the perfect replacement for Kang the Conqueror. Disney+’s Loki set up Kang to be the new Thanos, serving as the main villain of the Multiverse Saga. However, with the villain’s formal debut in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania bombing at the box office and Kang actor Jonathan Majors getting dropped by Marvel Studios following his legal situation, Kang’s future in the MCU seems to have been destroyed.

Previously titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the future return of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes will happen under a different name. Avengers 5 will reportedly get a new title and story, leaving its planned focus on Kang and his variants behind. With Marvel Studios having a panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Avengers 5‘s new story and what will happen with Kang the Conqueror and the Council of Kangs could be revealed. With rumors that Marvel wants to bring back the original Avengers, Downey Jr. recently had a possible shocking MCU role teased, and that could be how the MCU replaces Kang.

1Robert Downey Jr. As Doctor Doom Could Give The Multiverse Saga Its New Kang

The Villain Would Be Perfect For The MCU’s Avengers Plans

Marvel could be bringing back RDJ to the MCU as a villain rather than a hero, which would be a shocking move. A report revealed that a possible story route to bring back Downey Jr. would be for the Iron Man actor to return as Doctor Doom. That would not mean that RDJ would be the MCU’s Victor von Doom, but rather that the actor would be a multiverse variant of Tony Stark, who turned into Doctor Doom instead of becoming Iron Man like on Earth-616. With The Fantastic Four coming in 2025, that could soon be confirmed or not.

Rumors of the original Avengers returning to the MCU have been going on for some time. In November 2023, it was reported that Marvel was considering a new Avengers movie with the original MCU Avengers. More recently, Downey Jr. sparked speculation that he could be coming back as Tony Stark soon. RDJ commented on a possible Iron Man return, saying, “It’s just crazily in my DNA… I’ve become surprisingly open-minded to the idea.” With Downey’s comments coming in June and the influx of new MCU rumors, the actor’s return is starting to look ever more likely.

1RDJ’s Doctor Doom Would Ensure Iron Man’s Sacrifice Remains Untouched

Tony Stark’s Death Is One Of The MCU’s Biggest Moments

One of the most interesting aspects of Downey Jr. possibly returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom is the fact that it would avoid creating a major problem. Tony Stark’s death is easily the biggest in the MCU, with the character’s sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame leading to Thanos and his army turning to dust and the Avengers saving the day. That was the perfect ending to Downey’s long tenure in the MCU, with Iron Man going from a selfish billionaire to a selfless hero. As such, many would feel betrayed if the character were to be resurrected.

Well, a multiverse variant of Tony Stark is a great way of getting RDJ back for more MCU appearances without messing with Tony Stark’s arc. Downey coming back as Doctor Doom would also allow his return to stand as far away from what the MCU previously did with Iron Man as possible. It would be a shocking but interesting move that has the potential to bring in a whole new element to Downey’s time as Tony Stark, offering a fresh look at the actor as a villain that makes his MCU return matter.

How Marvel Comics Has The Perfect Setup For A Tony Stark Doctor Doom Variant

The MCU Could Follow An Intriguing Storyline

Downey’s possible role as a Tony Stark who becomes Doctor Doom has a precedent in Marvel Comics. In a “What If?” issue, Doctor Doom and Tony Stark’s minds end up swapping bodies. That led to Stark being in Doom’s body, eventually beating the fake Tony Stark but deciding to continue living as Victor von Doom. A version of that could be in play for the MCU, with RDJ’s multiversal Tony Stark actually being Tony’s body with Doctor Doom’s mind, which would explain a villainous turn.

Doctor Doom also needs to debut as fast as possible in the MCU. With Kang’s future up in the air, Doom is the best possible villain to take his role in the Multiverse Saga. Doctor Doom was crucial in the comics’ Secret Wars and could become the main threat the MCU heroes and other multiverse players get together to defeat in Avengers: Secret Wars. With the Fantastic Four rumored to come from another Earth, Robert Downey Jr.‘s Doctor Doom could also be from there, with Earth-616’s Doom being revealed after Avengers: Secret Wars.