The Shared History Between Iron Man and Dr Doom Explained

Why has Marvel cast Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom? What connection do Dr. Doom and Iron Man have? Here's what you need to know in our Iron Man and Doctor Doom explained video!
This year’s Marvel Studios panel at SDCC (Comic Con 2024) may not have been overflowing with new MCU reveals and announcements, but there was one huge shocker to cap off the evening. We learned that Avengers 5 has now become Avengers: Doomsday, and none other than Robert Downey Jr. has been cast as iconic Marvel villain Doctor Doom.
Marvel fans are still trying to wrap their heads around that announcement. It’s a big deal that arguably Marvel’s biggest and most important villain is finally going to make his MCU debut. But why is he being played by Downey of all people? Is Doom an evil variant of Tony Stark?
#Marvel #MCU #Movies

[@arbknight12]

Peter: “Mr Stark….?” Doom: “No boy….Dooooooom.”

[@kinggcapital4790]

Chills already

[@SOPHIA-LOVES-MEATBALLS-69]

​@@kinggcapital4790Number Fifteen BURGER KING FOOT LETTUCE THE LAST THING YOU’D WANT IN YOUR BURGER KING BURGER IS SOMEONE’S FOOT FUNGUS. BUT AS IT TURNS OUT, THAT MIGHT BE WHAT YOU GET🤬🥬🍔

[@jonathanhusk6590]

We need some version of this scene

[@TheKaijuHunter]

Dude still found a way to get that MCU money after his character died. RESPECT.

[@Zeegoku1007]

More like Disrespect !

[@drewvrede]

😂😂😂

[@pete7354]

$80 million for a movie plus 12 procent of the box office seems insane

[@_Cetarial]

@@Zeegoku1007Why?

[@ngsonny2177]

@@pete7354 especially since the two movies he's gonna pop up in are for sure gonna make bank lmfao

[@emmanuelk5726]

So basically Secret Wars is gonna be RDJ vs RDJ.

[@AuthoritativeChadWarrior]

Yeah and it's BORING

[@rahrahrari3064]

how, it’s only one RDJ being Victor Van Doom?

[@ChromisPasqueflowerBowerbird]

No reed no watch

[@michaelwilliams1453]

No one cares if u watch or don't watch​@@ChromisPasqueflowerBowerbird

[@DJC-YTVideos]

Doom is going to take off that mask ... SO many times.

[@JakeB-Real]

Lol

[@liand013]

Dude died a hero AND is living long enough to see himself become the villain

[@kill_rozainofficial4966]

Dr. Dooms gonna have so many quirky one liners now 😅

[@AkhilStark267]

Let's hope😂

[@DCYTB]

It’s crazy how Kang has been officially defeated by ANT MAN in the MCU 😂

[@manateerpg1396]

Unfortunately Kang wasn’t even close to being intimidating.

[@Jounzey]

Downey Jr did phenomenally playing a bad guy in Oppenheimer. Looking forward to seeing him here.

[@Marvelrivalsisbutiful]

I’m glad someone noticed this

[@dehy97]

@@Marvelrivalsisbutifulfor real he won an emmy for that role too

[@SOPHIA-LOVES-MEATBALLS-69]

That movie was boring 😂it's my least favorite Nolan movie after Dark Snooze Rises😂Na fam. RDJ great bad guy movie was in US Marshalls staring Tommy Lee Jones(2Face Batman Forever) and Wesley Snipes(the only one Blade)😎

[@Köennig]

​@@SOPHIA-LOVES-MEATBALLS-69nobody asked your opinion on that movie.

[@Jounzey]

@@SOPHIA-LOVES-MEATBALLS-69 To each their own. Can't please everyone. For me it's a modern masterpiece.

[@jamalyoung5797]

Bro better be straight villainous or im refunding

[@futurekingjay]

I've thought for a while how Doom compliments Iron Man perfectly. Almost to the point where I'm convinced the two should have been the real archenemies all along instead of the Mandarin for Iron Man and Doom for the Fantastic Four. Iron Man's red and gold perfectly opposes Doom's green and silver. Both are rich. Both are scientists that specialise in robotics. Both wear suits of armour. One lives in a warm, cosy mansion, while the other lives in a cold, gloomy castle. One is a handsome, galavanting, show-off while the other is a disfigured, isolated loner. And what makes Doom formidable for Iron Man is that he knows magic on top of science. The Mandarin is dope, but Doom just fits into Iron Man's rogues gallery so naturally.

