The Marvel Cinematic Universe has never been shy about recasting characters or bringing back familiar actors in completely different roles, and Avengers: Doomsday (2026) continues that trend in a major way.
The newly released trailer finally gives audiences their first proper look at Robert Downey Jr. as Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom, following his surprise casting announcement at San Diego Comic-Con in 2024.
Avengers: Doomsday Recasts Two Actors With RDJ
While fans are understandably focused on seeing the former Iron Man actor transformed into Marvel’s biggest villain, his arrival also marks an official recasting that spans almost two decades of Marvel film history.
Before Downey, Doctor Doom was played by the late Julian McMahon in Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), and Toby Kebbell later inherited the role in the reboot, Fantastic Four (2015).
Doomsday now introduces a third cinematic version of the villain. Watch the first trailer below:
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Marvel has embraced this sort of casting more than ever during its Multiverse Saga.
Chris Evans famously returned as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) despite being synonymous with Steve Rogers/Captain America, while actors from Fox’s X-Men franchise—including Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming, and Kelsey Grammer—are now joining the MCU alongside returning Avengers.
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame), Doomsday brings together Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Paul Rudd, Letitia Wright, Sebastian Stan, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and many more for Marvel’s biggest crossover since Endgame.
The film arrives in theaters on December 18, 2026, ahead of Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027.
Are you excited about Avengers: Doomsday? Do you think the Avengers will recognize Victor von Doom in the film? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
