Robert Downey Jr. is set to rejoin the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Victor Von Doom in the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday. Although Tom Holland’s Spider-Man role has not been officially confirmed, fans expect him to appear at some point in the movie. Even if Spider-Man does not appear in Doomsday, he is scheduled to return in the next major event, Avengers: Secret Wars.
Collaboration Highlights Actors’ Reunion Before Movie Release
Before their highly anticipated cinematic reunion, Downey Jr. and Holland teamed up for a joint promotional campaign featuring Holland’s alcohol-free lager brand, BERO, and Downey Jr.’s Happy Coffee. This partnership marks a unique moment where both stars publicly connected outside their roles as Tony Stark and Peter Parker.
The relationship between their characters during the Infinity Saga was notably close, with Tony Stark acting as a mentor and father figure to Peter Parker. While details regarding Doom’s interaction with Parker remain unclear, rumors suggest that Doom may exploit his uncanny resemblance to Stark to deceive Spider-Man and other Avengers.
Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr. reunited to tease a collaboration between their BERO and Happy Coffee brands
pic.twitter.com/4jRbwUiBZZ
— ScreenTime (@screentime) October 5, 2025
Production Delays Push Avengers Films Into Late 2020s
Both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars have encountered notable delays. The former is now scheduled for release on December 18, 2026, with Secret Wars following nearly a year later on December 17, 2027. These delays have generated a sense of anticipation and uncertainty among the fanbase.
The Russo brothers return to direct both films after their critically acclaimed work on several Marvel titles, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, and the two previous Avengers blockbusters, Infinity War and Endgame.
Being able to create stories and explore characters within the Marvel Universe fulfilled a life-long dream of ours, and we discovered a powerful connection with audiences in each film that we made. We’re thrilled to collaborate once again with Kevin, Lou and the entire Marvel team to bring this epic adventure in storytelling to new and surprising places for both the fans and ourselves
, said The Russos in a statement after the SDCC panel.
Star-Studded Cast Announced for Avengers: Doomsday
The confirmed ensemble for Avengers: Doomsday is expansive, featuring key players from previous Marvel projects alongside new faces. Among the lineup are:
1. Paul Rudd as Ant-Man
2. Simu Liu as Shang-Chi
3. Tom Hiddleston as Loki
4. Lewis Pullman as Sentry
5. Florence Pugh as Yelena
6. Danny Ramirez as Falcon
7. Ian McKellen as Magneto
8. Sebastian Stan as Bucky
9. Winston Duke as M’Baku
10. Chris Hemsworth as Thor
11. Kelsey Grammer as Beast
12. James Marsden as Cyclops
13. Channing Tatum as Gambit
14. Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent
15. Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm
16. Rebecca Romijn as Mystique
17. Patrick Stewart as Professor X
18. Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler
19. Letitia Wright as Black Panther
20. Tenoch Huerta Mejia as Namor
21. Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards
22. Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost
23. Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm
24. David Harbour as Red Guardian
25. Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom
26. Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing
27. Anthony Mackie as Captain America
#AvengersDoomsday. Now in production. pic.twitter.com/G84UVU8HOc
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) March 26, 2025
Significance of this Reunion for the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Victor Von Doom represents a major shift for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, merging beloved character portrayals with complex new storylines. His portrayal of Doom adds a layer of tension, especially given the potential for the villain to manipulate the Avengers by impersonating Tony Stark.
Similarly, Tom Holland’s expected involvement reaffirms Spider-Man’s ongoing importance in Marvel’s future narrative arcs. The Russo brothers’ direction promises to maintain the franchise’s intensity and emotional grounding despite production delays.
As anticipation builds for the December 2026 release, fans can look forward to witnessing a fresh chapter that deepens character relationships and expands the MCU’s horizon before the next phase culminates in Avengers: Secret Wars.
Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr. reunited to tease a collaboration between their BERO and Happy Coffee brands
— ScreenTime (@screentime) October 5, 2025
#AvengersDoomsday. Now in production. pic.twitter.com/G84UVU8HOc
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) March 26, 2025
