Robert Downey Jr. is officially Iron Man again.
Disney confirmed the Marvel star will reprise his role as Tony Stark for new attractions coming to Disney California Adventure. That alone would have been a massive announcement considering what happened to the character in Avengers: Endgame (2019).
However, there’s a major twist to Downey’s Marvel comeback.
At the same time Disney is bringing Tony Stark back, Downey is preparing to play Victor von Doom in Avengers: Doomsday (2026). And Marvel may be deliberately making fans wonder whether the two characters share a deeper connection.
Disney Brings Iron Man Back
Downey helped launch the MCU when he starred in Iron Man (2008). More than a decade later, Tony sacrificed himself to defeat Thanos in Avengers: Endgame (2019).
His death seemingly closed the door on Downey ever playing Iron Man again.
Disney changed that at D23 in August 2026.
Downey will reprise Tony Stark for Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab, two attractions scheduled to open at Disney California Adventure in 2028.
Avengers Infinity Defense will take guests across the Multiverse as Marvel heroes battle King Thanos, a version of the villain who won. Downey will appear as Iron Man alongside Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye and Anthony Mackie’s Captain America.
Stark Flight Lab will naturally put Tony even closer to the action. Downey will play Stark alongside Mackie and Brie Larson, who returns as Captain Marvel.
But Disney has not announced Downey as Iron Man for another MCU movie.
Marvel Adds a Major Doctor Doom Twist
Instead, Downey’s theatrical Marvel return comes as Doctor Doom.
He’ll portray Victor von Doom in Avengers: Doomsday (2026), leaving fans wondering how Marvel will explain the villain looking exactly like Tony Stark.
Recent developments have only added to the mystery.
Avengers: Endgame Encore (2026) includes new material connecting Avengers: Endgame (2019) to Avengers: Doomsday(2026). An altered post-credits sequence takes the familiar sound associated with Tony forging his original Iron Man armor and follows it with imagery of Doom forging his mask.
That has fueled theories that Doom could somehow be connected to Stark.
During an Endgame Encore Q&A, co-director Anthony Russo was asked about possible “connective tissue” between the characters.
Russo didn’t confirm the theory, but he didn’t exactly kill it either. He said Marvel remains fully committed to Downey as Victor von Doom and suggested audiences will have to wait for the movie for answers.
For now, Disney has confirmed one part of Downey’s future.
Iron Man is officially coming back.
Whether Tony Stark and Victor von Doom eventually become pieces of the same MCU mystery remains a much bigger question.
