When I learned that Doctor Doom was being ushered into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I never would have predicted that we’d be seeing Iron Man behind the mask. Robert Downey Jr. is, of course, taking on the role of Victor von Doom and will make his debut in the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday. And the more I see of the upcoming Marvel movie, the more excited I become, especially when it comes to Doom. As shocked as I initially was about Downey's casting, though, I'm even more shocked that Sebastian Stan wasn't in the know beforehand.

Stan spoke with Josh Horowitz about all things superheroes and pop culture, and the latter brought up the big Doom reveal. On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Horowitz recalled Stan being at San Diego Comic-Con when Downey's involvement was announced. The journalist opined that Stan "must have known it was coming." Yet the Oscar nominee got real about not having gotten a heads up:

I think he perfectly sums up what many of us were feeling that night. I can’t imagine what Downey's various Avengers castmates must have been thinking. The crowd in Hall H eventually erupted upon seeing Downey, and that excitement remains, even if some people aren't convinced he's the right choice for Doom.

What doesn’t surprise me about all this are the lengths that Marvel went to in order to keep the Downey news a secret until the epic announcement. Marvel is well-known for making actors keep secrets (or at least attempt to do so). So, when Horowitz asked Stan if he had any intel, the actor said he didn’t even cross paths with RDJ or directors Joe and Anthony Russo at Comic-Con aside from the panel. He continued:

That secrecy aside, I'm just happy RDJ is back in the fold. And, funny enough, this was a recycled casting idea dating back to Tim Story’s Fantastic Four (2005). Downey was apparently being circled for the role before it went to the late Julian McMahon, who reprised the role for the sequel, Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). McMahon's performance was also a big reason why I loved the villain so much.

As for Stan, he's been relatively tight-lipped about what's to come in this latest Avengers movie. However, some of his choice comments did have fans concerned that Bucky might be killed off in Doomsday. In addition to the mortality of the characters, I'm also hoping a few details pay off, including a Loki plotline dating back to Endgame that has bugged me since I saw it. That particular details centers around the fact that there's no indication as to how Steve Rogers' decision to return to Peggy impacted the timeline.

Much of that may or may not be undone by Doom if he has his way, and I remain curious as to how Downey will play out the character's arc. I can only assume that at this point, Sebastian Stan is a bit more in the know. But, given how actors don't even receive full scripts for MCU films at times, I could imagine him being shocked a few more times when he finally sees the finished movie.

Check out Robert Downey Jr.'s Doom when Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18 as part of the 2026 movie schedule. In the meantime, catch up with the required MCU viewing list by streaming movies with a Disney+ subscription.

Go ahead. Call me a hater. I know you want to. But I don’t care. I’m still not feeling Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom.

I know I’ve had plenty of time to warm up to the idea, as we’ve known since as far back as 2024 that Downey would play the character. In all that time, I’m STILL not convinced that RDJ is the best choice for Doctor Doom, and I know I’m not alone.

However, this isn’t about other people. It’s about me, and why I still don’t think Robert Downey Jr. should be the ruler of Latveria. Here’s why.

The Most Recent Trailer Didn't Do Anything To Change My Mind

Honestly, I was hoping to marvel (pun not intended) at a trailer featuring Doctor Doom. As someone who wasn’t blown away by the X-Men trailer, I was really banking on Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Doom to be what finally got me excited for this film. Then I saw the trailer, and let me tell you: I was NOT marveled.

In fact, underwhelmed might be a better word. I think it’s the voice, as it does nothing for me. Sure, I’m glad that we haven’t seen Robert Downey Jr.’s face yet, as that would probably completely ruin it for me, but Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Doctor Doom just doesn’t feel intimidating to me, which is a major letdown.

I’m the kind of person who’s never seen a Fantastic Four movie that he didn’t like. And while First Steps is my favorite FF film, I greatly enjoyed the Chris Evans Fantastic Four movies, and even liked the Michael B. Jordan one…for the most part. The biggest weakness out of those aforementioned films was definitely Doctor Doom, as neither of those movies got the character right. I was hoping this trailer would change all of that for me, but it didn’t, and I’m kind of putting that squarely on RDJ's shoulders. There’s another reason why I’m not convinced that he’s the best choice.

I Don't Want Doctor Doom To Feel Connected To The Old MCU

I’ve been off the MCU hype train for a LONG time now, and a lot of that is because I don’t feel like the MCU has been adventurous enough lately. Sure, I’m the only person on the planet who loved Eternals - mostly because it was so adventurous - but I feel like the MCU has been going back to the tried-and-true well that is 2012's The Avengers a bit too much lately, and bringing back RDJ doesn't help.

I mean, bringing back Chris Evans as Cap seemed desperate enough, but bringing back Robert Downey Jr. still feels like we haven't gotten past 2008, when RDJ kickstarted the MCU with Iron Man, and that's the last thing I want.

I'm still kind of bummed that the MCU abandoned the Kang storyline, but if they were going to pivot to Doctor Doom, they should have AT LEAST started fresh. RDJ doesn't feel that way, though. It feels like we're languishing in the past. That said, maybe I just feel this way because I wanted another pick for Doctor Doom…

Maybe It's Just That I Still Wish We Got Mads Mikkelsen As Doctor Doom Instead

Okay, I'll be frank with you. Even before we were made aware that Doctor Doom was coming to the MCU, I had already dreamcasted Mads Mikkelsen in the role.

This isn't just a ME thing either, as Mikkelsen himself said he would like to play the character. He would literally be perfect for the role. I mentioned before how I don't find RDJ intimidating, but I find Mikkelsen terrifying in pretty much anything he does, so I could only imagine what he would be like as Doctor Doom.

So, perhaps I'm just unfairly comparing RDJ to Mads Mikkelsen, but unless the former blows me away as Heath Ledger did in The Dark Knight, I'll likely always believe that RDJ just wasn't the best choice for what is arguably Marvel's greatest antagonist.

There's been a lot of emotional Marvel scenes over the years, like when MJ doesn’t remember Peter Parker at all in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, or Steve Rogers' last appearance as an old man in Avengers: Endgame. However, to me, nothing signified a shift in Marvel's tone more blatantly than Tom Holland’s death scene in Avengers: Infinity War. While it was only a temporary departure of that character, it was still extremely emotional, and truly one of the most memorable scenes in the MCU. Now, Robert Downey Jr. is opening up about filming the scene in 2017, and the acting chops Holland had that blew everyone away.

Downey and directors Joe and Anthony Russo opened up about filming Infinity War with CBR. At the time, it was a truly uncertain point for multiple MCU characters, as half of them disintegrated at the end of the film, with the future of their characters in question. Chris Pratt nobly volunteered to go first, infusing some humor into his death scene, but they also wanted to have a more gut-wrenching death as well. Thankfully, Holland was up for the task. Downey explained:

Not only did Holland’s performance break the hearts of the audience members who saw Infinity War in theaters, but it also broke the hearts of the Russo Brothers. They admitted to crying at the monitor during this scene because Holland’s boyish innocence made them think about their own kids. Downey also noted that this kind of emotional performance was a key for him to take a step back with his own, and let Holland command the scene. He said:

Joe Russo explained that while Holland had words like “I’m sorry” and “I don’t feel so good” in the script, direction really helped him get all the way there. He told Holland that his character, Peter Parker, was only 16 years old and wasn’t ready to go. The actor may now be playing Peter in his 30s, but Holland was only 21 when they were filming Infinity War. He took the note and delivered a gut-wrenching, childlike performance as he held Tony Stark, played by Downey. The Oscar winner was beyond impressed by the performance from such a young actor, saying:

It truly is a masterclass in acting. In that moment, the tone shifts completely, and the audience understands the true gravity of the situation. The heroes lost, and now they are dying. It also totally sets the tone for the dark place Avengers: Endgame stars in, raising the stakes for everything to come, including real character deaths that are even more permanent, like the passing of Black Widow and Tony Stark himself. It is a scene that rarely gets its flowers, and I’m glad this trio took the time to give Holland the praise he deserves for this performance.

You can revisit Tom Holland’s gut-wrenching performance in Avengers: Infinity War with a Disney+ subscription. Fans can also look forward to Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU for Avengers: Doomsday, which hits theaters on December 18, 2026.

I’ll never forget when I heard Robert Downey Jr. was going to be in Avengers: Doomsday. It happened at the Hall H Marvel panel at 2024’s San Diego Comic-Con when the Iron Man actor surprised the audience with the reveal. It was the perfect viral moment to get fans hyped for the next Avengers movie after what happened with Kang. But I just got a reminder recently that not everyone is terminally online like I am.

My Dad Has No Idea About RDJ In Doomsday

Growing up, my dad was the one who got me into comic books and superheroes. We’ve seen most of the Marvel movies in order together over the years, too. I mean, I was twelve when Iron Man came out, so there’s been plenty of daddy/daughter bonding with the MCU. Now my dad is 67 years old, and these days he’s not spending his time scrolling social media, reading the latest on all the Marvel rumors and thinkpieces.

Recently, when I went to see him, we watched The Fantastic Four: First Steps together, which is streaming right now with a Disney+ subscription. When we got to the Doctor Doom tease at the end, something dawned on me… he has no idea RDJ is under that mask. I proceeded to show him the latest Doomsday trailer and realized he doesn’t have to know (and probably won’t) until the movie comes out.

Honestly, I Wish That Was Me Too

There was a moment during our visit when I asked him if he wanted to know who Doctor Doom is, but he declined. I think he made the right move. I actually hope he never finds out until the movie makes the reveal somehow.

I mean, how cool is it going to be for him to experience Doomsday without an awareness that Iron Man is the Avengers' latest greatest villain? Certainly, for most of the movie the team of superheroes won’t have any idea. There has to be a scene when Downey uncovers his mask somehow, and everyone looks in shock and surprise. While I’ll have been anticipating this for years, and probably be let down somehow thanks to all the piled up excitement, but my dad is going to be just as much in disbelief as the likes of Thor or Captain America.

I assume Doomsday has a lot more surprises in store for fans than the Doctor Doom unmasking (which isn’t much of a surprise for most), but now I’m thinking about how much fun it would have been if Marvel never revealed Downey was Doctor Doom. I see why they did it. Too many leaks spoil Marvel surprises all the time, and having RDJ help promote your movie is a great thing to have in your arsenal if you want people to show up for the fifth Avengers movie. But, yeah… I’m jealous of my pops!

I mean, if anything, maybe this is a good reason for me to go see it with him. And maybe you should take note and find your closest family member who doesn’t pay attention to the internet. If you do, you have until December 18 to find your offline Doomsday buddy.

In less than four months we’ll see Earth's Mightiest Heroes take on their first big villain since Thanos in Avengers: Doomsday. While we wait for the latest of new Marvel movies, it’s definitely worth looking back at what made the last two Avengers films great: its villain. And the movies’ co-director Joe Russo recently compared him to another famous big bad I wouldn’t have thought of myself.

Thanos has definitely done the most damage in the MCU considering he snapped half of the universe from existence. He had the Avengers defeated for five years before those who were left were able to come together and reverse what he did. When looking back at the evildoer to CBR, Russo said this:

Whoa, what a statement! Anton Chigurh is Javier Bardem’s character in 2007’s No Country For Old Men, which is based on the novel of the same name. And you know what, I see it.

Anton Chigurh is characterized as a man who’s especially chilling to us because he’s someone who doesn’t feel remorse or compassion. And as a hitman, he’ll pretty much kill anyone who stands in the way of him. He’s a total psychopath. The villain was actually named one the best movie characters of all time (via Empire) last year.

Thanos’ mission of killing half the population in the universe due to his experiences on Titan. His failure to see how much pain and death he inflicts because of it is very Anton Chigurh. I think because the movies are in completely different genres, I wouldn’t have thought of the connection. But funny enough, there is one: Josh Brolin’s character of Llewelyn Moss is obviously the main protagonist of No Country For Old Men.

When it comes to Brolin taking on Thanos, it looks very different on set than on the big screen. As the actor said it before, he’s in a “fucking onesie” when he plays the role and really has to “rely on your imagination.” Here’s what Robert Downey Jr. said about getting to work with the actor as Thanos:

What a great compliment to Brolin, who was fantastic as Thanos in the MCU. You can watch all the Avengers movies right now with a Disney+ subscription, and see Avengers: Endgame back on the big screen starting September 25, 2026. Downey has quite the act to follow as he takes on the next villain role of Doctor Doom, but something tells me he’s going to deliver.

It's almost time. Avengers: Doomsday is coming on the heels of the wildly successful Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The upcoming Marvel movie will be the first movie to feature most of The Avengers since 2019's Avengers: Endgame, and it promises to be a star-studded affair.

Because this 39th installment of the long-running franchise of acclaimed superhero movies is finally bringing in one of the most feared villains in comic book history, Doctor Doom, Kevin Feige and his team are assembling a collection of heroes unlike anything the MCU has seen before. There are familiar faces, newcomers, and even a few people from other corners of the Marvel multiverse who have not been properly introduced into the MCU. Let’s get into who is avenging this time and what else we know about the upcoming superhero movie in the following guide to Avengers: Doomsday.

What Is The Avengers: Doomsday Release Date?

Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026.

That date coincides with the release of Dune: Part 3 on the same day of the 2026 movie schedule, and fans have taken to calling it "Dunesday." It's set up a perfect double feature for hardcore movie fans, though it's going to make for a long day, as it's expected both movies will have runtimes around the two-and-a-half-to-three-hour mark.

Avengers: Doomsday Trailer

After years of anticipation, an epic cast reveal, a brief appearance by Doom in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and a series of teasers featuring different characters, our first real look at Avengers: Doomsday came in July 2026 with the release of the first full trailer. Of course, it was talked about as much for what it didn't show as what it did.

What Avengers: Doomsday Is About

Here's basically what we know: Avengers: Doomsday will bring together superhero teams from across the multiverse who will converge in one place to battle Doctor Doom. For the first time, the biggest teams in the Marvel canon will be teaming up in the MCU, including The Avengers, The Fantastic Four, The New Avengers (or The Thunderbolts), and last but certainly not least, The X-Men.

Previously, the plot of the fifth Avengers film was intended to revolve around a different villain and was going to be called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty before Kang the Conqueror actor Jonathan Majors was dropped by Marvel in 2023 following high-profile legal troubles.

The Avengers: Doomsday Cast

As you would expect, the cast for Avengers: Doomsday is huge. The first announcement came way back in the summer of 2024 at San Diego Comic Con. The Hall H crowd erupted into a roar of excitement and confusion when it was revealed that Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU, but not as Iron Man. Instead, the Academy Award winner is the one putting the “doom” in Avengers: Doomsday by starring as Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom.