[@Thinkagainbro]

Best comment

[@jordanintheflesh2589]

These are literally all superficial

[@yesno7889]

@@jordanintheflesh2589doesn’t change the fact that they do have some very interesting parallels that most don’t.

[@gioharmonwelvidal]

Doom is alter ego of Stark

[@eliasbowen5365]

I’m Still so mad they scrapped Dynasty of Kang because of Jonathan Majors’ case

[@samfrito]

Maybe they knew even as great of an actor Jonathan is they couldn't really write a decent story to show his journey that most viewers could wrap their heads around.

[@MT-ku7ug]

@@samfritoYeah it would be hard after his performance as Kang to take to another actor doing it

[@ScrubTheNub]

…why did they announce this casting? If they’re going to go with this route with Doom, why not save this reveal for the actual movie?? Imagine everyone finding out that Doom is a Tony variant at the same time as the characters do. Biggest missed opportunity for a twist/reveal in the MCU

[@AndrewJaworskiTV]

wouldve gotten leaked eventually before it came out like cmon

[@Shuyin128MK4]

Fantastic Four related things have always been a mess, so they figured "If we reveal RDJ now, it will bring hype into watching it in theaters, instead of waiting until later"

[@chriswyatt9869]

Because they wanted to get people excited in the first place. Let’s be real the MCU is in a dire place right now outside of deadpool and wolverine, the hype is gone. This is just a desperate ploy for hype

[@mathws1]

@@chriswyatt9869 Exactly. Spot on. Now they made this announcement, people will get hyped and will watch every movie they release until Doomsday.

[@dpitt258]

It’s called promotion. U know the head liners of movies before the movies come out…….they help sell the movie

[@Rhade15]

Marvel serving up a plate of Member Berries while Hall H begs for more

[@Aavora]

Not gonna lie… it took me a second to realise that was RDJ. He looks rather mature and somewhat old now. Obviously just how aging works, nothing wrong with that… but if Marvel had casted him as Dr Doom back when he played Tony in the first Iron Man, it wouldn’t have worked. Now was the perfect time I’d say to have him play Doom.

[@snowpro5ryusmc]

I'd be more interested in seeing him play as Black Panther.

[@GrimKage]

He already did that in Tropic Thunder

[@preciousogbodo453]

Lol U re crazy 🤣

[@MrCapCut67]

Rdj is way to old to play black panther 😢

[@DSKesq]

"what YOU mean you people?"

[@b0bb3r84]

How did you not mention the Human Torch and Captain America when you talked about returning actors?

[@paulkamau946]

RDJ is forever my Ironman. They should have cast another actor. Cillian Murphy perhaps.

[@quevinp]

or jackie chan

[@Ducksonkracc]

you aint ever read the comics iron man becomes dr doom several times

[@RokDocJekyl]

@@Ducksonkracc So it's really just a direvitive character. It's not Victor Von Doom, one of the original and most iconic antagonists across the marvel cannon, it's just Iron Man playing as Dr. Doom, but still only Iron Man.

[@Ducksonkracc]

@@RokDocJekyl doctor doom in the mcu is a variant of iron man

[@Iamabeast317]

@@Ducksonkraccthat’s not the path they are taking though. He’s literally playing doom as himself

[@stevegriffey8255]

In the What If story Tony has no memory that their bodies were swapped.

[@DanFarrell98]

This is ridiculous. What's next? Bringing Chris Evans back to play Human Torch? Nonsense!

[@Pantera972]

That's hilarious. Quick question have you seen deadpool and wolverine? I'm gonna guess yes? 😂

[@Iamabeast317]

He actually is Human Torch again

[@DanFarrell98]

@@Iamabeast317 what?!?!?!

[@Iamabeast317]

@@DanFarrell98 yea he appears in Deadpool vs Wolverine

[@DanFarrell98]

@@Iamabeast317 never heard of it

[@sonroku3616]

Don’t forget Chris Evans played the Human Torch In Fantastic Four & Captain America in The Avengers

[@alecmil]

yeah honestly that’s what’s making me okay with this. it was ridiculous before rdj as doom. cap was human torch in another universe so…

[@Maggus935]

And in deadpool

[@sonroku3616]

Y’know what’s weird, that people are obsessed with having Josh Keaton playing Spider-Man instead of somebody else taking the mantle but when RDJ’s playing Doctor Doom most people complain and wants somebody else to take that mantle which is SAD and pathetic if you ask me

[@eliasczackery]

That one’s dead

[@enpawnxo4710]

Totally different scenario considering those movies never collided with avengers unlike rdj playing different characters in same universe

[@lildev9683]

How did he forget to mention Chris Evans was both the Human Torch and Captain American?!

