A few months ago, it was announced that Robert Downey Jr. is returning as Doctor Doom in the MCU. Reactions have been mixed, with some fans concerned that casting RDJ as Doom could jeopardize Iron Man’s legacy. On the other hand, some feel the story won’t make sense if the same actor is used without acknowledging it in the universe.

We know that RDJ began negotiating his return at least a year ago. According to several sources, Marvel is paying $80 million for Anthony and Joe Russo to direct ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars,‘ with an even larger amount for RDJ to play the villain Doctor Doom in both films.

However, it’s important to note that RDJ is only signed on for these two films, and there’s no guarantee he’ll return for more. During a recent Cosmic Circus AMA, Alex Perez mentioned that there’s a high likelihood Doctor Doom will be recast and that it’s going to be explained in-universe why Doom looks like Iron Man.

As I understand it, it’s a one and done with Doomsday and Secret Wars. And there’s a reason he has that face.

Fans who disliked the casting will be relieved, but this could also mean that a theory we discussed earlier might be correct. A fan theory suggests that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom in the MCU might not be the “real” Doom, but rather a variant who will eventually be replaced by the true Doctor Doom, played by a different actor.

The theory argues that Marvel is carefully planning Doom’s introduction, knowing how important he is as a major villain and cultural icon. According to this theory, Marvel could cast a high-profile actor like RDJ in a role that appears to be Doom, but is actually a decoy, setting up future events after ‘Secret Wars’ and possibly ‘Battleworld.’

Who would you like to see cast as Doom? Let us know in the comments below!