In March of 2025, Marvel Studios revealed who would be taking on Doom with a live-streamed video on X, which is now available on YouTube, lasting more than five hours. Foldout chairs bearing the actors’ names were placed next to each other, one by one, every 15 minutes. In addition to established veterans of the franchise, the previewed ensemble also includes the stars of the yet-to-be-released Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, as well as a few who are making their MCU debuts but not their Marvel debuts, having previously starred in the live-action X-Men movies.

Check out the full Avengers: Doomsday cast, complete with character names, below:

• Robert Downey Jr. (Victor von Doom / Doctor Doom)
• Chris Hemsworth (Thor)
• Chris Evans (Steve Rogers)
• Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier / Professor X)
• Ian McKellen (Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto)
• Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson / Captain America)
• Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes)
• Letitia Wright (Shuri / Black Panther)
• Channing Tatum (Remy LeBeau / Gambit)
• Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic)
• Paul Rudd (Scott Lang / Ant-Man)
• Rebecca Romijn (Raven Darkhölme / Mystique)
• James Marsden (Scott Summers / Cyclops)
• Tom Hiddleston (Loki)
• Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm / Invisible Woman)
• Simu Liu (Xu Shang-Chi)
• Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova)
• Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter)
• Wyatt Russell (John Walker / U.S. Agent)
• Tenoch Huerta (Namor)
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm / The Thing)
• Kelsey Grammer (Hank McCoy / Beast)
• Lewis Pullman (Bob / Sentry)
• Danny Ramirez (Joaquin Torres / Falcon)
• Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm / Human Torch)
• David Harbour (Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian)
• Winston Duke (M'Baku)
• Hannah John-Kamen (Ava Starr / Ghost)
• Alan Cumming (Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler)

There are a few names you might be wondering about who aren't on that list. There are a few actors who have not been officially confirmed for Doomsday, but there is speculation that at least some of them will appear. This includes Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Also not on the list is Tom Holland as Spider-Man, and that's because it's very unclear if he'll be in Doomsday or only in the sequel, Avengers: Secret War. There is a lot of chatter that Tobey Maguire may appear as his version of Peter Park/Spider-Man in Doomsday.

Avengers: Secret Wars Is Coming December 17, 2027

Joe and Anthony Russo revealed to Omelete that, while Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame were two halves of a finale to the MCU’s first saga, Avengers: Doomsday will be the first half of a new beginning for the franchise. Avengers: Secret Wars will drop on the 2027 movie schedule next December and will mark the end of Marvel Phase Six and the Multiverse Saga overall.

The sixth Avengers movie shares its name with the aforementioned comic book arc, which ran for 12 issues from 1984 to 1985, in which an omnipotent being called the Beyonder brings various heroes and villains (including Doctor Doom) to the planet Battleworld and pits them against each other like gladiators.

All of this was potentially hinted at in the post-credits scene on Spider-Man: Brand New Day and could explain why Tom Holland won't be in Doomsday, as his version of Spidey is now trapped on Battleworld.

Joe And Anthony Russo Are Directing Avengers: Doomsday

Some of the titles considered to be the absolute best Marvel Cinematic Universe movies include Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame – all of which are directed by Joe and Anthony Russo. The brotherly duo previously claimed they would be walking away from the franchise for good after their 2019 smash, but it looks like you should never say never. The Russos are directing both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, which, according to Variety, was a top condition for Robert Downey Jr.’s return.

After most recently working with the Russos as the co-writer for their Netflix original movies, The Gray Man and The Electric State, Stephen McFeely is reteaming with them to pen Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. He had previously written several classic MCU movies, including Endgame, with his frequent partner, Christopher Markus, but this will be his first solo effort with the franchise. Loki creator Michael Waldron was previously serving as the screenwriter when Daniel Destin Cretton was still on board as the director.

What To Watch In Anticipation Of Doomsday

You still have plenty of time to catch up on or revisit all of the Marvel movies in order before Avengers: Doomsday is released if you are up for it. However, Disney and Marvel have also released a list of MCU shows and movies that they say are essential viewing, and thankfully, it's much shorter than diving into everything!

All you need is a Disney+ subscription, and you can watch everything recommended.

• X-Men
• X-Men 2
• Captain America: The First Avenger
• The Avengers
• Avengers: Infinity War
• Avengers: Endgame
• Loki Seasons 1 and 2
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Spider-Man: No Way Home
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
• Deadpool and Wolverine
• Captain America: Brave New World
• Thunderbolts*
• The Fantastic Four: First Steps

While there have been some left wondering why certain shows and movies were left out, and others are mad that more of what they watched seemingly isn't important to this installment, I am glad the list isn't too exhaustive. It's hard work keeping up with the MCU, but I'll keep doing it and making updates on this story as often as needed!

Robert Downey Jr. is a bonafide star in his own right and one of the most esteemed (and highest paid) actors of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Of course, the sprawling franchise is filled with plenty of other heavy hitters, including Chris Pratt. Downey’s Tony Stark/Iron Man and Pratt’s Peter Quill/Star-Lord first crossed paths in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War, and the results were hilarious, to say the least. What surprises me now is that Downey is opening up about being “mad” at Pratt amid filming, but he means this as a major compliment.

Honestly, it’s hard to believe it’s been over eight years since Infinity War hit theaters, crushed at the box office and delivered that dreary ending. Downey and co-director Joe Russo recently sat down to reflect upon the making of the movie and discuss some of their favorite on-set moments. Eventually, the duo discussed the first scene they shot for the film – Tony Stark concocting a plan with the Guardians of the Galaxy on Titan. Downey recalled went on to recall Pratt’s comedic prowess and why he knew he’d be ready to play:

Downey is certainly no slouch when it comes to comedy, but it’s true that Pratt can operate on an entirely different level. The Jurassic World star’s performance as Andy Dwyer on Parks and Recreation alone is indeed evidence of his ability to generate laughs. During their interview with CBR (part of which was shared to TikTok), Russo asked Downey if he felt “threatened” by Pratt. The Oscar winner admitted to being “mad,” but his reasoning is quite nuanced:

So, while the Sherlock Holmes star was initially miffed over Pratt getting in some great lines, he came to the realization that it was a benefit to be working with a skilled performer. To that point, Stark and Quill’s on-screen interactions are comedic gold, as their specific brands of bravado clash with each other perfectly. It’s that initial conflict that eventually makes it so satisfying when the characters – and their allies – decide to work together to stop Thanos from acquiring the Time Stone.

As for Infinity War as a whole, the movie remains a visceral experience and a defining chapter in the MCU continuity (which can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription). Much of the cast and crew still have plenty of memories from making the movie. For example, Vision actor Paul Bettany has recalled filming his character’s death and having no frame of reference for it. Benedict Cumberbatch – who plays Doctor Strange – has also discussed the deleted scene in which his character wears the Iron Man suit.

Chris Pratt’s prior comments also suggest he enjoyed his time making the third Avengers movie as well, though he can also still remember the passionate responses to Peter Quill’s infamous Thanos moment. In terms of Pratt’s work with Robert Downey Jr., I would hope that he also holds their time working together in high regard.

While this year’s D23 marked the first time we got to see the new X-Men cast, it also featured a very fun reunion between two of Marvel’s most seasoned veterans, Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. They were there alongside Hayley Atwell to promote their upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: Doomsday. And in true Cap and Iron Man fashion, RDJ was busy trolling his pal, Evans, behind the scenes of this big industry event.

I don’t expect Robert Downey Jr. to be anything but silly and sarcastic, so it didn’t surprise me one bit that that’s how he was acting in his BTS D23 video on Instagram. It felt remarkably on-brand for it to begin with him trolling Chris Evans too, as they had the following back-and-forth:

• Chris Evans: What is this? What are we doing?
• Robert Downey Jr.: You know, that’s one of those dumb things they always say in movies. They’re like, ‘What is this place?’

It seems only natural that attending an event like D23 or San Diego Comic-Con (which Evans and Downey were also at earlier this summer) would cause this kind of reaction. They’re big and fancy events, and usually guys like them have busy schedules full of presentations and media. So, this interaction felt both understandable and funny. Plus, the Oscar winner is right; I can perfectly picture plenty of scenes that involve people saying "What is this place?" in movies.

Honestly, the whole video is hilarious, though, and you can see it for yourself here:

Personally, after the trolling moment, my favorite bits of this video are Downey’s reunion with Iron Man director and Happy actor Jon Favreau (who was at D23 to talk about his new Oswald project) and the moment when RDJ decided to punch Winnie the Pooh. I also got a real kick out of seeing him, Evans and Atwell read their lines and try to figure out the order in which they wanted to walk out on stage.

Overall, it was a lovely peek behind the curtain, and it really makes me want to be a fly on the wall during the Avengers: Doomsday press tour. I’m sure Downey and Evans will have more jokes up their sleeves, especially since they’ve been regularly trolling each other (yeah, I saw how the Cap and Doom actors acted on stage at CinemaCon).

Now, once we get to December 18 on the 2026 movie schedule, that joke-fighting will turn serious, because Downey is playing Doctor Doom in the MCU. So, I have a feeling we won’t be seeing him and Evans poking fun at each other on the big screen. However, that’s thrilling too, because, personally, I cannot wait to see how exactly they plan to reintroduce one of Marvel’s most iconic actors as a new character and legendary villain.

We’ll have to wait a bit to see that, though, so in the meantime, I’ll be enjoying this BTS content and going back to see Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. during their early MCU days by streaming the Marvel movies in order with my Disney+ subscription.

Presale tickets for Avengers: Doomsday became available to buy this week. And, it’s looking like the next of upcoming Marvel movies could be one of the biggest (if not the biggest) films on the 2026 movie schedule. So when Simu Liu took some time to promote it this week, he chose to highlight that in a quite funny way.

Liu took to X to ask people to “spread the word” on a movie that everyone’s been talking about by now. Check it out:

Ah, yes. Simu Liu’s ”little indie feature”, Avengers: Doomsday! The Shang-Chi actor decided to do a bit of trolling here and the sarcasm train just kept going. Here’s some more exchanges between fans and Liu following his latest post:

• @wade_burrell: “Proud to do my part to support your unknown project, Simu. 🤞”
  • Simu Liu: “thanks i know you probably haven’t heard of it but i promise it’s good!"
• @WriteOB: “Are you sure it's good? I'm always skeptical about small budget movies”
  • Simu Liu: “yes! we stretched every dollar of our very limited budget. i have no doubt it won't affect your moviegoing experience!”
• @IgorMatviyets: “Are there special instructions how to watch this little Independent movie?”
  • Simu Liu: “check your local theatre to see if they are planning on showing it! we’re not totally sure how many we’ll get, i’ve heard it’s rough out there for indie stuff…”

Across Simu Liu’s career, the actor may have implemented his social media to let fans know about small or even regular-sized movies and TV shows he’s been part of. But, it sounds like Liu feels a bit ridiculous bringing up Doomsday given all the press it’s already getting leading up to its December release.

The latest special look for Avengers: Doomsday amassed over 32 million views on YouTube alone in less than a week as presale tickets came out earlier this week. Take a look:

Avengers: Doomsday is also very much not an indie movie given it’s allegedly one of the most expensive films ever produced. It bodes well that Doomsday’s presale numbers are already tracking ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. And, that movie recently crossed $2 billion at the worldwide box office, becoming one the highest-grossing films of all time.

Doomsday marks Simu Liu's first appearance in a live-action Marvel movie since his debut in 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Liu has teased that Shang-Chi is a “more lived-in” hero this time around. He’s also talked about how mortified he was to meet Robert Downey Jr on the set of the movie, who’s switching out his Iron Man suit to play the lead villain.

Alongside Liu and Downey, the movie will also star Chris Evan and Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, Chris Hemsworth’s Tho and Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man. There’s also the cast of Thunderbolts*, The Fantastic Four: First Steps and much of the cast from the original X-Men movies.

Simu Liu may not need to promote Avengers: Doomsday, but you gotta love him showing he’s a good Avengers teammate and doing so anyways.

Robert Downey Jr. returning to Marvel as Doctor Doom was already one of the strangest casting turns the MCU has ever pulled. This is the guy who spent more than a decade as Tony Stark, helped turn Iron Man into the foundation of a multibillion-dollar franchise and then got one of the biggest superhero send-offs ever in Avengers: Endgame. Bringing him back as Victor von Doom felt completely out of left field. Except, apparently, it wasn't. That’s right, it's a recycled idea that almost happened 20 years ago.

I somehow missed that the Chaplain star was already in the mix to play Doctor Doom roughly two decades ago. In a resurfaced Marvel Studios retrospective conversation between Iron Man director Jon Favreau and Kevin Feige posted on Instagram, Favreau recalled that Marvel had met with the actor about Doom before he ever became Tony Stark. Feige's reaction confirms Favreau's memory, which makes Downey's eventual casting feel less like a wild new idea and more like Marvel opening a very old folder. You can check out the exchange below:

The project in question was 2005's Fantastic Four. Per Favreau, Downey had met about playing Victor von Doom years before Favreau began putting together Iron Man. Julian McMahon ultimately landed the role and played Doom opposite Ioan Gruffudd's Reed Richards in Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel, Rise of the Silver Surfer. Three years after that first FF, Downey became Tony Stark instead, and comic-book movie history took a pretty significant turn. As Favreau recalled:

Favreau has said that when Downey came up for Iron Man, his earlier Marvel meetings meant the people involved already knew him. More importantly, the director thought RDJ understood Tony Stark immediately. Kevin Feige has repeatedly credited that casting as one of the decisions that allowed the MCU to become what it did.

Which makes the Doom thing pretty funny in hindsight. Marvel almost tapped the Dolittle star for one of its biggest villains, but luckily for everyone involved, they instead cast him as arguably its most important hero, where he spent 11 years helping the company flesh out a cinematic universe around him. And, now, just like in wrestling, he has returned after the MCU killed off Stark, and he has turned full heel as he comes back as one of the most popular villains.

Downey was officially revealed as Victor von Doom at San Diego Comic-Con in 2024, with the Russo brothers returning to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. His casting immediately raised questions about whether Doom would somehow be connected to Tony Stark, though Marvel has consistently presented him as Victor von Doom rather than simply an evil Stark variant.

Now, we are finally close to the film’s release date on the 2026 movie schedule and seeing what Marvel has apparently been imagining, in some form, since the George W. Bush administration. Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters Dec. 18.

Until we see RDJ return as Doom in a new Marvel movie, fans can revisit Tony Stark’s final MCU chapter by streaming Avengers: Endgame with a Disney+ subscription.

Robert Downey Jr. got the best deal one could get out of his Iron Man tenure. He helped start the MCU and told a complete and very satisfying arc for the superhero across many years. I wouldn’t blame him if he was never in another one of the upcoming Marvel movies ever again. Yet, here he is, back to play Doctor Doom in the latest MCU flick Avengers: Doomsday. And he even picked the new role over Tony Stark when he was just asked to choose? This guy is full of surprises.

RDJ was just in Anaheim, California on August 14 for D23 to promote his Marvel film coming out on the 2026 movie calendar. During an interview, he was asked to pick between Iron Man and Doctor Doom. Here’s how he responded:

As Robert Downey Jr shared with Good Morning America, it was “weird” for him to be on the other side of a superhero movie now as a villain. And yet, he did like the change of pace. While shooting Doomsday, he didn’t necessarily like to be the guy all the other characters are against. However, he also ended up enjoying the different perspective, too.

Apparently, being under the helmet allowed him to get to know more of the cast, and really revel in the presence and performances of “everybody else.” I find this to be a super unexpected answer from Downey, and ultimately 20 years from now I have to wonder if he’ll say the same thing. However, I do like his reasoning.

After all, as Iron Man, he probably had a lot more on his shoulders work-wise. Since Doctor Doom seems to be the reason why all the heroes are brought together rather than the main character that Iron Man was, it sounds like RDJ appreciated sitting back a bit more and letting them shine. And the cast is brilliant, so I don’t blame him.

Downey’s words come as D23 debuted a special look at Avengers: Doomsday that was previously only for the eyes of SDCC Marvel Hall H attendees. Check it out:

As we wait for Doomsday, I can’t help but have questions about how RDJ being both Iron Man and Doctor Doom will be handled narratively. Also, who else will be joining the cast that we don’t know about? At D23, Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds had a message that’s making me wonder if they’ll be part of it, too, for example.

We’ll find out officially and get to see Downey in this new role when Avengers:Doomsday hits theaters on December 18.

I always love that moment when I’m watching something and I notice one of the child actors in it is now a major movie star. If you’ve watched the Marvel movies in order lately (available to stream with a Disney+ subscription), you might have had this experience with Iron Man 3. Sure, Jenna Ortega is in the movie for like two seconds, but I just found out there was almost more.

Ortega’s first movie was Iron Man 3, which was filmed when she was nine years old. She appears very briefly about an hour and a half into the 2013 flick as “Vice President’s Daughter”. But, her story about her time on set has me feeling wistful for her. In her words:

How adorable is this? Jenna Ortega wasn’t the Wednesday star she is these days on the Iron Man 3 set back then, but she sure had the stuff and the drive. Here’s a shot of her in the movie:

Jenna Ortega plays the daughter of Miguel Ferrer’s Rodriguez, the Vice President of the United States. In the brief Jenna Ortega appearance, the camera pans down to show she doesn’t have one of her legs. The scene reveals to the audience that Rodriguez’s allegiances lie with the movie’s villain, Aldrich Killian, who’s giving him Extremis tech to help heal her.

According to Ortega, her character originally had lines and even a name, but the movie ultimately cut short the role. I totally get that she’s not a main character in Iron Man 3, and edits are part of showbiz. But now that we know what the actress is capable of, I want that deleted scene back! It would have been so cool if she was in it in even just a bit longer. Ortega also said this to Esquire about Iron Man 3’s release:

At the time, it must have been so exciting for little Jenna Ortega to be in a big movie at all, but my heart kind of hurts, too. All that excitement, love and support for Iron Man 3, and she didn’t say a single line! This happens a lot in Hollywood. I guess it makes me think about all the small parts in movies and TV shows that may not be a big deal to us, but mean the world to its burgeoning actors. As Ortega added:

Ortega grew up over two hours outside of Los Angeles to a sheriff’s deputy and emergency-room nurse. They managed to drive her back and forth to auditions in order to support her dream at a young age. It certainly paid off now that she’s been in a ton of movies and TV shows across almost 15 years.

Don’t expect her to be in any upcoming Marvel movies. She’s said before that she counts that as her MCU stunt and “I move on”. Ugh, if only! They could have built on it later, but I guess she doesn’t need it either way.

Though, we do have some ideas for superheroes she could play. Ortega’s next role is in Klara In the Sun, which is among 2026 movie releases coming out this fall.

Even as the dust is settling from Spider-Man: Brand New Day and its mysterious ending and how it may lead to one or both of the Avengers sequels, all eyes are shifting to the next MCU movie to hit theaters, Avengers: Doomsday. Robert Downy Jr. is understandably drawing a lot of attention, thanks to his Marvel return as Dr. Doom. The actor is already showing off his method-dressing skills with a surprisingly dense Doom-themed wardrobe, and I think he may have divulged a major spoiler that possibly also ties back to Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Let’s first dig into why I think RDJ unwittingly let the cat out of the bag regarding Doctor Doom’s second-in-command, and why I think it’s directly related to the final moments from the Fantastic Four’s MCU debut.

Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom Shoes Feature A Coded Reference To Franklin Richards' Sister

If one scrolls through RDJ's post dedicated to his extensive Doctor Doom duds, one will come across a pic and video of some bright green shoes with the same rune-esque language that was emblazoned on the actor's jacket during his San Diego Comic-Con appearance. (That jacket is also included in the pic gallery, and its messages were previously figured out by Popverse.)

Using just the rune key first revealed in an Instagram post about Dom Latveria Coffee, I was able to figure out the word running across the strap above the laces:

For those in the know, Valeria Richards is the name of two important characters related to Victor Von Doom. One is his former lover, with lots of demonic messiness attached to that storyline.

More importantly for this line of theorizing, Valeria is also the name of Franklin Richards' sister, whose name was given to her by Doom, her godfather. Her exact origins changed over time, as comic origins are wont to do, but she is essentially an unborn child of Sue and Reed Richards' who gets saved and brought into existence through her brother Franklin's reality-altering powers. She possesses a genius intellect that leads her to invent advanced technology that allow her to travel through time, which can make her appear older than Franklin at times.

Valeria also crafts an armor for herself that combines elements of the Fantastic Four's costuming with Doctor Doom's metallic protection. Which is what leads us to why I think this reveal is directly related to the ending of Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Could Valeria Have Appeared To Franklin Instead Of Doctor Doom?

SDCC was also the source of another big theory involving Doctor Doom, as the villain's hyper-detailed display statue was joined by a female counterpart of sorts identified only as "Latverian Witch." Fans quickly jumped to conclusions that the character could be Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch, or at least a variant of her, but the mask's smooth and sleek look seemed to be too close to the mask seen in Fantastic Four: First Steps' final moments, making me think it's the Witch who appears before Franklin, and not Doctor Doom as previously believed.

I wasn't totally sold on Wanda Maximoff being under the hood in FF, but it would make a TON of sense for that to actually be Valeria instead. Even though it's been confirmed that Robert Downey Jr. filmed that scene, he's very clearly not holding the same mask he's wearing in the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer, so it stands to reason that it may not actually be the big bad.

Valeria's comic book existence doesn't match up squarely with what the MCU has set up, so I would expect there to be unforeseen changes made that would match up with what the Russos have planned. But whichever way it goes, I'd fully expect her live-action debut to still feature the same close-knit relationship with Doom that makes everything complicated for the Richards fam. (Especially if she comes from a timeline where Sue and Victor are married. The horror!)

Does this theory hold water, or does it sound like a wash? Robert Downey Jr.'s green shoes also feature lots of runes on the shoelaces and elsewhere that couldn't be fully seen, so perhaps those coded messages are all about former loves and are entirely specific to Victor Von Doom's ex. But I think it's more fun to believe that I unwittingly stumbled into a major Doomsday spoiler.

We'll all find out for sure when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, 2026.

San Diego Comic-Con was last week, and all sorts of thrilling information was released regarding upcoming Marvel movies. One of these exciting updates was the reveal that Ryan Gosling has been cast as Ghost Rider and is getting his own solo movie directed by Deadpool & Wolverine filmmaker Shawn Levy. And Robert Downey Jr. has a funny idea for that project that I'm actually sold on.

Eva Mendes approves of Ryan Gosling's casting as Ghost Rider, and fans who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are curious about what the MCU version of the supernatural hero will be like. While speaking with EW at Comic-Con, RDDJ offered a hilarious suggestion for what he'd like to see from Ghost Rider. In the Oscar-winning actor's words:

Take my money. Nicolas Cage famously played Ghost Rider in two movies starting in 2007, and there are likely going to be plenty of comparisons when Ryan Gosling's version of the Marvel hero debuts on the big screen. So why not have them cross over in such a silly way... even if he shows up as Spider-Noir? I doubt that the famous Hell Cycle has ever been given a sidecar. We could make history, people!

While Robert Downey Jr. is joking, the fact that Shawn Levy is behind the camera for the Ghost Rider movie has fans wondering about the developing project's tone. Deadpool & Wolverine was full of irreverent humor, so will he carry that through? Or will Ryan Gosling's long-awaited Marvel debut be more accurate to the comics? Only time will tell.

Downey referenced Nicolas Cage playing the title character of Spider-Noir over on Amazon. That project secured 11 Emmy nominations, with the actor playing his second Marvel hero. Although some folks are still hoping he'll play Ghost Rider again sometime in the multiverse.

Multiple characters have taken the mantle of Ghost Rider in the comics, as well as TV/film. The original is Johnny Blaze, who sells his soul to Satan aka Mephisto in order to save his foster father's life. In exchange, he's given some terrifying and badass powers, including Hellfire, teleportation, and both the Hell Cycle and his signature weapon, the Hellfire chain. While he's a good guy, Ghost Rider is usually a pretty terrifying presence thanks to his appearance and abilities.

Aside from Nicolas Cage's pair of movies as Johnny Blaze, the Robbie Reyes version of the hero appeared in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4. But none of them have had a cute sidecar on the Hell Cycle. We'll have to see if RDJ's idea gets to Shawn Levy's desk sometime in the future.

Ghost Rider is currently expected to come out sometime in 2028. The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Avengers: Doomsday on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list.

It’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day week, but lately, I’ve been thinking a lot more about the upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: Doomsday. Between the new trailer dropping online and seeing fresh footage at SDCC’s Hall H presentation, my excitement for the release has really grown. But there are a couple of brain-scratchers I have surrounding Robert Downey Jr. and his Doctor Doom. Let’s get into it.

When Will The Helmet Come Off?

Ever since it was announced that RDJ was coming back to the MCU, I’ve been intrigued. It could be genius if they choose the right moment to reveal the face of Iron Man as the next great villain for the Avengers. I mean, especially after Tony was the one who saved everyone!! So far, Robert Downey Jr’s face has remained completely masked in all the footage I’ve seen of Doomsday, and I’m all for it. I can’t stop thinking about when he might show himself to the Avengers.

If it wasn’t for Marvel Studios making sure we all knew it was the fan-favorite actor, I wouldn’t know it was him at all. There must be a moment when Doctor Doom will be unmasked, and the Avengers will see Tony Stark’s face in front of them in our futures. I’m starting to think that this won’t happen until Secret Wars, but my big question remains. When will they decide to uncover this secret to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?

If/When It Does, Will It Include These Key Avengers?

Because I love the drama, I would like the moment to happen when one of Tony Stark’s closest friends is present. Currently, none of them are technically confirmed for Doomsday. Isn’t that crazy?

Let’s start with Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers/Captain America. He’s in the movie, but he seems to be from another variant. His identity hasn’t been confirmed yet, but I’m definitely less excited to see Steve meet RDJ’s Doctor Doom without them having the same history.

The other two characters I would want to be present are Tom Holland’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner/Hulk. Both of them were just in Brand New Day, and I don’t expect them to be in Doomsday at the moment. Hey, I could be wrong; there’s a new Doomsday cameo rumor every other day, but the things are being marketed so far, I’m starting to get less excited about the Doctor Doom reveal with the information in front of me.

Should I Change My Expectations About RDJ's Doctor Doom?

With these two questions in mind, now I’m wondering if I shouldn’t even expect a reveal like this. Maybe RDJ is playing Doctor Doom, but they’re not going to really make the variant aspect a whole thing? As I type this, I don’t believe that’s possible, but what if it was? What if RDJ decided to come into work to be Doctor Doom, and not play the Tony Stark card?

I have four and a half more months to think about this, so who knows where my head will go. As curious as I am, I do hope that Marvel Studios does keep this reveal out of the marketing, though. Doomsday hits theaters on December 18.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine at this point, which has been going strong for nearly two decades... both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order were thrilled when both Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans were confirmed as part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast list. It turns out the latter actor was pitched for his return or years, and it took RDJ to convince him to finally bite the bullet.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but fans are invested in Chris Evans' return as Steve Rogers, as well as Robert Downey Jr.'s debut as Doctor Doom. During a conversation with EW at San Diego Comic-Con, the Captain America icon spoke about how the studio tried to convince him to pop up in upcoming Marvel movies. In his words:

While Evans had a cameo as Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine, Doomsday will mark his first return as his signature character. Although it sounds like that wasn't for lack of trying on the studio's part, with Kevin Feige and Louis D'esposito trying to convince the actor to play Steve Rogers again in the MCU. But he turned down idea after idea in the years since Endgame was released in 2019.

The internet exploded when Captain America's Doomsday teaser confirmed that Chris Evans would be continuing his hero's journey. But it was a long time coming; in the same interview the actor spoke about how it took some convincing. As he put it:

So what changed? Well, it turns out it was Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU after Tony Stark's Endgame death. The two A-listers were arguably the leading actors of the entire shared universe, and Evans' interest was piqued when he heard that his Oscar-winning co-star might be returning. He shared:

Honestly, can you blame him? On top of having a great working relationship with Robert Downey Jr., having both he and Evans return for Avengers: Doomsday also makes the blockbuster even more of a must-see event for the fandom. And when you consider how Doomsday's trailer broke YouTube records, it's clear that moviegoers are invested in what The Russo Brothers are bringing to the table.

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. The anticipation is steadily building, and should only increase as we get closer to the crossover movie hitting the big screen this winter. And yes, that includes both Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is showing no signs of slowing down, with the studio constantly putting out new projects in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Arguably the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is The Russo Brothers' Avengers: Doomsday, which looks like an epic crossover event. Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom, and even he was nerding out about the OG stars of the X-Men movies reprising their roles on set.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday has been limited, but the huge list of characters has been buoying excitement. The Doomsday cast features entire teams of heroes, including the X-Men. During a conversation with EW at San Diego Comic-Con, RDJ gushed about seeing actors like Rebecca Romijn and Kesley Grammer back as their (blue) mutants. As he put it:

Talk about a glowing endorsement. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that the MCU started with Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, so he's was a day one member of the shared universe. But despite being in this sandbox for nearly two decades, even the Oscar-winning actor was geeking out about working with the X-Men.

Tony Stark died at the end of Endgame, which fans assumed would be RDJ's final bow in the MCU. But that's changing with Doomsday, although he'll be playing an entirely different character and going from a hero to a villain. And fans can't wait to see how this all shakes out this winter.

Not much about the story of the next Avengers movie had been revealed yet, but the first Doomsday trailer became one of the highest-viewed trailers of all time. So despite the mysteries and Marvel's tight security, there's clearly a ton of fan excitement about the crossover event. And after seeing the above comments, that enthusiasm is clearly echoed by RDJ himself.

