Leave it to Marvel Studios to close out its signature Hall H Comic-Con panel with a series of huge announcements. First, Kevin Feige confirmed that Joe and Anthony Russo will return to the MCU with Avengers 5 and Avengers 6. While the sixth film in the franchise is still called Avengers: Secret Wars, the fifth film will no longer be Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. Instead, it will now be known as Avengers: Doomsday.
The shift away from Kang began after Jonathan Majors was fired from the role following his conviction for assaulting his ex-girlfriend. Instead, the new primary villain for the next Avengers film is one of Marvel’s most prominent bad guys: Doctor Doom. And that role will be played by Robert Downey Jr., the actor who kicked off the MCU as Iron Man in 2008.
As part of the announcement, multiple Doctor Dooms came out on stage, followed by Downey himself. Downey indicated that he loves playing complicated characters. No explanation was offered for why Doctor Doom physically matches the late Tony Stark, but presumably it will tie into the Marvel multiverse. In Marvel’s comic book universe, there is a Council of Dooms from alternate worlds. But Doom has also been known to surround himself by robotic duplicates of himself. Doctor Doom is also returning in Avengers: Secret Wars to close out Marvel’s Multiverse Saga.
Avengers: Doomsday will be released on May 1, 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars following on May 7, 2024. As for the rest of Marvel’s San Diego Comic-Con announcements, The Fantastic Four got a new subtitle, and the first footage from Thunderbolts was screened. Additionally, Giancarlo Esposito’s role in Captain America: Brave New World was revealed, and the film will tie back into Eternals.
