As the MCU fandom awaits Robert Downey Jr.’s rendition of Doctor Doom with bated breath, it looks like Captain America: Brave New World may have just hinted at a big change to the iconic villain’s characterization. The jury is still out on how Marvel Studios intends to navigate the fact that its archetypal cast member will re-enter the MCU as an entirely different character following the wild announcement at 2024’s San Diego Comic-Con. The prevailing theory, of course, is that RDJ will be portraying Doctor Doom as an Iron Man variant despite all ᴀssertions to the contrary behind the scenes.

This theory risks making a swinging change to one of Marvel’s most beloved characters, a risk that Marvel Studios could seldom afford to run. The announcement of RDJ’s return has therefore been met with some trepidation, with some fans suggesting that this is a cynical attempt to recoup recent losses in the franchise by once again spotlighting its most bankable actor. Whatever the case, Captain America: Brave New World may have just added fuel to the fire by furthering the notion that RDJ’s Doom will flout expectations in another key way.

The Leader’s Warning About “The Others” Explained

The Leader Warns Of A Multiversal Group That Threatens Earth-616

Captain America: Brave New World‘s post-credits scene saw the arch-villain of the movie, Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns, warn Sam Wilson of a looming multiversal threat. Samuel Sterns reveals his knowledge of alternate realities when Captain America approaches him on the Raft, deriding the common ᴀssumption that the MCU’s Earth-616 is the “only world.” He ᴀsserts that, while he may have been defeated by Sam, his machinations pale in comparison to the dangers posed by a group he dubs “The Others.” His full quote is as follows:

“We share the same world, don’t we? This world you would die to save? It’s coming. I’ve seen it in the probabilities. Seen it plain as day. All you heroes protecting this world, you think you’re the only ones. You think this is the only world. We’ll see what happens when you have to protect this place… from the Others.”

At this point in the Multiverse Saga, audiences will be patently aware of the other worlds Sterns warns of. These other realities have been shown in such recent MCU installments as Loki, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness​​​​​​, and The Marvels, while the upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps will seemingly take place entirely in another universe. It seems, therefore, that Sterns is warning of a pending invasion from another universe, an invasion orchestrated by “the Others.”

This seems to be setting up Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars directly. The culmination of the Multiverse Saga is expected to end in some kind of multiversal calamity, ostensibly with Doctor Doom – as the newly minted arch-villain of the Multiverse Saga – orchestrating it all. Nevertheless, this doesn’t exactly mesh with what the Leader was setting up, with his words instead suggesting that Doom won’t be a villain at all.

If There Are Other Heroes Defending Their Worlds, Is Doom A Hero?

Samuel Sterns Seems To Suggest That Avengers: Doomsday Will Pit Heroes Against Heroes

I can’t help but think that Samuel Sterns is setting up Doctor Doom as a hero. This is because he seemingly refers to the Others as heroes themselves when prefacing his warning with “All you heroes protecting this world, you think you’re the only ones.” This would measure up to comic book precedent, as superheroes from two different universes are forced to fight one another in a desperate attempt to stave off the mutually ᴀssured destruction of an incursion. With incursions being set up in the MCU, it could be that the Leader is warning of the same impending hero vs. hero dynamic in Avengers: Doomsday.

With Doctor Doom confirmed to be the star of that particular movie, it stands to reason that he would be fighting alongside the superheroes of his universe. It may make sense given the desperate measures to have the presumed arch-villain of the franchise debut as a cooperative figure, but it does mean that Doctor Doom will not be an out-and-out villain in Avengers: Doomsday. Whether this lands well with audiences remains to be seen, but it isn’t as if this is a comic-inaccurate route to take with Doctor Doom.

Doctor Doom’s History As A Hero Explained

Doctor Doom Is Willing To Work Alongside Superheroes When It Is Convenient

The truth is, Doom has played the hero role many times in Marvel Comics (to varying degrees of success, of course). Knowing that Robert Downey Jr. is portraying Doom, I’m instantly reminded of the “Infamous Iron Man” run of comics, where Doctor Doom attempts (and struggles) to take on Iron Man’s role in Iron Man’s absence. Doom has also worked alongside the Future Foundation after striking a deal with Valeria Richards, finding that his goals are aligned with theirs in their attempt to stop the destructive actions of four Reed Richards variants.

Ultimately, Doom is willing to work alongside superheroes when their goals align with his own. Staving off universal destruction is sufficient for Doom to work alongside heroes, and it is, in fact, something he attempts in the lead-up to the 2015 “Secret Wars” run. Given this seems to be the comic that the MCU will adapt with Avengers: Secret Wars, then it makes even more sense for Doctor Doom to be acting heroically as one of the Others in Avengers: Doomsday, with the “villains” of that movie instead comprising another, desperate team of superheroes.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

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  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  
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  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

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  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

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  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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