While we got the blockbuster's first trailer, much of the details and story of Doomsday remain a mystery to the moviegoing public. Clearly the multiverse is at play, and the teams of heroes will presumably have to unite to fight Doctor Doom and his forces.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Luckily the movie's publicity has kicked off, so hopefully we get more information about its contents sooner rather than later.

Well, another Marvel Hall H panel is on the books! You may have already heard the big news about Ryan Gosling playing Ghost Rider or a new Black Panther actor being cast, but you had to be in the room to see the footage they showed fans of Avengers: Doomsday. Let's talk about it.

The Exclusive Avengers: Doomsday Footage They Showed Us At Hall H

I'll be honest here. I've been a little bit back and forth about Avengers: Doomsday. I love a superhero team-up movie, and some of my favorites from the MCU are set to star, but it's so crowded, too! I'm worried it's going to be a montage of Marvel meet-cutes and Secret Wars is going to be where the real things go down. But, one thing they showed us is what I think I've really been waiting for the whole time: more of Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom.

The footage we watched focused on highlighting Doctor Doom, and I loved it. (Especially since when we walked into Hall H everyone was given a Doctor Doom mask and cape to put on). The fresh look at Doomsday featured Vanessa Kirby's Invisible Woman explaining to the other Avengers about who they were up against as it panned to their worried faces. Then, we watched as Pedro Pascal's Mr. Fantastic pleaded to Doctor Doom. There was also an extended look at Thor trying to face-off against Doom that was also in the recent trailer that came out.

What really struck me about the footage though was RDJ's voice as Doctor Doom, because it sounds nothing like him, and is a lot deeper and more haunting than I was expecting from the actor. And yes, he's going for an accent.

Let's Talk About Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom Voice

Now during the panel, Robert Downey Jr. also channelled Doctor Doom, but listening it back to that moment really isn't same as what I heard in the footage. And, it doesn't do it justice in my opinion. Now I'm wondering if there's like a voice changer or effect in the movie itself, somehow. Take a look at the Hall H moment.

Look, I know that Robert Downey Jr. is a great actor. Since we learned he was playing another character in the MCU there's a feeling that maybe he would bring back Tony vibes for the nostalgia, but he's clearly trying something else. I also love that he's keeping the helmet on in the trailer. I think above all else, the footage really got me stressed for the Avengers in a way other previews hadn't done yet.

Have I mentioned that the footage ended with him raising an army of Doombots? It was super cool, and most of all awesome! Anyways, there's nothing like being in Hall H to get one amped for the future of Marvel. It hits theaters on December 18.

There’s one very famous and serious quote associated with Spider-Man that always comes up (you know what I’m talking about). However, the Spider-Man movies are packed with very funny lines too that are also worth quoting. In fact, there’s one line from Spider-Man: Homecoming that Zendaya says to Tom Holland “a lot” that’s hilarious.

So, as Tom Holland, Zendaya and Jacob Batalon promote Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s release on the 2026 movie schedule, they were asked about movie quotes they use in their everyday lives during an interview with BBC Radio 1. In response, the Challengers star recalled a funny line Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark says in the trio's first Spider-Man movie:

While The Drama star claimed Holland wouldn’t agree with her, he actually did, confirming that she does “say that a lot.”

I get why it’s stuck with them, too. Not only is it a memorable line in Spider-Man: Homecoming, it’s actually said multiple times by Tony Stark (which you can witness by watching the movie with a Disney+ subscription). He says it once right after the whole debacle with the Staten Island Ferry, telling Peter:

He also says it at the very end of the movie, after Peter defeated The Vulture. Both complimenting the boy’s actions and reprimanding him, Robert Downey Jr.’s character said:

While it’s considered one of Tony Stark’s funniest lines, and it’s easily one of the sillier MCU quotes, it is admittedly an odd statement. That’s something Zendaya, Holland and Jacob Batalon joked about too, as they spoke about how it doesn’t make much sense, but it totally works in the movie:

• Zendaya: I think that was just like—what?
• Jacob Batalon: I think that’s just a bad white guy thing to say.
• Tom Holland: Again, not written. I remember walking down the thing, and he said that. And I was like, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
• Zendaya: [I don’t know] what that means, but it’s great.

I totally see what they’re saying; it is an odd thing to say. However, it’s also not that uncommon, and it’s used often when people mess up big time or embarrass themselves, which Peter did on a few occasions in Homecoming.

Now, if you’ve seen the Marvel movies in order, you know how quotable they are. And personally, Homecoming is one of my favorites to quote. It’s awesome that Zendaya does that too, and I love that the line she references most is this hilarious one that’s said by Robert Downey Jr.

Overall, this whole discussion made me want to rewatch Homecoming. However, it also made me even more excited for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, because I’m sure it will be full of great one-liners, just like the other three Holland-led Spidey films are. So, to see if that’s the case, you can see this trio's fourth Spider-Man movie in theaters on July 31.

Over nearly two decades, The Marvel Cinematic Universe has proven itself as a behemoth franchise that consistently puts out new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. While fans are looking forward to upcoming Marvel movies, there's also a great deal of affection for what came before. For instance, Robert Downey Jr. named his favorite Marvel movie, and it's one of the few titles he didn't star in before Tony Stark's death in Endgame.

Fans who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that RDJ helped to start it all when he was cast in Iron Man. He starred in a whopping ten movies prior to his upcoming return as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, and during an appearance at TIFF (via The Toronto Sun) the actor name-dropped his favorite Marvel movie by saying:

Honestly, Guardians of the Galaxy is a solid choice. James Gunn did the impossible with that cosmic story, taking a relatively unknown group of superheroes and making them into fan favorites. The Guardians would end up starring in their own trilogy, and the music and humor of the 2014 inspired a number of superhero movies that followed. RDJ has some taste!

Of course, the Oscar-winning actor did give himself some flowers while talking up Guardians. Namely that the unconventional blockbuster was only made a possiblity after megahits starring the more well-known Marvel heroes. In Downey's words:

Another fair point. Guardians was a risk, one that fans were willing to entertain after the first Phase and a half of MCU blockbusters offered good will to moviegoers. So that cosmic team does owe some respect to Robert Downey Jr. opening the door in Iron Man and The Avengers. In the same appearance he joked about James Gunn's beloved blockbuster winning so many hearts, saying:

I didn't expect a sports analogy to come from this conversation, but I've got to see RDJ's point. Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the most beloved franchises in the entirety of the MCU, and that came as a surprise to even the folks within the shared universe. The entire trilogy ended up being acclaimed, in addition to the Guardians Holiday Special that I re-watch annually.

The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is streaming in its entirety over on Disney+. The next Marvel movie hitting theater is Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for Robert Downey Jr., he'll return to the MCU this winter in Avengers: Doomsday.

Robert Downey Jr. has worked with enough filmmakers that when he starts comparing directing styles, I am going to listen. This is an actor whose career has taken him from his father’s underground film world to John Hughes, Richard Attenborough, Shane Black, Jon Favreau, Guy Ritchie, Christopher Nolan and, soon enough, back to the MCU for a new Marvel movie where he'll play Doctor Doom. So, when he casually drops a Clint Eastwood story about “calling action” while talking about how different movie sets operate, my ears perk up.

RDJ was recently asked what it was like working with Nolan on Oppenheimer. Instead of jumping straight into the usual praise, he backed into the answer by mentioning legendary actor and director Clint Eastwood, and the detail is one I had never heard before. He explained during an interview with Conversations for Our Daughters:

That is such a fascinating little detail about the A Fistful of Dollars star. Calling “action” is one of the most basic pieces of film language. Even people who have never been near a set know that rhythm: quiet on set, roll camera, action. It's practically baked into how most people imagine movies being made.

Yet, according to the Iron Man actor, Eastwood avoided it because he did not like the hard line it created between regular human behavior and performance. Interestingly, Downey does not appear to have worked with Eastwood himself, but this is clearly one of those Hollywood stories that has made the rounds, even if it was new to me.

The story makes sense for Eastwood, whose screen persona has often been built on economy. As a director, he has a reputation for working quickly, keeping setups simple and bringing films in under budget and on schedule. If you are trying to get actors into something natural, maybe a shouted command is not the cleanest way in, especially if they may only get one or two passes at the material.

Downey then used that thought to pivot to Nolan, whose approach sounds different but is similarly stripped down. He continued:

That description lines up with the Nolan lore that has built up over the years. His sets have a reputation for focus, discipline and very little wasted motion. Tom Holland, who worked with Nolan on The Odyssey, has also talked about how the director runs a set and how that experience influenced the attitude he brought to the making of the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

The Avengers star went on to say Nolan “abhors waste” and “craves efficiency,” but he also made an important distinction. To Downey, Nolan’s style is not about avoiding chaos entirely. He continued:

The Chaplain actor also compared working with Nolan to working with “a good parent,” aka someone who will not let you get away with nonsense but who wants you to succeed. That might be my favorite part of his answer, because it explains why an actor of his stature would seem so eager to give himself over to that environment.

Both Nolan and Eastwood, at least in Downey’s telling, seem suspicious of unnecessary noise. During Eastwood's career, he avoided the big “action” command because it interrupted the delicate shift into performance. Meanwhile, Nolan strips away anything that does not belong in front of the camera because waste gets in the way. Two iconic filmmakers, two very different methods, and one surprising shared instinct: protect the moment.

RDJ returns to Marvel in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, which is set to hit theaters Dec. 18. As for Eastwood, he worked well into his 90s, though his family has indicated he is likely done making movies. His final acting and directing effort appears to be 2021’s Cry Macho. And honestly, after seven decades in show business, the man has more than earned the right to fold up his director’s chair.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to be a wildly popular franchise, with new releases hitting theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have seen a ton of heroes introduced, starting off with Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark in Iron Man. While Jon Favreau's 2008 movie was a huge gamble, the Oscar-winning actor recently shouted out two of his Avengers co-stars for playing two heroes that were especially difficult to pull off.

Moviegoers can't wait to see RDJ as Doctor Doom in the next Avengers movie, but the 61-year-old actor is also looking back on what came before. During an interview with CBR, Downey spoke to the two actors he thinks had the hardest job when bringing their heroes to life on the big screen. In his words:

Honestly, I get his perspective. On paper, both Captain America and Doctor Strange are two Marvel heroes who might be challenging to play, and could potentially end up coming off pretty goofy. Luckily, the studio had stellar actors like Chris Evans and Benedict Cumberbatch playing those roles, respectively. And Robert Downey Jr. is (rightfully) giving flowers to his co-stars for making Cap and Strange into beloved figures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

I can definitely see RDJ's point, especially when it comes to Benedict Cumberbatch in particular. When Doctor Strange arrived in theaters 2016, it was the first time the MCU brought magic into the shared universe (aside from Loki's abilities). The Sherlock actor had an uphill battle in pulling this off, as well as making Stephen Strange feel like a real person. He balanced humor and heart in the movie, while casting spells and bringing trippy visuals into the universe. Fans really responded to it, and he's become an important presence in the MCU as a whole. As for Chris Evans, he succeeded in making Steve Rogers the heart of the entire franchise.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but both Chris Evans and Benedict Cumberbatch are expected to reprise their roles in the mysterious blockbuster. Fans are eager to see how the mysterious story will go down, and how the Avengers will react when meeting Doctor Doom... especially since he'll be having the same face as their dead friend Tony Stark.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. And with the press tour coming up, hopefully Robert Downey Jr. will grace us with more of his Marvel hot takes.

Tom Holland’s reputation as Marvel’s most dangerous keeper of secrets has become almost as famous as his superhero role itself. The Spider-Man: Brand New Day star has accidentally let enough things slip over the years that Marvel fans basically treat every interview like a live-wire spoiler event. So, naturally, when Robert Downey Jr. privately told him he was returning to the MCU, he did what any noted spoiler might do: he told someone special right away.

In a recent Cinemania interview with Holland and Zendaya while the two were promoting their upcoming 2026 movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the couple talked about the moment Zendaya learned that Downey was returning to Marvel as Doctor Doom. The in-demand actor admitted the news reached her almost immediately after the phone call with his Marvel mentor. He recalled:

Honestly, as far as Tom Holland spoilers go, this one barely counts as a crime. Zendaya is part of the Spider-Man franchise, and the couple is obviously much more than co-stars, as they've been in a long-term relationship with marriage rumors. If Robert Downey Jr. calls to tell you personally he’s returning for a new Marvel movie, telling your fiancée feels less like leaking classified Avengers intel and more like normal human behavior.

Still, I do enjoy imagining Kevin Feige somewhere suddenly looking up from a stack of storyboards and whispering, “Tom knows.” The funny part is the Uncharted actor seems very aware that Marvel has learned to keep him at arm’s length when it comes to the biggest plot details. He continued:

That is probably the safest possible setup for everyone involved. Holland can still be excited about the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday release and whatever comes after, while Marvel keeps the really dangerous story beats locked in a vault somewhere.

It also makes sense that Downey would call the young MCU star himself. Their connection goes back to Captain America: Civil War, where Tony Stark introduced this version of Peter Parker to the larger Marvel universe. That mentor relationship became one of the emotional pillars of Holland’s run, especially through Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

Off-screen, Holland has often credited Downey with helping him navigate the madness of joining Marvel at such a young age. So hearing that Downey gave him an early heads-up about his return feels genuinely sweet.

The twist, of course, is that the Oppenheimer star is not returning as Tony Stark. He is coming back as Doctor Doom, which raises approximately 9,000 questions about what that means for Peter Parker. And the young actor behind the hero sounds just as curious as everyone else, especially considering Peter’s history with Tony and the emotional crater Tony left behind after Endgame.

For now, Holland and Zendaya are busy promoting Spider-Man: Brand New Day. But somewhere out there, the next chapter of the Avengers is waiting, and the In the Heart of the Sea actor knows just enough to be excited, and thankfully, not enough to spoil everything.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31, 2026, and Avengers: Doomsday will follow suit on December 18th.

The hype for Avengers: Doomsday appears to be growing, and few seem as excited as one of the film’s lead actors, Robert Downey Jr. Anthony and Joe Russo’s latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will see Downey return to the continuity not as the heroic Iron Man but as the villainous Doctor Doom. By all accounts, Downey has really committed to the role, and he’s even been sharing Doom-themed social media posts on multiple holidays. Now, his latest update has fans making a big prediction about the upcoming superhero film.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Latest Doom Holiday Post Sparks Reactions From Fans

Downey’s holiday posts have varied, but they’ve been delightful thus far. Last November, for example, the Oscar winner posted Thanksgiving art of Doom and Iron Man sharing a wishbone. And, even this past spring, the actor dropped an Easter pic of Doom maniacally holding a basket of color-coded eggs. Father’s Day marked the latest occasion for Downey to share a post, and he dropped a photo of what looked like a child’s drawing, depicting the Marvel villain as a loving dad. Check it out:

Even with Downey’s track record of sharing themed pics featuring Victor von Doom, I’d be lying if I said I was expecting a post like this one for Father’s Day. It’s a humorous photo, but it’s also one that can make a fan ponder if it’s teasing what’s come in the latest Avengers movie. On that note, many MCU devotees have taken to the comments section, and they seem to be of the belief that Downey’s iteration of Latveria’s leader will be a daddy (to a biological child or a surrogate one). Take a look at some of the responses:

• DOOM HAS A CHILD CONFIRMED! Or… he *had* one. - eavoss
• I don't want to be that person, but ‘Daddy Doom' confirmed - princebarkin
• DADDY DOOM 🙌 - themovieposterguy
• DADDY DOOM 💚 - officialhannahsarah
• Wow means doom gonna steal the Franklin richards like comic 👀 - agentp_183
• Y'all just spoiled doom taking in sue and reeds child😭😭💔- andrews_memes43

This is an intriguing conversation, to say the least, but is there actually anything to all of this? Or are we just reading into this too deeply? Let’s discuss.

What Kind Of History Does Doctor Doom Have With Kids?

Victor von Doom doesn’t have any biological heirs in the main Marvel Universe continuity, though he did notably adopt a young Latverian named Kristoff, who he took under his wing. Doom also has key ties to the children of his sworn enemies, Reed Richards and Sue Storm. In the comics, he ultimately helped save the life of Sue and Reed’s unborn daughter and, as a result, he was given the right to name her Valeria. Doom’s link to Reed and Sue’s son, Franklin, is a bit more complex, as the tyrant recruits and manipulates the reality-warping Franklin as a part of his own plan to rework the multiverse.

As can be seen via the fan comments above, some people believe Franklin is the child in the photo, and that’s a reasonable assumption due to the post-credits scene of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The stinger for the film shows Doom introducing himself to young Franklin while Sue watches on in shock. All in all, it seems a given that the MCU’s Doom will seek to use the all-powerful Franklin and maybe even turn him against his parents and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Still, these are all just assumptions as, for all we know, Robert Downey Jr.’s Father’s Day post could simply be a fun, little tidbit for fans. With all that said, I’m not opposed to the idea of this latest version of Doctor Doom being a dad, as it would theoretically add even more dramatic tension to what’s already sure to be an intense story.

Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18 amid the 2026 movie schedule. In the meantime, prepare for the film by grabbing a Disney+ subscription and streaming the films of the Multiverse Saga.

Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the role of Victor von Doom a.k.a. Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. Of course, the last time Downey appeared in an MCU flick, he was playing Iron Man, and the beloved hero sacrificed himself at the end of Avengers: Endgame. It’s a watershed moment in the continuity, but it turns out Stark's demise actually could’ve happened in a different movie. So, now, I have some questions following this major revelation.

Tony Stark’s Original Death Was To Happen In Another Massive MCU Film

Let’s be real, Downey’s Stark found himself in more than a few precarious situations throughout the Multiverse Saga, from his encounter with Obadiah Stane to the Avengers’ war with Ultron. However, the battle between Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and Thanos was particularly intense, and fans more than got a taste of that back in 2018 when Infinity War hit theaters. And, believe it or not, that’s the film co-director Joe Russo said was initially meant to feature Stark’s death, and he and Downey had a funny-back-and-forth about it:

• Joe Russo: This happens a lot in these rooms, right? We try to... I'm feeling the heat now. We try to investigate. We try to investigate all angles, right? Everything's up for grabs. We always say, ‘Best idea wins.’ And a lot of the times you gotta stretch…
• Robert Downey Jr.: It's mine.
• Russo: We have to stretch…
• Downey: Mine is just, ‘Don't kill me.’

Consider me pleasantly surprised by all this! The revelation, which was revealed during a sit-down interview held by CBR, coincided with the eighth anniversary of Infinity War’s release. It’s interesting to hear that Joe Russo and brother/co-director Anthony considered having Stark die in that particular movie, though I guess it tracks, considering there’s a scene in which Thanos stabs Tony through his armor only for him to survive. As for why the Russos eventually decided against it, Joe said:

It sounds like it all came down to the Russos possibly being faced with the challenge of having to include Stark in Endgame posthumously. All in all, I’m glad they settled on their chosen direction, especially since it would’ve robbed us of Stark’s eventual sacrifice, but I still have some questions.

What Are Some Questions To Consider About This “What If” Scenario?

For starters, when exactly was Stark’s death going to take place in Infinity War? I mean, would it have been the moment he was stabbed by Thanos on Titan? Of course, there’s also the possibility that he could’ve died in a totally different way that might not have involved Thanos at all. I find it very interesting that Joe Russo doesn’t divulge any specifics, but that may be due to his desire to have fans speculate as I’m doing right now.

Something I also want to know is whether Robert Downey Jr. was aware of his character’s initial fate during the development process. And, if he knew, I’d love to know how he felt. It’s unclear based on this conversation, but I get the feeling Downey wouldn’t have been too pleased, considering the comments he’s sharing now.

Regardless of any of that, though, I’d say everything worked out just as it should’ve. And, in any case, Downey still has the opportunity to further spread his wings by way of his villainous character. I wish I could’ve been a fly on the wall and watched Downey work on set. Here’s hoping that Doom’s introduction is glorious and that Tony Stark’s memory is preserved within the MCU amid his cohort’s latest battle.

Fans can check out Stark’s sacrifice by streaming Avengers: Endgame with a Disney+ subscription. Also, see Robert Downey Jr. return in Avengers: Doomsday, which opens in theaters on December 18 amid the 2026 movie schedule.

Every time I hear an Avengers: Doomsday cast member hype the movie up, my excitement for the film on the 2026 movie schedule increases exponentially. Case in point, Ebon Moss-Bachrach just obsessed over working with Robert Downey Jr. on this upcoming Marvel movie, and it was the best.

Unlike a good chunk of the Doomsday cast, this movie will mark the first time Ebon Moss-Bachrach has worked with Robert Downey Jr. in a big way; also, he’ll be acting alongside the MCU icon as he plays Doctor Doom instead of Tony Stark. Before they started filming, the Fantastic Four: First Steps star said he was “excited” to work with RDJ. Now, he’s updated ET on the experience. Responding to a question about who surprised him most, The Bear actor said:

Well, I love that! I especially love it because we’ll be seeing Downey in a totally different role in Dommsday. He’s no longer a hero; he isn’t Iron Man. He’s Doctor Doom now, and I’m very excited to see how he surprises all of us in that role. And if he’s keeping the cast on their toes, I imagine the audience is poised to have a similar experience.

Along with this comment being thrilling on its own, it also goes right along with what other Doomsday cast members have said about Robert Downey Jr. Moss-Bachrach’s Fantastic Four co-star, Vanessa Kirby, compared RDJ to “the godfather,” explaining to Variety that he’s the movie's “leader” and he’s “always there” and looking out for his fellow actors. Overall, she said it was a “joy” working with him and the movie’s directors, the Russo brothers.

Meanwhile, Simu Liu said Downey has inspired him greatly. He gushed about how the Iron Man actor is very “kind, generous, and inspiring,” and he spoke to the impact he’s had on Marvel’s success.

Of course, the Oppenheimer star has quite the sense of humor, so we get to see him bickering with Chris Evans and joking around. However, it’s clear that this cast really looks up to him and has loved working with him. To see exactly what I mean, check out this clip of Ebon Moss-Bachrach talking about RDJ:

It’s so wonderful to see this ensemble gushing about each other. This video is also a thrilling reminder that not only is Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU, but he’s coming back as a new character, and we’ll get to see him go against a team of heroes made up of actors who have acted with him many times and never acted with him before.

So, get ready, folks! Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18, and that’s when we’ll get to see Robert Downey Jr. back on the big screen in a Marvel movie, and we’ll get to watch him interact with other beloved actors, like Ebon Moss-Bachrach.

It's no secret that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine at this point, consistently putting out new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. But OG fans who have watched the Marvel movies in order will remember that back when Iron Man was released back in 2008, it a risky new experiment in filmmaking. I thought that Robert Downey Jr. had to fight for his role as Tony Stark due to his troubled past, but director Jon Favreau painted another picture.

Moviegoers are always looking forward to upcoming Marvel movies, but there's often more information coming out about the past as well. Case in point: Favreau's recent Vanity Fair video breaking down his career, including the original Iron Man movie. He spoke about fighting for RDJ's casting, offering:

I always thought that the resistance to Robert Downey Jr. playing Tony Stark was related to his past with addiction. But that seemingly wasn't the case; instead it was about the studio not wanting to pay an A-lister who they thought would be hidden under a mask for most of the movie. Of course, we know how much the Oscar-winning actor's charisma and charm defined the character for years.

In the same video, Jon Favreau spoke more about the resistance to RDJ's casting as Iron Man. He already in the midst of his career comeback at the time, including roles in projects like Charlie Bartlett, Zodiac, and The Shaggy Dog. The director went on to share:

Yeah, my mind is blown. Robert Downey Jr. was 43 when he debuted as Tony Stark in Iron Man, and it sounds like some folks thought he was a little long in the tooth. That's wild considering how long he played the role, and the fact that RDJ is returning as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday at age 61.

In the end the Sherlock Holmes actor fought for his signature role, including coming in to do a camera test. As Jon Favreau put it:

Indeed, Robert Downey Jr.'s audition tape is available to watch online. Despite not actually landing the role yet he had the signature wit and swagger that Tony Stark became known for. And it's clear that the studio ultimately made the right decision in casting their first MCU hero; it's hard to imagine anyone else playing the role at this point.

The Iron Man franchise is streaming now on Disney+, and RDJ will return to the MCU when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Although this time he'll be playing a new role as the villainous Doctor Doom.

Tom Holland has been open about how much Robert Downey Jr. meant to his early Marvel run, and the whole thing still has a very sweet mentor-student glow. Holland entered the MCU as Peter Parker in Captain America: Civil War, and Downey’s Tony Stark was there both in the movie and behind the scenes, helping him find his footing.

In an Instagram video posted by Marvel, Joe and Anthony Russo talked about filming Holland’s MCU introduction and explained that Downey’s guidance shaped the scene in real time. Joe Russo said:

According to The Russos, one of the greatest things a filmmaker can do for an actor is put them in a scene with Robert Downey Jr.. And hey, it seems to have paid off for Holland, who is now a global superstar looking to headline two major summer tentpole films on the 2026 movie calendar.

Tom Holland Wants To Pay That Forward

That lines up beautifully with Holland’s own recent comments about the future of Spider-Man. In a statement, Holland said that whenever Marvel brings in the next web-slinger, whether that is Miles Morales, Spider-Gwen, Spider-Woman or someone else, he would love to be part of setting up that next chapter.

His reasoning was simple and very full-circle. In recent viral comments, Holland said that if he could do for another actor what Downey did for him, he would be “so content swinging off into the sunset.”

That is the kind of comment that is both adorable and slightly alarming for fans. On the one hand, it is lovely to hear Holland thinking about mentorship rather than just franchise ownership. On the other hand, whenever an actor in new superhero movies starts talking about sunsets, Marvel fans start bracing for some emotional damage.

But it makes sense. Holland’s first MCU scenes worked partly because Peter Parker felt overwhelmed in the best possible way. He was a kid from Queens, suddenly standing across from Tony Stark/Iron Man, and the nervous energy did not feel fake. Downey could play confidence in his sleep, but he also knew how to make room for Holland’s jittery charm. Their dynamic became the backbone of the MCU’s Spider-Man story, from Homecoming through the heartbreak of Avengers: Endgame.

The Russos Saw The Same Thing

The Russo Brothers’ comments help explain why that introduction landed so well. Putting a new actor opposite Downey was not just a casting flex. It was a way of giving Holland a scene partner who could set the pace, keep the scene alive and help define the character’s place in the larger MCU.

That matters because Spider-Man was entering a universe that was already crowded with stars, lore and audience expectations. Holland had to feel new without feeling disconnected, and Downey’s presence gave him an immediate anchor. Tony Stark was the MCU’s biggest personality at the time, so if he took Peter seriously, audiences were invited to do the same.

It also helped that the relationship echoed the characters. Tony became a mentor to Peter on screen, while Downey seems to have done something similar for Holland off-screen. Sometimes the movie machine gets lucky, and the behind-the-scenes chemistry hums at the same frequency as the story.

Spider-Man’s Future Is Starting To Look Generational

That is why Holland’s comments about a future Spider-Man hit harder than a normal franchise tease. The MCU has been around long enough that its young heroes are becoming veterans, and older heroes, like Ant-Man, are the old guard and mentors. Holland was once the new kid being welcomed into the clubhouse. Now, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day on the way, he is talking about helping whoever comes next.

That could mean Miles Morales. It could mean Spider-Gwen. It could mean another Spider-person entirely. Marvel has not laid out those plans yet, but the animated Spider-Verse movies and the television hit Spider-Noir have already proved there is a huge appetite for more than one web-slinger.

For now, Holland is still Peter Parker, and fans are waiting to see what Brand New Day does with him after the lonely ending of No Way Home. But between Holland’s comments and the Russos’ praise for Downey, one thing feels clear: RDJ’s influence on the MCU did not end with Tony Stark’s sacrifice.

And hey, we will get to see RDJ back in the MCU, albeit in a very different kind of mask, when he appears as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday on Dec. 18. Holland’s Spidey has not been confirmed for the movie, but with the Russo brothers back behind the camera, one can only hope for that kind of full-circle reunion.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe consistently treats fans to new content, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The next highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie hitting theaters is Destin Daniel Cretton's Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will be Tom Holland's fourth solo movie as Peter Parker. And the 29-year-old actor said he wants to emulate Robert Downey Jr. for whatever actor becomes a wall crawler in future projects.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have seen Tom Holland become a megastar as a result of his tenure as Peter Parker. But it all started when he was cast in Captain America: Civil War, with many of his early scenes shared with Oscar-winner RDJ. In an interview with Empire about Brand New Day, Holland shared his hopes for the franchise's future, offering:

I mean, how sweet is that? While it's unclear if/when Spider-Gwen or Miles Morales will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Holland wants to take a page out of Downey's book and help to welcome and mentor them. We'll just have to wait and see whether or not this happens, and how long the Uncharted actor ends up playing Peter Parker in the shared universe.

As aww-inducing as Holland's comments are, they also might concern Marvel fans. Is he approaching his exit from the shared universe, and therefore thinking about passing the baton to another actor? It's unclear, but suddenly the stakes for the next Spider-Man movie feel even higher.

Tom Holland's mentee relationship with Robert Downey Jr. in many ways echoed Peter Parker's connection with Tony Stark within the MCU. This may be why their chemistry was so electric, and why Iron Man's death scene hit so hard during Avengers: Endgame.

