Marvel Studios is orchestrating a generational handoff—and Pedro Pascal is at the center of it.
The actor, who is set to reprise his role as Din Djarin in Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026), has now emerged as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s heir apparent to Tony Stark. The development comes as the franchise undergoes one of its most significant creative pivots since Avengers: Endgame reshaped the superhero landscape in 2019.
Back in 2024, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige announced that Avengers 5 would no longer be called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. Instead, it was retitled Avengers: Doomsday, with Doctor Doom taking over as the saga’s central antagonist. In a twist few predicted, Robert Downey Jr. was tapped to portray Doom, replacing Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror. The casting choice divided audiences, given Downey’s long-standing association with Iron Man.
At the same time, Marvel enlisted Anthony and Joe Russo to direct both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027). The duo, who previously delivered Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, have described their return as a new starting point for the MCU. Their upcoming films are widely expected to pave the way for the Mutant Saga, especially as characters from the 20th Century Fox (now Studios) X-Men era re-enter the fold.
Patrick Stewart and James Marsden are among the returning X-Men actors joining the expansive Doomsday lineup. They’ll share the screen with veterans and newcomers alike, from Chris Hemsworth’s Thor to members of the Fantastic Four and Thunderbolts teams. Despite the stacked cast, Marvel has kept its cards close to the vest when it comes to plot specifics.
Reports suggest Doctor Doom is attempting to restore balance in the aftermath of Steve Rogers’ time-travel intervention at the conclusion of Endgame. His journey reportedly brings him into contact with figures such as Thor and Loki (Tom Hiddleston). How these threads will connect to Secret Wars remains under wraps, though the overarching narrative appears poised to bring the Multiverse era to a dramatic close.
For many fans, the most startling element of Doomsday is Downey’s return—this time as a villain. The actor’s original portrayal of Tony Stark helped build the MCU from the ground up, beginning with 2008’s Iron Man. Stark’s arc culminated in self-sacrifice in Endgame, leaving behind both a narrative and symbolic void.
With Stark gone, Marvel has lacked a singular technological mastermind at the heart of its universe. That’s where Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards enters the equation.
Fresh details from the official art book for The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) shed light on how Marvel is shaping Reed’s role moving forward. Concept illustrator Joshua Viers discussed the creation of the FantastiCar, designed alongside Concept Vehicle Designer Joe Hiura and overseen by production designer Kasra Farahani. The vehicle was conceived to reflect Reed’s intellect and affluence.
“It was so satisfying to illustrate a design made of strong choices, because this is the car of a rich genius inventor,” Viers said, via The Direct.
The comparison to Tony Stark is explicit.
“I think of Reed Richards as very much a Tony Stark type, but coming from a different world with different sensibilities–and what is really cool about the FantastiCar is that this isn’t just another cool car for Tony Stark,” Viers continued. “This is coming from another universe, and this utopian version of the 1960s. Reed definitely has his own style and aesthetic–but this is really Kasra’s vision. Kasra has the sensibilities of a wealthy, brilliant inventor–he’s our Mister Fantastic.”
Rather than erasing Stark’s shadow, Marvel appears to be reframing it. Reed Richards occupies a similar intellectual space—wealthy, brilliant, and forward-thinking—but filtered through the retro-futuristic aesthetic of First Steps. It’s a tonal shift that distinguishes him from Stark while still positioning him as the franchise’s next central innovator.
Directed by Matt Shakman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Marvel’s First Family. The film opened to an estimated $218 million worldwide, including $118 million domestically in its first weekend.
By the end of its run, the reboot had earned approximately $521–522 million globally on a production budget reported to exceed $200 million. That performance made it 2025’s top-grossing Marvel release, surpassing Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*, though it ranked in the mid-range compared to the MCU’s biggest blockbusters. Critics and audiences alike responded positively to its stylized 1960s setting and ensemble dynamic, even as ticket sales slowed after the debut frame.
As Avengers: Doomsday prepares for its December 18, 2026, release, Marvel has released four short teasers but has yet to unveil a full trailer. It could be that the first substantial footage will debut alongside Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), which marks Tom Holland’s next outing as Peter Parker.
Between Downey’s reinvention as Doctor Doom and Pascal’s rise as Reed Richards, Marvel is navigating a delicate balance between legacy and reinvention. The Multiverse Saga may be nearing its end, but the studio is clearly laying groundwork for what comes next, with a new genius at the helm.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters on December 18, 2026.
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