Academy Award winner Robert Downey Jr. is set to make a dramatic return to the Avengers universe, but not as Iron Man. Instead, he’ll be playing the iconic supervillain Victor von Doom, also known as Doctor Doom, in two upcoming Avengers films.

The news was confirmed by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige during Marvel’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday. Downey Jr. made a surprise appearance at the convention, dressed in a Doom costume and surrounded by replica Doombots, before revealing his face to a standing ovation from the crowd.

The two films, titled Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, will be directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the brothers behind Avengers: Endgame. Avengers: Doomsday is set to premiere in May 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027.

Robert Downey Jr., 59, will be making his return to the Avengers universe in two new movies – this time as a supervillain; pictured at the San Diego International Comic-Con on Saturday

Doctor Doom is one of Marvel’s most iconic supervillains and the archenemy of the Fantastic Four. He is a genius-level scientist with a tragic backstory, making him a complex and intriguing character.

Downey Jr.’s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes as a surprise to many, as he had previously stated that he was done playing Iron Man. However, it seems he was open to returning in a new capacity.

The actor has had a triumphant year, winning an Academy Award for his performance in Oppenheimer and earning an Emmy nomination for his role in The Sympathizer.