Shortly after Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse hit theaters (and won an Academy Award) fans have been begging to see both Miles Morales and Spider-Gwen go to live-action in the MCU. Unfortunately, there's been no indication that the studio is making this a priority. But who knows? We're still waiting to hear who Sadie Sink is playing in Brand New Day.

All will be revealed when Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. With the movie just a few months away, hopefully we get more footage and information about that blockbuster soon.

Dwayne Johnson taking some time out of his busy 2026 movie schedule to show up and speak at Emily Blunt’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony sounds like a sweet, full-circle movie-star moment. The two, have worked together multiple times, clearly adore each other, and Johnson is exactly the kind of person you want giving a big, heartfelt speech in public. Unfortunately for The Rock, public affection apparently came with a very poorly timed water spill, which led to some hilarious advice from Robert Downey Jr., according to Blunt.

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Blunt talked about her Hollywood Boulevard star ceremony, where Robert Downey Jr., Meryl Streep, Johnson and others spoke about her career and their relationships with her. She explained how Johnson’s good deed turned into a tiny wardrobe mishap when it looked like he’d "peed" himself. According to her:

First of all, Robert Downey Jr. remains exactly who you want in your corner during a red-carpet pants emergency. Some people would panic or pretend not to notice. Not him. Downey apparently looked at the situation, assessed the sightlines and calmly told Johnson the podium was protecting him. That is Avengers-level crisis management, but for trousers.

Honestly, what a vicious little betrayal by gravity. This is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a man built like a sentient monument. He can carry franchises, wrestle giants and make a white shirt look like formal armor. But even he can be temporarily defeated by a cup of water and bad placement.

The podium, sadly, was not the end of Johnson’s weird day. Blunt also recalled that after the ceremony, Johnson got pulled over by police. She continued:

Blunt then joked that the officers may have known exactly who they were dealing with. She added:

That police stop really did happen. TMZ reported that Johnson was pulled over after leaving the Walk of Fame event because of the tint on his vehicle’s windows. At the same time, People noted that he appeared calm during the interaction and had been at the ceremony to support his Jungle Cruise co-star and Stanley Tucci.

Of course, because the universe has a sense of humor and Kevin Hart has access to microphones, Johnson’s longtime co-star later got asked if he had called the cops on him. Hart joked that he had not, but that he would, because that is apparently what friendship looks like when you have starred in multiple films together, including three Jumanji movies.

Johnson and Hart have turned off-screen roasting into its own side franchise, and they’ll be back together again in the now-wrapped Jumanji: Open World, which hits theaters on Christmas Day. Their friendship runs on affection, volume and insults fired like Nerf darts from a moving vehicle.

Recapping Johnson’s day: show up for Emily Blunt, spill water in the worst possible place, get saved by a podium, leave the ceremony and get pulled over for tinted windows, then have Kevin Hart publicly pretend he would absolutely snitch on you for sport. Honestly, Downey’s advice may be useful beyond this one ceremony. When life hands you an embarrassing spill, find the podium. The podium’s got you.

The day before The Devil Wears Prada 2 premiered on the 2026 movie schedule, the stars were out on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to celebrate two of its stars, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci. However, while that’s lovely, the moment we’re going to focus on today is the funny wardrobe oopsie Dwayne Johnson had right before he got up to give his Jungle Cruise co-star her tribute.

As per tradition, when a star gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, many of their colleagues come out to give speeches and honor them. For Emily Blunt, this lineup included The Rock, who she’s worked a few times. However, before he said a bunch of very nice things about her, he had to address the wardrobe mishap in the room as he explained (via Hello Magazine):

After he said that, someone yelled at him that the “podium’s got you,” meaning, it was hiding the stain from the drink. So, really, Dwayne Johnson was fine. No one could see it while he was talking. However, he continued to address it, saying:

Listen, I can’t blame him for mentioning this. As you can see in the photo above and the clip of this moment, he’s wearing a very light suit, which means stains will be visible if a spill happens. So, I totally get where he was coming from, and I thought he handled it with humor and grace.

Then, after that, he tried to move on, recalling how he and Matt Damon were talking about how “awesome” and “cool” this honor is for Blunt and Tucci. However, it did come back around to his pants, as he pointed down to them and said:

Well, that was sweet (and silly too), it also added to the wonderful event that was this Walk of Fame ceremony. Along with Johnson, who worked with Blunt on Jungle Cruise and The Smashing Machine, her fellow Oppenheimer cast members, Matt Damon and Robert Downey Jr., showed up to honor her. Plus, Meryl Streep was there too to share kind words about both her Devil Wears Prada co-stars.

Also, seeing as Tucci and Blunt are in-laws (he is married to her sister), they were able to make this double-star ceremony a family affair. Plus, Tucci’s wife, Felicity Blunt, and Emily Blunt’s husband, John Krasinski, were there as well.

So, all around, it was a star-studded affair full of love and one tiny wardrobe mishap. However, that keeps things fun, especially when The Rock used it to make a great comedic moment during the ceremony.

Now, to see these stars shining bright on the big screen (with no wardrobe malfunctions), you can watch both Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci in the well-reviewed Devil Wears Prada 2 in theaters now.

It’s a small world out there for theme park fans, many of whom don’t just ride at Disney World or Universal Orlando. Parks fans will travel far and wide for new rides, from amusingly-themed gravy boat coasters to new water attractions and plenty more. So, it’s not that easy to fool a theme park fan. Which is why I was a little surprised by a new video was touting “insane new Disney ride tech” for its new Tony Stark ride.

If you’re up on the attractions at Disneyland, you may already know that Avengers Campus is getting Stark Flight Lab, a brand new ride for fans of Iron Man and all upcoming MCU movies. I already love it 3000, but like the other Universal fans out there, I’m maybe not as enthusiastic about posts touting “new tech.”

OK, the video does look cool, and to be fair, it’s possible the “new tech” is supposed to be selling the fact that it’s new tech for Disney specifically. (Though some fans have compared it to the now-defunct Sum of all Thrills at Epcot.) Perhaps the video even meant to indicate that Tony Stark always has the latest technology in his labs. However, that’s not really how it read to parks fans, and given we know the robotic arms being used in the labs are Kuka arms like many other rides have similarly added in the past. Some of these fans did not let the comment slide.

Honestly, the snark is palpable here:

• This is Brand New Tech if you’re at Universal Studios and it’s 2010.
• So… it looks like like Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Monsters Unchained at Universal?
• Welcome to the “Avengers themed Harry Potter ride with complementary 3D screen eye damage”
• Nice to see them taking ideas from Universal who has lately really been having incredible rides.

These types of robotic arms are famous at Universal Orlando in the Islands of Adventure Hogwarts Ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. It’s also famously one of the more puke-inducing rides in the park, but Universal really perfected the technology with Epic Universe’s great attraction Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment.

However, they’ve been used in other theme parks, too, and others were very quick to point this out.

• lol. New tech. Legoland had this ride 25 years ago.
• Soooo…. Sum of all Thrills from Epcot? Knights Tournament from Legoland in 2005? Forbidden Journey and Monsters Unchained at Universal?

Stark Flight Lab is going to be a little different in that it will start on a track and then shift upwards thanks to the aforementioned robotic arms. It will also mark the return of Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, which is very cool. There is a ton of excitement for the upcoming Disney attraction, but theme park fans are going to troll all those who call the tech brand new.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a behemoth franchise that's constantly expanding thanks to new releases in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Arguably the most anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is The Russo Brothers' Avengers: Doomsday, which will feature Robert Downey Jr.'s return to the MCU as the villainous Doctor Doom. And when explaining why he's back, he surprisingly dropped Christopher Nolan's name.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but RDJ's involvement is enough to have fans excited. He's returning to the shared universe after taking home an Oscar for Oppenheimer, and during an appearance on Conversations for our Daughters, he addressed this career choice. He also referenced Charlie Chaplin, offering:

That reference is on brand, given how Downey played the title character of Chaplin. And it sounds like he wanted to join the cast of Avengers: Doomsday partly because of the way his career has morphed over the years. Now he's got an Oscar, and he's rejoining the MCU as it's also been greatly changed. Speaking as a fan, I can't wait to see him go from hero to villain in the next Avengers flick.

Later in that same conversation, he went on to drop Christopher Nolan's name, referencing his Oscar-winning turn in Oppenheimer. It sounds like the process of working with the Inception filmmaker helped to inspire his decision to return to Marvel. In the actor's words:

While Robert Downey Jr.'s Marvel career originally ended with Tony Stark's death in Avengers: Doomsday, it sounds like the wild success of Oppenheimer convinced him to dip his toes back into the shared universe. And after Jonathan Majors was fired as Kang, that's exactly what the franchise needed.

What exactly he brings to his new villain character will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. With the multiverse in play, it seems like just about anything could happen, and fans can't wait to see him back in the MCU.

In the years since Iron Man died in Avengers: Endgame, Robert Downey Jr. has reached a new height of success. That’s because, a few years after he left the MCU as Iron Man, he took a role in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which earned him an Oscar. Now, as RDJ prepares to play Doctor Doom, Kevin Feige has opened up about why they decided to bring him back for the upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: Doomsday. And yes, it does relate to the Academy Award-winning movie the actor made after he said goodbye to Tony Stark.

Ever since it was revealed that Downey was going to play Victor Von Doom in the MCU, I’ve been wondering why they cast him. While I love the choice, RDJ is synonymous with Tony Stark, so why have him play a new character? Well, now that we’re getting closer to Doomsday’s release on the 2026 movie schedule, Marvel boss Kevin Feige is providing some more details to this answer. Telling EW about when they started forming this idea, he recalled how Downey's performance in the 2023 film Oppenheimer inspired them:

Listen, anything is possible in the multiverse, so why not, right? I totally see what they’re saying, too. Robert Downey Jr. is one of the all-time greats, and that’s in part thanks to his work in both the MCU as Iron Man and Oppenheimer. So, yeah, it tracks that if you want to get an all-time great to play your villain, you should maybe give this guy a call.

I also think it’s worth noting that for a very long time, we got to watch Downey play a hero on the big screen. People loved his take on Tony Stark, and Iron Man was a fundamental part of the Avengers and the MCU in general. Then, we got to see a whole other side of his range in Oppenheimer.

In Christopher Nolan’s biopic about the father of the atomic bomb, Downey played Lewis Strauss. He was the primary antagonist of the film, and RDJ turned in a nuanced performance that was not carried by the charisma and wit that helped make him so beloved as Tony Stark. It was far more dramatic than we’re used to when it comes to him, and ultimately, he served as a brilliant foil to Cillian Murphy’s J. Robert Oppenheimer. Both men took home Oscars for their performances, and the film won many other awards at the 2024 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

In short, Nolan’s movie gave audiences a chance to see Robert Downey Jr. do something totally new and different as an actor.

It also proved that he is one of the best, and I hope that’s what Avengers: Doomsday will do too. Downey is clearly excited about it, with his Doctor Doom-inspired outfits and his coining of the term “Dunesday” to celebrate the fact that his Marvel movie comes out on the same day as Dune: Part Three. Kevin Feige is clearly thrilled about it, too, especially since they got the Oppenheimer actor to come back to the MCU for it.

So, now, to see Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, you can catch Avengers: Doomsday in theaters on December 18. In the meantime, you can go back and watch the performances that made him one of the best of the best by streaming the Marvel movies in order with a Disney+ subscription and buying or renting Oppenheimer.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always keeping fans on their toes, thanks to consistently releasing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Arguably, the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which is the shared universe's next big crossover. The movie will feature the return of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, and they recently clashed on the stage of CinemaCon, to hilarious results.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but that changed a bit thanks to the footage that debuted at CinemaCon. In a video making the rounds online on Instagram, Downey and Evans had a faux fight, with the latter talking crap about the villain Doctor Doom. In his words:

Considering the fact that Doctor Doom is a threat to the entire multiverse, can you blame him? Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. clearly have a ton of love for each other, but fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are ready to see them play adversaries. They hammed it up a bit for the crowd at CinemaCon, with RDJ responding by saying:

The Russo Brothers personally broke up this "fight" as fans cheered. This give and take, as well as the new footage, have never made the next Avengers movie feel more real. And while Chris Evans wasn't included in the Doomsday cast announcement, it seems like he's going to be back in a big way for the forthcoming blockbuster.

The Captain America Doomsday teaser confirmed Evans would be returning, and fans can't wait to see exactly how Steve Rogers is brought back into the fold. It seems like he'll have a major role in the next Avengers movie, rather than a small cameo. You can see the clip of him and Robert Downey Jr. below:

Anticipation for Avengers: Doomsday has been steadily building, with the movie finally being released this December. The pressure is on for the Russo Brothers to deliver, as they did so flawlessly in Infinity War and Endgame. This is especially true given the peaks and valleys that have come to the MCU since then, including box office bombs like The Marvels. But seeing RDJ and Evans back onscreen together might be exactly what the universe needs.

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully, we get a full trailer soon, as the movie is only a few months away.

Easter is a special day for many people. But this Easter was a surprisingly big day for fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It gave us an image of how Doctor Doom celebrates the holiday, and now fans are dissecting it looking for clues about the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

The image came courtesy of Robert Dwoeny Jr. on Instagram who is set to make his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as Doctor Doom. It’s a picture of Doom’s Easter basket, full of Marvel-inspired Easter eggs. Each one indicates a different hero or team of heroes.

Of course, since “easter eggs” are something fans are always looking for when it comes to Marvel movies, fans in the comments are trying to figure out if there is a way to decode this image in a way that reveals some sort of new information about the upcoming Marvel movie. Comments include…

• THERE'S A SPIDEY EASTER EGG - wens.1998
• Left to right: Dr Strange, Ant man, Namor, Black Panther, New Avengers, Captain America, X-men, Shang Chi, Thor, Fantastic 4, Loki, and Spider-Man. - michaeldesanta718
• He just teased it Spiderman gonna be in the movie🔥🔥 - cjtotuff0229
• I have a theory, I believe that Dr. Doom, will be returning for Avengers: Doomsday. - aident2011

If there is anything of significance in this image, it is likely the inclusion of an egg with the Spider-Man insignia. Officially, we don’t know whether Spider-Man will appear in the movie, but if one assumes these eggs are specifically related to the film, it suggests Spidey will appear.

Of course, that doesn’t mean we should expect Tom Holland to be in the film. While no Spider-Man actor has been officially confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday, rumors suggest we might actually see Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man in the new film, so even if we take this as confirmation of the character, the actor it could be remains an open question.

The other potentially intriguing piece of the image is seeing the Doctor Strange logo. Benedict Cumberbatch has been cagey about his appearance in the film, at different points claiming he wouldn’t be in Doomsday before saying he would be. His name has not been officially announced for the film.

