Iron Man made a major decision that could have a ripple effect in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Multiverse Saga, as a new Avengers: Doomsday theory explores how Tony Stark and Victor von Doom could connect. Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as Doctor Doom was shocking. After more than a decade leading the MCU’s many movies as Iron Man, he became the villain.

Given his prominent role in the franchise as Tony Stark, several theories about how Downey could be returning to the MCU as another character began to form. With Avengers: Doomsday‘s story set to use the multiverse, that route felt like the best explanation for RDJ’s Doctor Doom turn. Now, it might even connect to the MCU’s Iron Man trilogy with a new theory.

RDJ’s Doctor Doom Is An Alternate Universe’s Iron Man Stand-In According To 1 MCU Theory

Iron Man has many iconic MCU quotes. That said, his most famous line comes from the franchise’s — and the hero’s — first movie. 2008’s Iron Man ends with Tony Stark choosing to reveal his idenтιтy to the world, firmly announcing it, saying, “I am Iron Man.” That was not how the press conference was planned to go, as Stark decided to improvise.

Agent Coulson came up with an easy way to explain how Stark and Iron Man were different people. All Tony had to do was claim the superhero was his bodyguard, which he did not do. The new Avengers: Doomsday theory uses that Iron Man moment to explain how Robert Downey Jr. now plays Doctor Doom.

In another universe, Doctor Doom would be the bodyguard that Iron Man was supposed to be for the MCU’s Tony Stark. That could go one of two ways. Either Downey’s Victor von Doom is a character completely separate from Stark and the protector of his universe’s Tony, or Doctor Doom is an Iron Man variant, believed to be Stark’s bodyguard by the public.

The MCU Theory Would Explain Why Robert Downey Jr. Is Doctor Doom

We have seen in the MCU that even the smallest events can create branching timelines. As such, using one of Iron Man’s biggest decisions in the franchise to explain how Downey could be playing Doctor Doom makes sense. It would connect both of RDJ’s Marvel characters through the MCU’s first movie, fitting the Multiverse Saga’s “finality.”

After all, Avengers: Secret Wars will reboot the MCU in some form, so connecting its main villain to Iron Man, the MCU’s first movie, would be a full-circle moment for Avengers: Doomsday. It also opens the door for Marvel to play with Tony Stark’s lore, delving deeper into what could have been if he had chosen differently in Iron Man with the bodyguard cover story.