[@enpawnxo4710]

All I’m saying is it would be genius if Tony stark could be revived through being dr doom, either being a variant or switching bodies like the comics

[@stranded2k]

Till He’s 90!

[@MrBobbyj32]

So two things: 1) NO ONE moves the needle like RDJ. 2) The MCU doesn't have a stable of great villains. DC does; they just can't compete with Marvel in heroes past their "fantastic four" (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and...fill in your fourth). If the MCU can flesh out their villain roster, that would take them to another level.

[@JSebastien94]

2019... Goodbye Mr. Stark. Five years later... Helloooo Dr. Doom!

[@Nekotaku_TV]

It gotta be the body swap, it better be. Anything else is bad. Or they just use makeup and the mask and voice change, but then it could have been a lot of other actors.

[@xenospawn7015]

It’s still dumb that most of our favorite mcu characters are now gone. It will be hard for me to enjoy the avengers without the classic characters

[@DJULTRA7]

Hate him or love him, Joe Rogan called it in his interview long ago

[@cakeassassin6277]

The movie will use the impact of iron man in the mcu to emocionally bring the sacred timeline heroes to a standstill. The movie will be emotional

[@Witchling86]

Also Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays both Microchip and Ben Grimm in the MCU.

[@DarraghM1]

And Mahershala Ali plays both Blade and Cottonmouth

[@muhammadnabil3390]

What about the guy who played both Yellowjacket & Mordok?

[@farakhhanif]

@@muhammadnabil3390 That was not two different characters. They just said that Yellowjacket was turned into Modok by Kang. He was still playing the same character.

[@SOPHIA-LOVES-MEATBALLS-69]

​@@muhammadnabil3390Id like to forget about that actor lol his face is punchable

[@izact]

Calling it now, this is Stark in another timeline

[@Prince6ft1]

Doom is definitely catching bodies in Doomsday

[@FrankRizo-nn3iy]

The way that crowd cheered when Bob reveals he is going to be Doom. Totally bonkers. What difference does it make?

[@scale8125]

Hear me out. They try to revive Tony with magic and he comes back but grows nihilistic, doubles down on the efforts like when he made ultron.

[@kantotinio4381]

Maybe they want an "emotional ending" where tony stark version of doctor doom gets a villain redemption from his heroic variant

[@Triflixfilms]

Video starts at 4:40 You're welcome.

[@gauravgorantyal1021]

He’s never gonna take off the mask, it’s his voice only!

[@kennethsalar]

When he spoke "new mask, same task" he meant that Dr. Doom won't be a villain a long time. Probably on debut only.

[@solidmage1720]

Maybe an Iron Man 3 situation where he is not the real doctor doom but a smokescreen? Cillian Murphy should play the real doom towards the very end.

[@sunnyswetabh8950]

As long as Tony stark keeps his mask ON then everything is fine.

[@michalmarchwicki4785]

Russo Brothers can make a really complex movie if we are talking about Marvel. So if there are still some guys that think "they just went for an actor that made the most money for them and that people liked the most" you are really wrong. Every decision by Russo Brothers is made without a reason.

[@Jaythesparrow]

lol wrong. Cope harder 😂

[@_davidboxing]

Did you mean with a reason? ‘Cause otherwise, you just contradicted yourself… Ffs learn to proofread before you post.

[@chriswyatt9869]

Not sure what this comment even means.

[@straightfaceeternity]

u mean with a reason?

[@michalmarchwicki4785]

@@chriswyatt9869 it got more likes than you, so you can piss off

[@GoldKitsuneBrony]

No mention of the time Squirrel Girl fought along side him to take down Doom?! How dare...

[@leekyskatez]

It’d be crazy if he played iron man AND Dr Doom in doomsday 👀🔥

[@jcosstv]

They mentioned double casting … and mentioned no big names lmao. Those double castings is drastically different than this one.

