MARVEL RESCUE
Oscar winner makes shock return to Marvel franchise as evil Doctor Doom in next Avengers movie
His return comes after several box office flops for the superhero juggernaut
IRON Man star Robert Downey Jr is making a shock return to the ailing Marvel franchise as a villain — five years after his superhero character died.
The Oscar-winner, 59, was unveiled yesterday as Doctor Doom for the next Avengers movie.
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His return comes after several box-office flops for the movie juggernaut including Eternals, Ant-Man: Quantumania and The Marvels.
And he solves a problem for bosses following the departure of Jonathan Majors — who had been due to play major villain Kang — after a domestic abuse conviction.
Robert played Iron Man/Tony Stark, top, for more than a decade until Avengers: Endgame in 2019.
He was unveiled as Victor Von Doom at Comic-Con in the US — hidden among several figures on stage wearing the villain’s attire.
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Removing his face cover to a rapturous ovation, RDJ said: “New mask, same task.”
As well as Avengers: Doomsday in May 2026, he is due to appear in follow-up Secret Wars — both directed by Joe and Anthony Russo.
Also at the event in California was Brit actress Florence Pugh, 28.
She will reprise her role as Black Widow’s Yelena Belova in Thunderbolts, which is due out next April.
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