The Kang Dynasty is no more. Or rather, it never was. Marvel Studios took to Hall H at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con to make some big announcements about Avengers 5. The MCU’s Phase 6 tentpole isn’t just getting a new title. It’s also getting an all-new villain to serve as the multiverse’s biggest threat. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is now Avengers: Doomsday. Welcome to the MCU Doctor Doom. More than that, the biggest shock of the event was that Doom will be played by none other than Robert Downey Jr… wait, WHAT?!?!
That might be a big change for the film, but Disney is turning to some familiar faces to lead the way. Marvel also revealed it has named two famous alums have as directors for the next two Avengers films. Joe and Anthony Russo are returning to the MCU for Doomsday and Secret Wars. Reportedly, Stephen McFeely will also return to pen the Avengers Doomsday and Secret Wars scripts.
As for Downey, this is a massive and wild bit of news. The multiverse is real, surely, but what will everyone think when Doctor Doom turns out to look just like Tony Stark? Will he be Tony Stark but from another Earth? WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? In either case, Downey appeared on stage in full green to take his rightful bow. You never leave the MCU, I guess.
Robert Downey Jr. Will play Doctor Doom in Avengers Doomsday, new mask, same task! #Avengers #sdcc #marvel pic.twitter.com/yr1VCtvvPM
— Nerdist (@nerdist) July 28, 2024
Disney fired Jonathan Majors last December following his conviction for domestic violence. He played Variants of Kang the Conqueror on Loki and in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Since then fans have wondered if Marvel Studios would recast his role or change Avengers 5’s villain altogether. Now we know the franchise is going in a whole new direction, with an even more famous comic book villain.
While the film is going in a new Doom direction with its big baddie, it’s going down a familiar path with its directors. The Russo Brothers are coming back to their superhero home. Marvel Studios used Hall H to confirm previous reports the co-directors of Captain America: Civil War, Infinity War, and Endgame are officially returning for more Avengers fun.
Loki creator and Doctor strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer Michael Waldron is penning the script for Avengers: Blank. Marvel has also tasked him with writing Secret Wars, and the two films could reportedly feature more than 60 characters. That’s even more than Infinity War and Endgame, so it’s no a surprise Kevin Feige wants people he knows can handle a massive cast.
The question now is how Earth’s mightiest heroes will handle Doctor Doom.