Avengers Doomsday: Is Doctor Doom a variant of Tony Stark? Here's what the Marvel boss has to say

Ever since "Iron Man" star Robert Downey Jr. was cast as the "Avengers" villain Doctor Doom, many have been wondering: Is Doctor Doom a variant of Tony Stark? A sort of alter ego from a parallel universe? Or does it not matter for the plot of "Avengers: Doomsday" that the superhero Iron Man and the supervillain Doctor Doom are both played by the same actor?

Now, Marvel boss Kevin Feige has addressed the speculation surrounding Robert Downey Jr.'s casting. In an interview with Empire magazine, he said:

"People wondered, 'Is Doom just a variant of another character? Is this just a shortcut to bringing back another character?' The answer is no. He's Victor Von Doom."

He points to Chris Evans, who appeared as Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch, in the first "Fantastic Four" movies before taking on the role of Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe a few years later. "Is Steve Rogers a Johnny Storm variant?" Feige asks, to emphasize that Evans, too, has already portrayed two different Marvel characters – without one having anything to do with the other.

That said, it's worth noting that the comparison is a bit off. After all, the "Fantastic Four" films from 2005 and 2007 were made at a time when Johnny Storm and company weren't yet part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In 2025, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" was finally released as an MCU film featuring a different cast, including Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm. Which in turn means: When Chris Evans was cast as Steve Rogers, there was at that time no connection whatsoever between the "Captain America" films – which took place within the Marvel Cinematic Universe – and the "Fantastic Four" films of that era, which had nothing to do with the MCU. This is unlike the "Iron Man" films starring Robert Downey Jr. and "Avengers: Doomsday."

A subtle hint?

Despite Kevin Feige's comments, fans are likely still wondering why Robert Downey Jr. – of all people, given how closely he's associated with the character of Tony Stark – is now also portraying Doctor Doom, if it's supposed to have no significance to the story. In other words: The speculation will likely continue. A scene from the re-release of "Avengers: Endgame" (available on Disney+ starting November 13, 2026) also contributes to this. That's because the re-release includes additional scenes that set the stage for "Avengers: Doomsday." One of them features Doctor Doom.

In brief flashes, it hints at how Doom forges his metal mask. The same sound of clanging metal can be heard here that was also heard in 2019 at the end of the credits of the original theatrical version of "Avengers: Endgame." Back then, the sound referenced how Iron Man once forged his superhero armor. Now, the same sound represents the villain Doctor Doom. Coincidence? Nothing more than a small, tongue-in-cheek homage? Or a subtle hint that Doctor Doom and Iron Man are, in some way, two sides of the same coin? In "Avengers: Doomsday," the clash of different universes is said to be a central element. Given the existence of different universes, it certainly can't be ruled out that Downey Jr.'s casting could also have significance in terms of the story in "Doomsday."

Speculation about Deadpool and Wolverine

Either way, things remain exciting. We'll find out more on December 18, 2026, at the latest, when "Avengers: Doomsday" hits theaters. In addition to Robert Downey Jr., the cast of the new Marvel blockbuster features numerous other stars. The ensemble includes Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Simu Liu, Florence Pugh, Kelsey Grammer, Joseph Quinn, David Harbour, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, Channing Tatum, and Chris Evans.

The film is directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, who also directed "Avengers: Endgame," among other films. The screenplay is by Michael Waldron and Stephen McFeely. What's intriguing: On the Writers Guild of America West website, the names of Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman also appear in the information about the "Avengers: Doomsday" script. Although Waldron and McFeely are listed as the primary writers, the two stars from "Deadpool & Wolverine" are mentioned alongside other names (Eric Pearson, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Jeff Loveness, Andrew Lanham, and Destin Daniel Cretton) who apparently contributed additional material. This, in turn, is fueling speculation about whether Deadpool and Wolverine will also appear in "Avengers: Doomsday." As you can see, the questions surrounding the new Marvel movie show no signs of letting up.