Avengers: Doomsday is gearing up for production, with filming officially set to begin in England this March. This marks the first major entry in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga and will be followed by Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027.

One of the most surprising revelations is the return of Robert Downey Jr. to the MCU—not as Tony Stark/Iron Man, but as the infamous Doctor Victor Von Doom. This unexpected casting choice has already generated massive excitement, as fans speculate on how Doom will factor into the multiversal chaos. Joe and Anthony Russo, the directors behind Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, will helm Avengers: Doomsday as well as Avengers: Secret Wars. The duo is known for their ability to balance high-stakes storytelling with emotional depth, making them the perfect choice to lead the MCU into this next phase.

A Multiversal Variant of Tony Stark ?

One of the simplest explanations is that Doom is actually a variant of Tony Stark from another universe. The MCU has already introduced the concept of variants through Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In an alternate reality, Tony Stark could have taken a very different path—one that led him to become Victor Von Doom instead of Iron Man.

This version of Tony could have merged his scientific genius with sorcery, similar to how Doom in the comics blends technology and magic. Perhaps he lost everything in his world, leading him to don the infamous mask and rule over Latveria.

The film’s casting has already caused some confusion. Benedict Cumberbatch initially stated that Doctor Strange would not be in Doomsday, only to later walk back his comments and confirm his involvement. Meanwhile, Chris Evans, who was rumored to return as Steve Rogers, has denied any plans to reprise his role, saying he is “happily retired.”