The first trailer for Marvel Studios' Avengers: Doomsday (2026) has finally arrived, offering fans their first proper look at Downey as Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom following months of anticipation.
Avengers: Doomsday Replaces Two Actors
While much of the conversation has centered on the actor's transformation from Tony Stark/Iron Man into one of Marvel's greatest villains, the casting also quietly replaces two actors who previously brought Doom to the big screen.
Downey becomes the third live-action actor to portray Victor von Doom in a theatrical film, following the late Julian McMahon, who played the villain in Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), and Toby Kebbell, who took on the role in the reboot Fantastic Four (2015).
Watch Downey's version of Doom in the first official trailer for Avengers: Doomsday:
Related: Marvel Confirms Official ‘Loki' Replacement Months Before ‘Avengers: Doomsday'
The recasting comes as Marvel assembles one of the largest casts in franchise history.
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame), the film reunites MCU veterans including Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson/Captain America), Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man), Letitia Wright (Shuri/Black Panther), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier), and many more.
The Fantastic Four also return following Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), while several actors from 20th Century Fox's X-Men films—including Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Patrick Stewart, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and Kelsey Grammer—join the crossover.
Although none of the actors from those first three Fantastic Four movies are expected to reprise their roles, Chris Evans did return in his pre-Steve Rogers/Captain America role as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), proving that Marvel isn't afraid to revisit its earlier film history.
Avengers: Doomsday opens on December 18, 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars following on December 17, 2027.
Are you excited about Avengers: Doomsday? Do you think the Avengers will recognize Victor von Doom in the film? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