Other fans are hoping this image is a precursor to the release of the full trailer for Avengers: Doomsday. The trailer calls have been loud and near constant in recent months. It’s possible that we could see a trailer in the next day or so, though if you’re placing bets on the matter, I’d point out that CinemaCon is next week. We will see several new trailers as part of the event, so there’s a decent chance we could get our first look at Doomsday then.

In 2013, Ryan Coogler made his filmmaking debut with Fruitvale Station. It kicked off a professional career that delivered him his first Academy Award earlier this month, winning the Best Original Screenplay category for his work on Sinners. But five years before Fruitvale Station’s release, and 10 years before he delivered Black Panther to the world, Coogler wasn’t anywhere close to being famous. And yet, he still had an interesting encounter with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and Tony Stark actor Robert Downey Jr. at an Iron Man event.

Ryan Coogler recalled this while speaking with Feige and Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy at the dedication celebration for USC’s Kevin Feige Division of Film & Television Production for its School of Cinematic Art (via THR). This is the same event where Feige talked about the last time he saw Chadwick Boseman, and earlier in the evening, Coogler wound the clock back further to talk about when he saw Iron Man during its opening weekend at Hollwood’s Arclight. At one point, he left to use the bathroom, but then was locked out of the theater by security because they were making way for three special guests to appear ahead of the screening:

Don’t worry, Ryan Coogler was able to get back into the theater. Frankly, if I was in his shoes and had been kept out, I’d have been mad about missing out on not just seeing Robert Downey Jr., Kevin Feige and director Jon Favreau, but also not getting to see one of the biggest summer blockbusters of 2008. But thankfully Coogler avoided that and had a good time watching Downey entertain the audience and Iron Man itself:

Less than a decade later, Ryan Coogler would find himself following in Jon Favreau’s footsteps in directing a Marvel movie. Following the success of Creed in 2015, Coogler was tapped to helm Black Panther, which pushed Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa to center stage after he was introduced in Captain America: Civil War. He then returned for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but his original plans for the sequel needed to be overhauled following Boseman’s death. So Letitia Wright’s Shuri inherited the Black Panther mantle, and we’ll see her back in action when Avengers: Doomsday arrives to the 2026 movies schedule.

Looking further ahead into the future, Ryan Coogler is turning his attention next to Black Panther 3, and Sinners actor Delroy Lindo has expressed interested in being added to the cast. The threequel doesn’t have a release date on the upcoming Marvel movies slate yet, but MCU fans can look forward to Spider-Man: Brand New Day hitting theaters on July 31 ahead of Doomsday’s December release.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is an ever-changing place, thanks to new releases hitting theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The next highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will finally catch up with Peter Parker after No Way Home's ending. And after we got the movie's first footage, there are tons of fans comparing Peter to Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark.

What we know about Spider-Man 4 has been limited, but fans were thrilled when Brand New Day's first trailer finally arrived. One shot in particular quickly went viral: Peter in a black tank top. On top of showing off Tom Holland's superhero body, it also harkened back to an early MCU scene with Tony Stark. As one tweet pointed out:

So what exactly is being referenced here, besides Holland's massive arms? Specifically, a scene in Iron Man 3 (which is totally a Christmas movie) where Tony Stark is shown working on his armor in a black tank top. Another viral tweet about this subject shows the sequence of Robert Downey Jr., check it out below:

I've got to admit I totally see the resemblance. Add in Tony's mentorship role to Peter throughout the MCU, and this parallel feels particularly powerful. A ton of fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have made this connection, and are sharing similar posts on social media. For example:

While Peter Parker's guardian was Marisa Tomei's Aunt May, it's hard to deny that Tony became a father figure for the wall crawler. This is what made Tom Holland's reaction to Tony Stark's death in Avengers: Endgame so powerful. And I have to wonder if this black tank top connection was accidental or a purposeful bit of repetition by the costume department of Brand New Day.

The Spider-Man trailer had big moments like the inclusion of Jon Bernthal's Punisher and Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner, so it's surprising that a black tank top has made this much of a splash. There are a ton of tweets pointing out this connection to Tony Stark, as you can see below:

Tom Holland's Peter Parker was introduced in Captain America: Civil War, recruited by Tony Stark to join his team during the tarmac battle. He'd go on to mentor the young hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming and go to space with him in Avengers: Infinity War. Their relationship was super captivating, and unfortunately, cut short due to the battle against Thanos. Another tweet reads:

All of this chatter about Tony and Peter has me super curious to see if Tom Holland ends up appearing in Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars. Since Robert Downey Jr. is playing Doctor Doom, an evil variant of Stark, I would love to see Spider-Man's reaction to his mentor suddenly being a multiversal villain. Hopefully, he gets confirmed for one of The Russo Brothers' blockbusters sooner rather than later.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day will hit theaters on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to wait and see if there are more connections to Tony Stark throughout its runtime.

Robert Downey Jr. has been synonymous with Tony Stark/Iron Man for the past 18 years. However, ahead of him taking on the role of Doctor Doom in the upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: Doomsday, the actor is clearly embracing his villain era. Exhibit A: The way he reacted to being called Doctor Doom at a recent public appearance.

RDJ surprised fans when he showed up to an event at the University of Southern California (USC) dedicated to Marvel boss Kevin Feige. Check out what happened when someone yelled Doctor Doom at the actor:

This is so good. Immediately after Doctor Doom was yelled at in a crowd of people waiting to watch a conversation between Kevin Feige, Ryan Coogler and Shawn Levy, Downey immediately threw victorious peace signs in the air and took in the crowd’s love with every fiber of his being. He also threw up a heart with his hands to show his love to the crowd of fans who must have been starstruck by the actor behind Iron Man being in their presence.

It’s also adorable that he was laughing over the moment before taking his seat in the front row after causing all the commotion for his presence. The TikTok user who posted the video turned the video over to her hyped reaction after witnessing the moment. She also captioned the video by saying, “I THINK I JUST WON… LIFE???”

In the comment section, everyone is talking about how Robert Downey Jr. really embodies Tony Stark with a snap of a moment. People also loved how “immediately” he reacted to being called Doctor Doom. The event honored the new Kevin Feige Division of Film & Television Production at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. Feige graduated from USC in 1995, and Marvel directors Coogler (the Black Panther movies) and Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine) are also alums from the college as well.

RDJ’s Thursday night appearance at USC comes nine months ahead of the release of Avengers: Doomsday in theaters. Marvel Studios has marketed the film so far with a slew of teasers introducing the key players of the movie. While RDJ’s Doctor Doom hasn’t been featured in any of them yet, we have seen a first look of the actor in costume via some promotional art.

Recently, we learned from David Harbour that Avengers: Doomsday isn’t quite done filming, but initial production wrapped back in September. In the latest of MCU titles, Robert Downey Jr. will be the big bad that will bring together a huge cast of superheroes like Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man, Anthony Mackie and Chris Evans’ Captain America, Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi, the Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four and X-Men to take him down. It hits theaters this December 18, and it's pretty obvious that both RDJ and the fans are hyped about it.

Robert Downey Jr. is getting ready to make his big return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doom in the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday, but don’t think for a minute that he’s done being Iron Man. While we may not see Tony Stark on the big screen, Downey was in full Stark mode when he took a tour of Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Adventure, in which he has a particular interest.

Robert Downey Jr. was recently announced as the godparent of the Disney Adventure, an honor that puts him alongside Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, and Tinkerbell, who are godparents of other Disney Cruise Line vessels. The newest addition to the Disney Cruise Line fleet, which has been expanding at an incredible pace, is about to take its maiden voyage from its new home port in Singapore.

It will be the first Disney Cruise Line ship based in Asia, marking a new market for the company. Downey was on hand for the ship’s christening, but he also took a tour of the ship that’s been posted to Instagram, and he’s clearly having a blast.

From meeting up with Spider-Man to having the “hatchet buried” with Loki, Downey touched base with some old MCU friends on board the Adventure. He also checked out the ship’s bridge, which was full of what he called “Starck Tech.”

The guy is clearly loving his role as godparent. He’s also seen hanging out with both current Disney CEO Bob Iger and the incoming boss, Josh D’Amaro, who, as head of Disney Experiences, oversaw the purchase and completion of the ship that is now the Disney Adventure, the largest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet.

While I haven’t had a chance to check out the Disney Adventure (Disney, call me!), I did get to visit the Disney Wish a few years ago, and Disney Cruise Line ships are basically like visiting Disneyland at sea. They’re everything we love about theme parks combined with vacations to more exotic destinations.

Downey’s tour of the new Disney Adventure wasn’t the only place where he went full Tony Stark. During the official christening ceremony, Downey took the stage (via Scott Gustin) in a way that was only one Iron Man suit away from a Stark Expo entrance. Check it out.

Downey mentions having seen what Walt Disney Imagineering did for the adventure, and it’s a place he knows well. Downey will play Tony Stark once again as part of both attractions that are coming to the expansion of Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure. Downey has called Imagineering the “Area 51 of fun.”

The Disney Adventure looks incredible, and its godparent is clearly as excited as a real parent to send it out into the world.

A new piece of promotional art for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday is making the rounds online, and it’s already doing what promos from a new Marvel movie tend to do best: sending fans into full-on theory mode. Many fans, including yours truly, believe the promo art could reveal the villain's backstory. Let's break it down.

What the New Promo Art Is Showing

The image, shared by Nerd Talks on X, offers a striking look at Doctor Doom that’s anything but clean or triumphant. Instead of a heroic pose, it’s an extreme close-up of the baddie's iconic mask as the top portion cracks and tears, disintegrating and floating away. It’s an unsettling, deliberate visual.

At first glance, the artwork looks like a high-end comic variant cover. Doom’s green cloak frames the metal mask, while jagged cracks and distortions cut across the image, giving it a sense of collapse rather than control. With the Marvel Cinematic Universe increasingly leaning into multiversal saga storytelling and with concepts like incursions firmly established through projects like Loki, many fans believe this imagery is intentional. The prevailing theory is that the damage hints at Doom not just as a conqueror, but as a survivor, possibly shaped or scarred by a universe-ending incursion himself.

What The Incursion Theory Is Actually About

One of the more compelling theories floating around right now isn’t really about Doctor Doom’s costume so much as what appears to be happening to him in the image. The way his mask looks like it’s being torn apart, layers splitting, distorting, and pulling away from one another, could point to an incursion event. In isolation, that could just be dramatic, comic-book flair. But in a Marvel Cinematic Universe that has spent years establishing the visual language of incursions, it’s hard not to see something more intentional at play.

The effect closely mirrors how the MCU has depicted multiversal collapse before: realities folding into each other, matter breaking down under impossible pressure. We’ve seen it in Loki, heard it explained in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and know Avengers: Doomsday is operating squarely in that same space. That’s why some fans and outlets are reading this as a subtle hint that Doom may not just be the architect of destruction, but one of its earliest victims.

Could the popular villain be someone shaped by an incursion rather than merely exploiting it? None of this is confirmed, and Marvel is famously evasive with its promo art, but the theory sticks because it aligns so cleanly with the franchise’s established rules. Foreshadowing or expertly crafted misdirection is yet to be seen. Still, the image succeeds in reframing Doom as more than just the next big bad — it suggests a villain forged by the same multiversal catastrophe threatening everyone else.

Of course, it’s also entirely possible this is just bold, evocative promo art meant to sell Doom’s menace rather than reveal anything concrete. Either way, the image has already accomplished its goal. It’s sparked debate, reignited the Doctor Doom discourse, and reminded everyone that Avengers: Doomsday is very much on the horizon and will soon be on the 2026 movie schedule.

Whether the artwork hints at the villain's origin or simply sets the tone for his arrival remains to be seen. For now, all we can do is speculate, rewatch the Marvel movies in order with our Disney+ subscriptions, and wait for the answers to arrive when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, 2026.

The kickoff of the 2026 movie schedule means we’re officially in the same year as the release of Avengers: Doomsday. To hype everyone up about that, Marvel has been posting teaser trailers that show us our first looks at various characters in this highly anticipated movie. Now, said trailers have hit a major milestone, so Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., and I are celebrating.

Following the release of four teaser trailers over the last few weeks, Marvel revealed that it has amassed over 1 billion views on its Doomsday content. So, in celebration of that, Robert Downey Jr., who is returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom, reposted the clip alongside this short and sweet message on Instagram:

One billion views is certainly a lot, and it 100% deserves to be celebrated. The massive scale of this movie deserves that kind of attention.

I write that because over the last few weeks, these trailers have revealed just how massive the scope of this film is. First, we got Captain America’s teaser first, which confirmed the return of Chris Evans to the MCU. After that, Thor’s trailer was released, showing Chris Hemsworth back as the God of Thunder.

Following the two teasers that involved Avengers, we got the exciting X-Men trailer, which gave us Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan and James Marsden back as Professor X, Magneto and Cyclops, respectively. Then, the fourth Doomsday teaser took us to Wakanda, where we got to see Shuri and M’Baku interact with the Thing from the Fantastic Four.

Overall, while the hype was already real, it got bigger with the release of these teasers for the upcoming Marvel movie. Those view counts prove it, and it’s worthy of fun posts, like this one Chris Hemsworth put on his Instagram story:

I’d like to draw your attention to the bottom left corner of the above image, and the hammer and lightning bolt emojis Hemsworth used. While he didn’t say much, I love the playful nod to his character, and the actor reposting the announcement shows his excitement for his upcoming project.

Along with the view counts being high, the theories have been running wild. In fact, some fans think they’ve cracked a secret message in the Doomsday teasers that connects their timestamps to moments in Endgame that could correspond to various characters’ stories in the newest Avengers movie.

With those theories in mind, I imagine fans will continue to watch these teasers to try to figure out what’s about to happen in Doomsday. So, I bet the view count on them will keep growing!

Then, on December 18, we can move away from the trailers and theories and head to the movie theaters to watch Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth and the rest of Doomsday’s stellar cast assemble for this highly anticipated Avengers movie.

A few years ago cinephiles were blessed with Barbenheimer, the event where both Barbie and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer were released over the same weekend. Both titles ended up being wildly successful, with Greta Gerwig's movie piercing the pop culture landscape and the latter title being one of Nolan's best movies. We've got another duel release coming with Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday, and it turns out that Robert Downey Jr. and Timothée Chalamet came up with an A+ name for this theatrical event.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but the Russo Brothers' upcoming Marvel movie might have some competition thanks to the third Dune film. There doesn't seem to be any hard feelings between the stars of the film, as a viral TikTok showed RDJ at a Marty Supreme screening, revealing the nickname he and Chalamet came up with. As he put it:

I'm sorry, but Dunesday is pretty brilliant. It's only a slight deviation from the title of the next Avengers movie, and rolls off the tongue easily. By comparison, Barbenheimer was much more of a mouthful, although it was fun considering just how different the two movies were.