[@Mononeucleofus]

Chris Evans

[@itshypevideos]

So basically Marvel’s version of Flash Season 3 with Savitar being evil Barry, or Lightyear with Zerg being evil Buzz. It’s a tired trope, won’t hold a candle to Thanos

[@pandemonic66]

Galactic will destroy FF4 world, and Dr. Doom will get revenge. It's so obivous. They will make Dr. Doom anti-hero like Thanos... he won't be a full villain. How disappointing, but the acting will be great at least.

[@nehemiahhall5212]

HE IS NOT PLAYING IRON MAN. LET IT GO!

[@oneanamoly]

Exactly! These zealots can't do that though. They want it their way and will cry about it. 😭

[@christianciv1998]

What people seem to not understand is that if Doom is a Tony Stark variant he's name can still be Victor Von Doom!

[@RicklessSanchez]

Tony-I am Ironman Victor-I am your Doom

[@StevenB237]

RDJ acting like Marvel Jesus, but Deadpool already stole that title

[@601marcusable]

Dr. Doom has rivals : Captain America, Iron man, Dr Strange Avengers, X-men, FF4

[@lazaruspit09422]

they should recast task master as male as he should be in comics

[@thorragnarok2861]

Cast Tom Cruise !!!!! For Some Kinda Role Eh? Tom Tom The Villain? ❤

[@TheCommunicationCoach]

They've always fought, and Doom usually beats all of the Avengers, IM is no match for him and never has been, because his only real threat comes from Reed Richards (who is definitely not Pascal, what terrible casting), but THIS role is only being done because both Marvel and Robby need money!

[@Ski86100]

Bro career was dying after IRONMAN forreal so im happy for him💯

[@Jeeshansameer2165]

We Now Have A Shared Marvel Cinematic Universe Where Josh Brolin Is Both Thanos And Cable Ryan Reynolds Is Both Deadpool And Hannibal King And Chris Evans As Captain America And Human Torch Johnny Storm. Robert Downey Jr As Dr Doom & Iron Man Should Work

[@avs_ytb]

My theory, Doom will become the next Ironman after the Secret War reboot and RDJ will again be reborn as Ironman.

[@trivonnereid769]

Love your theory.

[@me24469]

new mask, same task.. now time for quippy villain.

[@littlejonathorn6860]

It would of been better in my opinion for someone to be cast as Von Doom instead of Iron Man. There is a whole range of actors and actresses. Take, Johnny Depo for example. He could be an amazing Von Doom.

[@connorleary3080]

comparing those 3 random characters to TONY STARK when it comes to repeat appearances as new characters is INSANE

[@bblueangel2]

They should have not showed him coming back. That should be one of the crazy mcu reveals in the movie itself

[@SmashBrosAssemble]

One of the joys of comics is you can endlessly reimagine & reinterpret characters, so yeah Doctor Doom but he’s a variant of Iron Man, sure let’s see how that plays out. Open mindedness > Gatekeeping

[@zackmeaders6199]

The casting can be fine with the right script but they shouldn't have spoiled it. Revealing Dr doom as Tony stark would've been "Luke I'm your father" level twist

[@cpilfold420]

Seems like doctor doom is gonna end up being some kind of evil tony stark variant from another universe

[@DrewCasper1]

Did anyone actually read the announcement properly? They said RDJ is playing Victor Von Doom, which would mean he’s not a Stark variant

[@5678hu]

They NEVER said that. They said he was playing Victor Von Doom, nothing else

[@straightfaceeternity]

damn jump to conclusions much?

[@444.S3NZ0]

No one is complaining about that, they are complaining about the fact that there are much more better actors than RDJ who could play doom

[@quevinp]

yeah like jackie chan

[@Flokiabob311]

That’s confusing af tho

[@SomaSong]

Hey! Doom is a bad guy but he's not a bad, guy. In context cast against the avengers/F4, doom is a villian but only because their is a conflict of interest, their causes don't align.

[@Wally_West]

There isn't that much history really. Instead they should have been building up the relationship between Doom and Reed, they are the main characters of the 2015 Secret Wars.

[@blaxerx]

Kirk Lazarus for black panther. WAKANDA FOREVER.

[@mrwz626]

Nah Robert Downey for Black Panther. He already played a black guy in that one movie!.

