A major new theory suggests that Robert Downey Jr. could return to the MCU as soon as 2025’s The Fantastic Four. Robert Downey Jr. became the face of the MCU after appearing as Tony Stark in 2008’s Iron Man, being featured prominently in ten MCU movies before leaving the franchise in Avengers: Endgame. Despite Tony Stark’s death in Endgame, there has recently been a huge amount of speculation that Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the MCU, and there is a great way this can happen without damaging Iron Man’s legacy.

While it initially seemed as though Robert Downey Jr. was done with the MCU after his departure, the Academy Award-winning actor has recently been vocal about his willingness to return. While speaking to Jodie Foster for Variety‘s Actors on Actors series, Downey Jr. revealed that Tony Stark is “crazily in [his] DNA,” and expressed his open-mindedness about reprising the role. However, bringing Robert Downey Jr. back as Iron Man could discredit the impact of the character’s sacrifice in Endgame, but new theories suggest the actor could come back as someone entirely new.

It’s just crazily in my DNA. Probably the most like-me character I’ve ever played, even though he’s way cooler than I am. I’ve become surprisingly open-minded to the idea.

Robert Downey Jr. May Return To The MCU As Doctor Doom

Marvel Studios Doesn’t Want To Reverse Tony Stark’s Emotional Avengers: Endgame Sacrifice

Back in December, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige spoke to Vanity Fair for a cover story on Robert Downey Jr., and revealed that Tony Stark’s Endgame death would never be reversed. This means that, should he return to the MCU, Downey Jr. would not be portraying his original version of Tony Stark’s Iron Man. However, the magic of the multiverse means Downey Jr. could debut as a variant of his iconic MCU hero, and new speculation has pointed to him bringing a version of Tony Stark who becomes Doctor Doom into the MCU.

We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again. We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.

There is precedence for this to happen, as Tony Stark became Doctor Doom after finding himself in Victor Von Doom’s body during 2010’s What If? Iron Man: Demon in an Armor alternate storyline. This would not only be a fantastic way to bring Robert Downey Jr. back into the MCU, but would also mark a brilliant debut for Doctor Doom, who is one of Marvel’s most iconic, recognizable and long-running villains. Theories have suggested this could happen in time for Phase 6’s upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars, but this could occur much sooner.

The Fantastic Four Would Be A Great Place For Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom To Debut

Doctor Doom Is The Fantastic Four’s Archenemy In Marvel Comics

While Avengers: Secret Wars’ suspected multiversal storyline may make the most sense for this twisted variant of Tony Stark to appear in the MCU, one theory explains that Stark’s Doctor Doom would actually work better in Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four reboot. Since The Fantastic Four’s main cast was confirmed on Valentine’s Day, it’s been heavily suspected that the upcoming movie will take place in an alternate reality, given its 1960s-themed retro-futuristic design. This presents the perfect opportunity for Robert Downey Jr. to appear as an alternate Doctor Doom.

Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach have been confirmed to be playing Reed Richards’ Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm’s Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm’s Human Torch and Ben Grimm’s Thing, respectively.

Doctor Doom is the Fantastic Four’s greatest enemy in Marvel Comics, so it would be great to see him debut alongside Marvel’s First Family in their Phase 6 movie. However, The Fantastic Four being set in an alternate universe gives Marvel Studios the chance to take some creative liberties, which means the primary version of Doctor Doom doesn’t need to appear. Instead, Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Tony Stark could highlight the weirdness of the multiverse if he appears as a variant of Doctor Doom to oppose the team in The Fantastic Four.

Doctor Doom Needs To Be Set Up Before Secret Wars, The Fantastic Four Is The Perfect Opportunity

Doctor Doom Was The Main Antagonist Of Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars Storyline In 2015

If Marvel Studios takes inspiration from 2015’s Secret Wars storyline in Marvel Comics for 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars, then it’s very likely that Doctor Doom will be featured as a significant villain in the Multiverse Saga’s final project. In the comic story, a power-hungry Doctor Doom creates a patchwork planet after incursions destroy the multiverse, allowing many variants to reside alongside each other, and establishing himself as “God Emperor”. This would be great to see unfold in the MCU, but rushing Doctor Doom into Avengers: Secret Wars​​​​​​​ could ruin this story.

The earliest place Doctor Doom could debut is The Fantastic Four .

The easiest way to overcome this issue would be to set up Doctor Doom as a powerful threat in the projects preceding Avengers: Secret Wars. Since it’s unlikely that Doctor Doom will appear in Captain America: Brave New World, and Deadpool & Wolverine is dealing with 20th Century Fox’s X-Men characters, the earliest place Doctor Doom could debut is The Fantastic Four. Luckily, this is also the movie that makes the most sense for the villain’s first adventure, and this could tease Robert Downey Jr. playing Tony Stark’s Doctor Doom for much longer than just one movie.

Robert Downey Jr. In The Fantastic Four Leaves Space For The MCU’s Official Doctor Doom

Robert Downey Jr. Likely Wouldn’t Return As The Permanent Version Of Doctor Doom

Of course, this is currently all speculation. Robert Downey Jr. hasn’t been confirmed to be returning to the MCU, let alone as a variant of Doctor Doom. If this does happen, it will likely only be for a short time, as Downey Jr. will forever be associated with the heroic Tony Stark, rather than his villainous variant. This means that Tony Stark’s Doctor Doom in The Fantastic Four may not be the same version of Doom featured in Avengers: Secret Wars, but this could actually benefit the upcoming crossover event.

Marvel Studios has waited so long to introduce Doctor Doom to the MCU that his debut now needs to be something spectacular. Introducing him with the face of Robert Downey Jr. would catch viewers’ attention straight away, and doing this in The Fantastic Four means the titular team could beat this variant, proving their strength and team-work from the get-go. However, this would only create the opportunity for the MCU’s official Doctor Doom from Earth-616 to take Tony Stark’s place, setting him up to be an even bigger threat in Avengers: Secret Wars​​​​​​​ and beyond.​​​​​​​