The Shared History Between Iron Man and Dr Doom Explained

Why has Marvel cast Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom? What connection do Dr. Doom and Iron Man have? Here's what you need to know in our Iron Man and Doctor Doom explained video!

This year’s Marvel Studios panel at SDCC (Comic Con 2024) may not have been overflowing with new MCU reveals and announcements, but there was one huge shocker to cap off the evening. We learned that Avengers 5 has now become Avengers: Doomsday, and none other than Robert Downey Jr. has been cast as iconic Marvel villain Doctor Doom.

Marvel fans are still trying to wrap their heads around that announcement. It’s a big deal that arguably Marvel’s biggest and most important villain is finally going to make his MCU debut. But why is he being played by Downey of all people? Is Doom an evil variant of Tony Stark?

#Marvel #MCU #Movies

[TheKaijuHunter]

Dude still found a way to get that MCU money after his character died. RESPECT.

[emmanuelk]

So basically Secret Wars is gonna be RDJ vs RDJ.

[kill_rozainofficial]

Dr. Dooms gonna have so many quirky one liners now 😅

[DCYTB]

It’s crazy how Kang has been officially defeated by ANT MAN in the MCU 😂

[DJC-YTVideos]

Doom is going to take off that mask ... SO many times.

[Jounzey]

Downey Jr did phenomenally playing a bad guy in Oppenheimer. Looking forward to seeing him here.

[jamalyoung]

Bro better be straight villainous or im refunding

[liand]

Dude died a hero AND is living long enough to see himself become the villain

[eliasbowen]

I’m Still so mad they scrapped Dynasty of Kang because of Jonathan Majors’ case

[futurekingjay]

I've thought for a while how Doom compliments Iron Man perfectly. Almost to the point where I'm convinced the two should have been the real archenemies all along instead of the Mandarin for Iron Man and Doom for the Fantastic Four. Iron Man's red and gold perfectly opposes Doom's green and silver. Both are rich. Both are scientists that specialise in robotics. Both wear suits of armour. One lives in a warm, cosy mansion, while the other lives in a cold, gloomy castle. One is a handsome, galavanting, show-off while the other is a disfigured, isolated loner. And what makes Doom formidable for Iron Man is that he knows magic on top of science. The Mandarin is dope, but Doom just fits into Iron Man's rogues gallery so naturally.

[ScrubTheNub]

…why did they announce this casting? If they’re going to go with this route with Doom, why not save this reveal for the actual movie??

Imagine everyone finding out that Doom is a Tony variant at the same time as the characters do.

Biggest missed opportunity for a twist/reveal in the MCU

[Rhade]

Marvel serving up a plate of Member Berries while Hall H begs for more

[snowproryusmc]

I'd be more interested in seeing him play as Black Panther.

[Aavora]

Not gonna lie… it took me a second to realise that was RDJ. He looks rather mature and somewhat old now. Obviously just how aging works, nothing wrong with that… but if Marvel had casted him as Dr Doom back when he played Tony in the first Iron Man, it wouldn’t have worked. Now was the perfect time I’d say to have him play Doom.

[sonroku]

Don’t forget Chris Evans played the Human Torch In Fantastic Four & Captain America in The Avengers

[DanFarrell]

This is ridiculous. What's next? Bringing Chris Evans back to play Human Torch? Nonsense!

[kantotinio]

Maybe they want an "emotional ending" where tony stark version of doctor doom gets a villain redemption from his heroic variant

[Witchling]

Also Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays both Microchip and Ben Grimm in the MCU.

[DrewCasper]

Did anyone actually read the announcement properly? They said RDJ is playing Victor Von Doom, which would mean he’s not a Stark variant

[miketuber]

What’s next josh Brolin playing a superhero?