[@Isaiah14K]

@@mrwz626 Please look up to Kirk Lazarus is

[@Isaiah14K]

@@mrwz626 Look up who Kirk Lazarus is

[@ByeByeBirdieShawty]

They could’ve made doom, Leonardo decaprio, Tom cruise, Jonny Depp

[@dinorl]

There are many other actors better than Robert for this part. SMH

[@SunGodNikaUsopp]

who ?

[@joevoidable7549]

@@SunGodNikaUsopp Matt Damon, Keanu Reeves and many more.

[@dwaynejohnson1068]

@@SunGodNikaUsopp Nikolaj coster-waldau or Viggo mortensen

[@animemuse8613]

Doom is only gonna be in 3 movies at most, then secret wars is gonna reboot the universe. So they don’t got the time to do a proper doom so there going this way. Once the reboot then they will have a proper doom

[@fjsv_omg321]

If you dont like it don't buy it 😅

[@AnimeBronx]

This is gonna be EPIC!!!!

[@miketuber14]

What’s next josh Brolin playing a superhero?

[@LucidLuci666]

Cough.. cables now cannon.. cough

[@tuckerbowen4626]

after all these years you'd think K.E.V.I.N. would have earned a little trust from us to just let him cook

[@strangelovemd1]

There was a “suit of armor Iron Man like joke” in Chaplin

[@seanmob2111]

So is it possible to see both

[@kennifcale480]

Tony died the world’s greatest hero, only to return as the world’s greatest villain. I think they’ll make Doom as another Tony from another universe.

[@EdPaul-uc3ew]

Or even Chris Evans as both The Human Torch and Captain America

[@marcodonockley9101]

What about tropic thunder?

[@GitsumSaus]

Evans in DP3 as well?....this hasnt been a bad month for MCU fans

[@alenlawrence7757]

Well in this case he died a hero but still lived long enough to see himself become the villain.

[@Andreas.r2]

you are right seeing rdj in a evil form while we insanse and complete new experience.

[@optimisteprime8261]

Excellent Switch !! This Character will get another face...

[@Nitemerican]

Downey can still be Von Doom. Not all variants look the same. Pedro pascel isn’t the same Mr fantastic as the one in multiverse of madness. People are wanting to hate the casting for no reason

[@Grub-a-dub-dub]

This is dope

[@optimisteprime8261]

Dr Strange is in the party too...

[@midphoenix]

If only we all were this much investrd in the real world events then our world would have been a paradise

[@darkmoon0219]

It's like people want comic book movies but don't want any of the crazy comic book plots and stories that's a part of what a comic is in their movies..😂🤷‍♂️..it's comics kids..they can do anything they want depending on who's writing it and its always been like that...just like they can in the movies if they choose to do so..

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

Ah, Victor. AIways the bridesmaid, never the bride.

[@datsme8986]

With MULTIVERSE, you can play along whatever characters and events you like - any concepts or thoughts is possible in here.. 🤙🤙🤙

[@Aaron1Ayala]

They HAVE to play an MF DOOM track at least ONCE or for a few seconds on the movie.

[@danielanthony87]

Gonna be weird but cool

[@davebanta261]

because casting RDJ will make a lot of 💸💸💸💵💵💵💰💰💰💰

[@kwfown]

Anyone else found it weird that Feige kissed RDJ’s shoulder… SHOULDER??

[@LucasSS-lb8kw]

MCU point was make RDJ stay... ask him play black widow... doom for others

[@Lettuce_Play]

Hmm. With this multiverse thing going on, that Doomquest comic book would make a cool film! Both played by Robert Downey Jr.

[@fall5923]

Are they finally leaving 616?

[@JustRichGatesTv]

🔥🔥🔥

[@MaskiEm]

"Shared History Between Dr Doom and Iron Man" SPOILERS - They, are not THE SAME PERSON

[@littlecock118]

but how would the characters react to his face? are they just going to see him at the villain as usual?

[@matthewwalsh1468]

5:28 - How do you mention all of those actors/characters & forget to mention the biggest one?! Chris Evans as Johnny Storm in 2007 & then as Captain America in 2011. How??

[@LoKimLinProject]

Cuz Johnny storm wasn't in the MCU.

[@matthewwalsh1468]

@@LoKimLinProject Well, he sure is now!! 😝

[@Traahvie]

This is just proof that Iron Man saw the finale of Attack on Titan before we did and got inspired… My opinion tho.