Robert Downey Jr’s MCU return in Avengers: Doomsday could lessen the impact of Tony Stark’s death, but the Russo Bros. latest comments and Marvel’s track record give me confidence that it will be handled correctly. Downey Jr’s role as Tony Stark was the beating heart of the MCU’s Infinity Saga. 2008’s Iron Man started the MCU, and Tony’s sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame gave him an emotional departure while capitalizing on 11 years of well-constructed character development. However, Downey Jr’s MCU retirement is ending early, as he’s set to portray Doctor Doom in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday.

Undoubtedly, Downey Jr. can play such an iconic villain, but Marvel’s latest stunt casting worries me and many other viewers. While it’s great to see him return fresh off his Academy Award win for Oppenheimer, Tony’s death was a special moment in the MCU timeline, and seeing the actor in the franchise seven years later could damage Endgame‘s emotional weight. Fortunately, the Russo Bros. plan to incorporate Tony’s death into Avengers: Doomsday‘s story, and it gives me faith that they won’t damage Tony’s legacy.

Tony Stark’s Death Will Play A Role in Avengers: Doomsday, According To Russo Bros.

The Russo Bros. are staying secretive about the impact of Tony’s death.

While many speculated that Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom would be an evil variant of Tony Stark, it was confirmed that he would be playing Victor Von Doom. Still, bringing back the actor without addressing the elephant in the room is impossible. He looks exactly like Tony Stark, and that would be something the Avengers would discuss. The Russo brothers are logically aware of a need to address the matter of Tony’s lookalike, making it all the more interesting that they recently told The Times that Tony’s death will be a part of the story.

“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.”

The Russo Bros. are the best options for handling Tony’s death once more in the MCU’s story, since they’re the ones who killed him in the story of Endgame itself. They know how impactful his death was, and the directing duo played an essential role in making it so meaningful. Indeed, the duo developed Tony in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Endgame, so Tony’s legacy is in the hands of people who know him well.

Making Tony’s Death A Part Of The Next Avengers Films Could Give It More Impact

The Avengers will ᴀssemble without one of their greatest leaders.

The MCU has already shown the impact of Tony’s death and legacy on a selection of characters. Spider-Man struggled to be a hero without his mentor in Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Riri Williams used Iron Man as an inspiration in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. For several heroes, seeing someone they recognized and admired as the universe’s greatest villain will be a mᴀssive shock, even if it’s not the same person. Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom could create many interesting dilemmas based on Tony’s relationship with other Avengers.

Speaking of the Avengers, Doomsday will be the Avengers’ first outing without Iron Man. Tony was an excellent inventor and one of the most intelligent members of the team. He can never be replaced, and it will be hard for the Avengers to fight without the technology and leadership he provided. As such, Iron Man’s death will have more meaning in Doomsday if the Russo Bros. emphasize the void his pᴀssing creates in the Avengers.

Marvel Already Proved It Can Bring Back An Actor Without Ruining Their Story In ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine

Hugh Jackman returned after Wolverine’s heartbreaking death in Logan

Marvel already has a blueprint for bringing back an actor without ruining their character’s story. Hugh Jackman is synonymous with Wolverine, and his death in Logan was a perfect sendoff for the long-time X-Man. When his return in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine was announced, people were justifiably concerned that it would hurt Logan‘s ending. However, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine proved early on that it wouldn’t simply undo this part of Fox’s Wolverine legacy, and managed to bring Jackman back while honoring his multiple decades of work within Marvel.

The film introduces the concept of an anchor being, suggesting that the Fox Universe would die without Jackman’s Wolverine. This concept makes the Fox version of Wolverine irreplaceable and confirms him as one of the greatest heroes in the Marvel universe, especially since the new Wolverine variant introduced in the film is a downtrodden hero who has to prove himself as a worthy successor to the other Wolverine’s legacy. Given how Marvel honored Fox’s Wolverine while keeping the door open for Jackman’s return, I’m confident that Avengers: Doomsday can follow this model for Downey Jr’s return.

Upcoming MCU Movies

• 
  
  

  
  

  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  MCU Spider-Man 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse