A new MCU theory suggests that both Iron Man and Mister Fantastic will inspire Doctor Doom’s plans in Avengers: Doomsday. Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU, not as Tony Stark’s Iron Man, but as Doctor Doom, is incredibly exciting, and while he has only been confirmed to be appearing in Doomsday and Secret Wars, there’s speculation he could debut even sooner. The prospect of him appearing in a Marvel Studios movie this year and new comments from the returning directing duo, the Russo brothers, have spurred new theories regarding Doctor Doom’s MCU debut.

Doctor Doom is one of the most exciting additions to the MCU in the franchise’s entire history, bringing one of Marvel Comics’ most iconic, powerful and popular villains into live-action after a number of disappointing adaptations. There’s no doubt Robert Downey Jr. will do a fantastic job as Doctor Doom, though there has been some confusion about what his connection, if anything, will be to Downey Jr.’s former role of Tony Stark. A new theory explains this connection, and gives the Russo brothers’ new comments about Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars more weight.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Comes From The Fantastic Four: First Steps Universe In New MCU Theory

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Is Set In An Alternate Universe To The MCU’s Earth-616

Ever since he was confirmed to be rejoining the MCU as Doctor Doom at 2024’s San Diego Comic-Con, there has been speculation that Robert Downey Jr. will first appear as the legendary Marvel villain in July 2025’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Doctor Doom and Reed Richards’ Mister Fantastic are archenemies in Marvel Comics, so it would make sense for Downey Jr.’s Doom to appear alongside Pedro Pascal’s Richards. A new theory explained by Reddit user Spiderlander explains just how tragic this relationship could be, however.

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Spiderlander’s theory suggests that Victor Von Doom may also originate from the retro-futuristic, 1960s-inspired universe of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which will be the home of the new Fantastic Four team in the MCU. The theory posits that Doom has always been living in the shadow of Reed Richards, the Smartest Man Alive, “always being second best, [and] never being recognized for his genius, or his contributions to the world.” This would set up Downey Jr.’s Victor Von Doom as the perfect sympathetic and humanized villain in Phase 6’s Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars​​​​​​​.

Seeing Tony Stark’s Role On Earth-616 Would Show RDJ’s Doctor Doom What He’s Missing

MCU Theory Brings Doctor Doom To The MCU’s Earth-616 To Come Face-To-Face With Tony Stark’s Legacy

After spending his entire life being second best to Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards, the Reddit theory suggests that Doctor Doom will somehow make his way to the MCU’s main continuity of Earth-616. There, he’ll come face-to-face with Tony Stark’s legacy as one of the world’s greatest and most beloved superheroes and philanthropists, and this will be inescapable since Stark and Doom will share Robert Downey Jr.’s face. Realizing just how celebrated his doppelgänger is on Earth-616, Doctor Doom may be inspired to try and attain this same level of praise.

Following in Tony Stark’s footsteps will not come easy to Doctor Doom, however, as being a hero isn’t in the Latverian villain’s nature. Doom will see a world where a version of himself is every bit the man that the Reed Richards he knows from his own world is, which will push him to go to extreme lengths to seek the power, influence and acclaim of Tony Stark. This will make him incredibly dangerous in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, and will put the thematic parallels of Stark and Doom on full display, which the Russo brothers have teased.

The Russo Brothers Have Hinted That Tony Stark’s Legacy Will Be Important To Doctor Doom’s Story

Tony Stark’s Endgame Death Will Be Important To Doctor Doom

During a recent conversation with The Times, the Russo brothers revealed more about their development of Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. This included opening up about Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as Victor Von Doom, and while they note that there is “nobody else in the world” who could play Doom the way Downey Jr. will, they also suggest that his casting is important in another way. That is that it will connect Doctor Doom directly to Tony Stark, and the Russo brothers suggest Stark’s death will be “part of the story” when Doctor Doom debuts.

We can’t explain that as it’s part of the story​​​​​​​. But there’s nobody else in the world who could play this character the way he’s about to.

After eleven years in the MCU, Tony Stark laid down his life to snap his fingers and use all six Infinity Stones to wipe out Thanos and his armies in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Stark had been a cornerstone hero in the MCU, and his loss had a huge impact on the franchise, so Robert Downey Jr.’s return, especially after his Oscar win for Oppenheimer, is very exciting. Spiderlander’s theory explains how Tony Stark’s death can be crucial to Doctor Doom’s upcoming MCU storyline, setting Doom up as one of Marvel Studios’ most terrifying and dangerous villains.​​​​​​​

Doctor Doom Trying To Seek Praise Could Be Incredibly Dangerous In Avengers: Doomsday

Doctor Doom Will Be One Of The MCU’s Most Powerful Villains

Ever since his debut in Marvel Comics back in 1962’s The Fantastic Four #5, Victor Von Doom has been depicted as one of Marvel’s most complex and layered characters, and it would be great to see this continue in the MCU. As the savior and ruler of a free Latveria, Doom sees himself as a steadfast hero, which has often meant that he’s fought alongside the heroes of the Marvel Universe, though purely for selfish purposes. In actual fact, Doctor Doom is a clear antagonist to many formidable heroes, but this dicH๏τomy must be explored in Avengers: Doomsday​​​​​​​.

Having Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom believe himself to be a hero, fighting to achieve the same level of acclaim and praise as Tony Stark, would be very fun to explore in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. This will end up being a display of nothing more than Doctor Doom’s narcissism, ego, and other most human qualities, which makes him the perfect successor to the humanized Thanos as the MCU’s newest major antagonist. Testing these limits will make Doctor Doom unpredictable, unreliable and very dangerous in Avengers: Doomsday​​​​​​​, giving Downey Jr. some very different emotions to explore in the MCU.

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