The Marvel Cinematic Universe has always prided itself on long-term planning. For years, Disney mapped out phases that led audiences from Iron Man (2008) to the billion-dollar finales of Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). But after a string of underperforming films and shifting fan interest, the company is tearing up its playbook and starting over.
Marvel’s latest pivot centers on Avengers: Doomsday (2026). The decision marks a striking course correction, one that abandons the Kang storyline once teased as the backbone of the Multiverse Saga. Instead, Disney is steering the ship back toward a proven strategy—making the villain the central character, just as they did with Thanos in Infinity War.
Doom Replaces Kang
For years, Kang the Conqueror was framed as the ultimate big bad. He appeared in Loki and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, setting up expectations for a sprawling Multiversal conflict. But those plans are gone. Marvel has sidelined Kang, bringing Doctor Doom into the spotlight instead. The change is abrupt, leaving Doomsday to both introduce a new villain and carry the weight of an Avengers movie.
The gamble is huge. Unlike Thanos, who was built up over a decade of teases, Doom is stepping in with little preparation. Reports say his mission ties directly to Steve Rogers’ actions in Endgame, with Doom believing Captain America’s time travel caused catastrophic incursions across the Multiverse. It’s a deeply personal vendetta, one that reframes Doom as a tragic antihero rather than a cartoonish tyrant.
The RDJ Factor
Fueling the shake-up even more is Robert Downey Jr.’s surprising return. The actor who defined Tony Stark for over a decade won’t be reprising Iron Man but instead will embody Victor von Doom. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo are once again at the helm, leaning heavily into nostalgia by bringing back the actor most associated with the MCU’s golden years.
Downey’s casting has created buzz but also anxiety. Fans worry that tying Doom too closely to RDJ’s creative input could reshape one of Marvel’s greatest villains beyond recognition.
A Reset for Marvel
Disney’s sudden cancellation of its Kang-focused plans shows how desperate the studio is to win back audiences. By reusing the successful Infinity War structure—villain as lead, massive ensemble, cliffhanger ending—they’re hoping lightning strikes twice.
But the stakes are higher than ever. If Doom works, Marvel could reignite excitement for its future. If not, the failures that forced this reset will only feel magnified.