There's not much we know about Dune: Part Three, although the book-to-screen adaptation is expected to bring the book Messiah to life. Fans are eager to see how the story continues after Dune 2's ending, which saw Paul Atreides create a hostile takeover and start the Holy War that his visions predicted. It should be interesting to see him take this villainous turn, as well as how Zendaya's Chani factors into the story.

It should be fascinating to see how Dunesday plays out at the box office. Marvel movies are no longer guaranteed to break box office records, just look at how The Marvels flopped. And while Barbenheimer featured two very different projects, these two titles are both action-packed and part of powerful IPs. So they have the potential to compete more at the box office.

In his comments, Robert Downey Jr. joked about the competition ending his friendship with Chalamet. But it seems like there's no hard feelings, and they're hoping that there's enough room (and money) for both Doomsday and Dune 3 to perform.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to see how Dunesday ultimately competes at the box office.

Gwyneth Paltrow is one of the most famous names out there, from her award-worthy roles, her part in some of the best Marvel movies, and being the founder of Goop. With that status has come some backlash over the years. But, what does she think about why she’s become a polarizing figure?

Since Paltrow is on the ongoing press tour for Marty Supreme, which is officially a major contender in awards season, she was asked exactly that. Here’s what she had to say:

Gwyneth Paltrow is undeniably powerful and talented. The 53-year-old has built an incredible acting career that includes classics like Se7en, The Royal Tenenbaums and Iron Man, and one could argue she’s just made another great movie with Marty Supreme, for which she came out of acting retirement. As Paltrow started in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she thinks that perhaps calling a woman polarizing has become one in the same with those descriptors. As she added:

Paltrow particularly received a lot of attention for her use of the phrase “consciously uncoupling” when she and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin announced they were separating after a decade of marriage. As she explained, even though she received some flack for using that term (recently recalling even once getting fired from a movie because of it), she’s also thanked all the time for making that move. Paltrow attempted to explain why she’s picked on further with these words:

Gwyneth Paltrow is the daughter of the actress Blythe Danner and producer/director Bruce Paltrow. Because many would consider her a nepo baby, she thinks it’s easy to make fun and say she doesn’t deserve her success, but as she pointed out as well, her parents were “self made” and “killed themselves to get where they got.” Once, she actually said having a famous mom made her career more difficult because she felt like she had to work “twice as hard and be twice as good.”

When it comes to Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow also explained that her decision to make the brand comes “a true and authentic place of really wanting to better women’s lives”. She cited things like making “non-toxic” products and her company producing “healthy” food as proof of that. As she also said:

It definitely seems like Gwyneth Paltrow has reflected on how she is perceived by the public, and why she can be seen as a polarizing figure over the years.

There will be many films to come on the 2026 movie schedule, but maybe none more anticipated than Avengers: Doomsday. Not only is this the first (official) Avengers adventure since Endgame in 2019, but it will also mark the first time that the Marvel Multiverse includes the Fantastic Four and multiple X-Men movie characters, and it also gives us the return of Robert Downey, Jr., who’s playing Big Bad, Doctor Doom. We already knew that the erstwhile Iron Man was the “Godfather” on set, and now I can’t get over Simu Liu talking about Downey’s “convoy of trailers.”

What Did Simu Liu Say About Robert Downey, Jr.’s Trailers On The Doomsday Set?

With Robert Downey, Jr. being one of the veteran MCU actors on set (and the one who got the Marvel movies in order rolling with Iron Man in 2008), we’ve already been told that he really “looked after” his fellow cast members, especially with many of them being like Simu Liu and having relatively little on-screen experience in the expansive Marvel franchise so far.

Though the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings talent has already noted how he "embarrassed" himself by being “really, really underdressed” the first time he met his Oscar-winning co-star on set, it sounds like Downey didn’t take any offense, as he still allowed Liu into what everyone called “Downey Land.” As he recently told Collider:

There are not many tales of movie set experiences I truly wish I’d been a part of, but heading into what sounds like an appropriately relaxing and light-hearted space like “Downey Land” can now be counted among them.

Liu’s seemingly been keeping Doomsday secrets by simply doing a lot of talking about how cool it was to work on the movie while being starstruck by his co-stars like Downey, Patrick Stewart, Vanessa Kirby, Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, James Marsden, and Pedro Pascal. Apparently, while it was pretty easy for him to dial-in and focus during scenes, “the moments between” led to The Copenhagen Test star to have more “pinch me” times on set because of having access to RDJ’s special area. He continued:

It sounds like at least the entire main cast (which consists of nearly 30 people that we know of) had access to Downey’s luxurious “convoy,” and I gotta say, I am a bit jealous. Few people get to have their work lunch hour catered by personal chefs, right? Though, I am now curious about why Mackie felt he needed to bribe the security detail with pizza so he could later have access, but I suppose we’d need to ask the Captain America actor about that.

While we still don’t have a full picture of the story that fans will get when Avengers: Doomsday is released in a little less than a year, you can bet that my excitement is through the roof, particularly when it comes to seeing what RDJ will do with the classic Fantastic Four villain. If nothing else, it seems like the cast was well taken care of during filming, and that will likely go a long way toward making sure fans get an awesome movie.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always growing, thanks to new projects hitting theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Without a doubt the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which will feature Robert Downey Jr's return to the MCU. Epic fan art imagined him as both Doctor Doom and a Venom-infused Iron Man. Let's break it all down.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, so fans are filling in the blanks with rumors, theories, and fan art about what might be happening. Folks who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are curious about what RDJ will be up to, and some epic fan art on Instagram imagined not one but two versions of the Oscar winning actor. Check it out below:

I mean, how cool is that? While there's no indication that Doomsday will have a tie to the Venom movies, now that's exactly what I want to see what happens. I mean, who doesn't want to see a hero like Iron Man get a symbiote upgrade in the forthcoming blockbuster? Sign me up.

The above fan art offered just one of many possibilities that might play out in Doomsday. Marvel has notoriously tight security, which is why there's so many theories and rumors about what might go down. That includes seeing Robert Downey Jr. have a scene with himself, as both Doctor Doom and Iron Man.

The Avengers: Doomsday cast list confirmed entire teams of heroes that will appear, presumably to unite and battle RDJ's Doom. That includes the Avengers, new Avengers aka Thunderbolts, the Fantastic Four and even the OG stars of the X-Men movies. Venom has been noticeably missing from the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far, so fans would likely lose their minds if symbiotes were included in the action of The Russo Brothers' next Avengers movie.

After Iron Man died in Avengers: Endgame, it looked like Robert Downey Jr.'s tenure in the MCU was over for good. That's why news of his return as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars broke the internet. Fans are hyped to see his villainous side, and minds will be blown if the Oppenheimer actor actually gets a scene opposite himself. Fingers crossed that it actually happens... regardless of whether or not a Venom connection is also included.

Since the studio is keeping the secrets of Avengers: Doomsday, the theories and fan art is likely going to continue for the foreseeable future. Robert Downey Jr.'s inclusion is a big reason why anticipation has bee buoyed, and we'll have to see what he actually gets up to in high return to the shared universe.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we get the first footage sooner rather than later.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is constantly expanding, thanks to new projects arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is probably Avengers: Doomsday, which will bring us new crossover and character pairings. Robert Downey Jr. is back in the MCU as Doctor Doom, and Shang-Chi actor Simu Liu recently recalled the embarrassing story behind meeting the Oscar-winning icon for the first time.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is super limited, but that hasn't stopped fan excitement from steadily building. The blockbuster will mark Liu's first live-action return to the shared universe since Shang-Chi hit theaters in 2021, and fans can't wait to see how he interacts with other characters. During a recent clip from The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the Kim's Convenience actor spoke about a viral photo from the set of Doomsday featuring a group of the stars. In his words:

The Doomsday cast announcement confirmed that entire teams of heroes will be in the blockbuster, presumably uniting to fight off RDJ's Doctor Doom. But while Simu Liu was seemingly looking forward to meeting and collaborating with the Iron Man star, unfortunately that happened when he wasn't exactly dressed to impress.

Later in the same interview, Liu explained why he ended up wearing short shorts and flip flops when taking the group photo (and meeting Downey for the first time). It turns out that he was actually filming Doomsday, and wasn't expecting any photography when he got out of costume. As he told it:

This makes more sense, but unfortunately that group photo will likely live on forever. And presumably so will the Barbie actor's embarrassment. Unfortunately for him, Robert Downey Jr. not only clocked his fit, but commented on it during their conversation. As Liu put it:

Ouch. This doesn't seem like the way Simu Liu wanted to meet RDJ, but there's silver lining: at least he was memorable. But since they presumably got to film together for Doomsday, I'm sure he got to make a better impression on set. We'll just have to wait and see how many scenes they actually share.

Avengers: Doomsday is set to arrive in theaters on December 18th of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list. There are countless rumors about what The Russo Brothers have up their sleeves, and it should be fascinating to see what actually goes down.

Robert Downey Jr. has spent plenty of time surrounded by glowing walls of green and blue during his decade playing Tony Stark, but it turns out digital environments aren’t what test his acting skills. The MCU vet previously revealed his real challenges during a laid-back interview. The slate of new Marvel movies may be known for their heavy use of CG and on-set reference screens. Yet, the Oppenheimer Oscar winner explained that the most complex parts of acting have nothing to do with pretending an alien army is floating above him.

During the interview with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, RDJ explained the scenes that give him the most headaches, and they don’t involve green screens. Instead, he was explaining the everyday moments that most actors take for granted. As he put it, these moments expose what he jokingly called his “dirty secret.” Downey said:

The crowd loved the nod to the Taxi star–turned–late-night host’s acting chops, and Fallon happily took the compliment. “Thank you for saying that,” he said. “I appreciate it.”

The Tropic Thunder scene-stealer went on to explain that, in general, the scenes he struggles with most are the ones built on small, believable reactions. He continued:

For someone who led some of the biggest effects-heavy movies ever made, it was a grounded admission. The simple, everyday moments — not the CGI — take the most effort.

Then he pulled Fallon into an impromptu acting exercise. “Let’s go tight on Jimmy,” Downey told the camera crew, slipping into mock-director mode as the band and audience played along. He built a scene on the fly:

In the clip, which you can watch below, the studio audience loses it, as Fallon tries to respond, only to crack up almost immediately. It’s a classic SNL Fallon laughing mid-scene moment and is worth a watch for the laugh alone.

Hearing Downey walk through his least favorite acting tasks puts his Marvel work (streaming with a Disney+ subscription) in a different light. It's interesting to hear he's comfortable reacting to things that aren’t on set at all — Thanos, armor HUDs, a collapsing skyline — but the real challenge for him in movies comes in the small, everyday beats audiences never think about. And, judging by the Tonight Show crowd’s reaction, Robert Downey Jr. knows precisely how to turn those frustrations into a punchline.

And, while he may not face many door-opening or driving moments, he is heading back to the big screen and back to the land of green screens. This time, he’s trading Tony Stark’s armor for Doctor Doom’s mask. Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters amid the 2026 movie schedule on December 18, 2026.

Gwyneth Paltrow has been around since the very beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While she didn’t get to wear armor nearly as often as her co-star Robert Downey Jr., she saw more of the franchise happen than almost anybody else, which is why it’s so funny that she seemingly isn’t aware of any of it.

Paltrow recently received a very nice award, and her co-star and friend Mr. Downey was on hand to present it to her. During his introduction, he poked fun at Paltrow for not remembering who some of her other co-stars were, including Spider-Man himself, Tom Holland. Downey brought up a conversation they apparently had, saying…

Fans, perhaps unsurprisingly, are eating this up because the idea that Gwyneth Paltrow didn’t know who Tom Holland was, and was seemingly confused on his name, is kind of hilarious. Some responding to the viral quite are being quite critical of the actress for this, but most are just laughing along with the situations saying things like…

• gwyneth paltrow asking who tom holland is after 4 movies together is the most gwyneth paltrow thing ever - @MrBrondorDeFi
• gwyneth living in her own cinematic universe and honestly i respect it - @jupturkey
• Gwyneth Paltrow is too chilled to remember some names, i love her - @kingscrownBTC
• Part of me feels like this is really pompous. The other part of me is like, ‘how iconic’ - @writtenbychamp
• Peak Gwyneth energy: forgetting coworkers but remembering every type of herbal tea ever invented. - @realdesivoice

The fact that Paltrow apparently didn’t remember Tom Holland is apparently news to a lot of people, but the reason that Robert Downey Jr. likely brought it up is that it’s actually a fairly well-known story. Tom Holland himself has discussed being forgotten by Gwyneth Paltrow, twice. Even Holland has had some fun at the actress's expense on the topic.

Paltrow’s seeming lack of ability to keep track of the MCU is somewhat famous. She’s routinely forgotten what movies she’s been in. She forgets what actors have been in movies with her. Some of this is pretty understandable. Outside of the Iron Man franchise, Paltrow’s role has generally been much smaller, and when you’re acting against green screens, it’s perhaps easier not to remember which scene you were in was for which movie.

Whether we’ll see Paltrow’s Pepper Potts in any future Marvel movies remains to be seen. It’s likely her time in the MCU is done. Although I suppose it’s equally possible that she’s part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast, but doesn’t actually know that.

Gwyneth Paltrow may have been mostly retired from acting for the last few years, but she’s clearly made some good friends in her time in Hollywood. Paltrow recently received the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award at the THR Women in Entertainment 2025 gala, and her friend and co-star Robert Downey Jr. was on hand to sing her praises and also roast her a bit. Not bad for a guy who apparently would rather have been in bed.

The award presentation was apparently very early, leading ET to remark to Paltrow that she had gotten Downey out of bed to present the award. Paltrow expected to get an earful on that, but then she praised her co-star’s talent and admitted how happy she was that he was there. Paltrow said…

For the record, Robert Downey Jr. didn’t complain about having to wake up during his introduction of Gwyneth Paltrow. What he did do was poke a bit of fun at her, amidst a flood of praise. Specifically he teased her over the fact that, despite the fact that Paltrow was a constant part of the first three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, she seemingly never had a clue what was going on with it. Paltrow had a tendency to forget which movies she was in and even forget one of her other co-stars. Downey joked about a conversation he had with Paltrow, saying…

Despite the jokes from both sides, what was clear from both of their comments was how much these two actors clearly adore each other. Downey praised Paltrow's ability to juggle both Hollywood and her wellness empire while also being a mother. One needs only look at a picture of the two of them together to see how much they enjoy being together.

Downey himself posted a picture of the pair from the event, with a caption of his own celebrating his MCU co-star in the sweetest way, saying simply…

While Downey is set to return to the MCU next year, though not (as far as we’re aware) as Tony Stark, there’s no confirmation that Gwyneth Paltrow will be reprising her role as Pepper Potts, or perhaps as a multiverse variant of her. Although considering how little Paltrow seems to know about the franchise, maybe she’s in it but isn’t aware.