Meet the new Doctor Doom: Robert Downey Jr announces shock Marvel return at Comic-Con

SAN DIEGO, California – Oscar winner Robert Downey Jr announced his return to the Marvel superhero films during a blockbuster Disney presentation at Comic-Con on July 27, as the company attempts to reinvigorate its all-time record-grossing movie franchise.

Harrison Ford and Pedro Pascal were also officially unveiled among a batch of new stars joining the movie franchise, which has grossed an unprecedented US$30 billion (S$40 billion) at the box office, but in recent years has suffered a number of high-profile flops.

Marvel film president Kevin Feige unveiled new details about multiple upcoming superhero movies in front of a crowd of screaming devotees at the San Diego, California, gathering on July 27 – but nobody drew a louder reaction than the returning Downey Jr.

The American actor, who launched the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe with 2008’s Iron Man, will return as a totally different character – Doctor Doom, a prominent villain in the Marvel comic books.

He appeared anonymously on stage among a group of hooded and masked figures, before stepping forward and revealing his much-rumoured return.

“New mask. Same task. What’d I tell you? I like playing complicated characters,” said Downey Jr, to the delight of the assembled Marvel obsessives.

The 59-year-old won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2024 for his role in Christopher Nolan’s biopic Oppenheimer, and had seemingly retired from the Marvel films in 2019.

The presentation was the hottest ticket of the four-day pop culture extravaganza, with fans lining up for hours to get a coveted seat.

Marvel fans have complained in recent years about over-complicated plotlines and the departure of beloved characters, including Downey Jr’s Iron Man, with some calling for a wholesale reboot of the movies.

The franchise was also rocked by domestic violence revelations about American actor Jonathan Majors, who had been set to become the major new supervillain across multiple films.

Majors, who was convicted for assaulting and harassing his then-girlfriend, was dropped by Marvel.

The answer to who will fill that role was seemingly answered by Downey Jr’s return as a villain.

American film-makers Joe and Anthony Russo – the brothers who previously oversaw 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, which briefly became the highest-grossing film of all time at more than US$2.79 billion – will also return.

They will direct Avengers: Doomsday in May 2026 and Avengers: Secret Wars in May 2027.

The Marvel event opened with dozens of singers and dancers dressed in the red and yellow of Deadpool & Wolverine, starring A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman and now showing in cinemas.

“But Hall H doesn’t just look back... Hall H looks forward,” said Mr Feige, referring to the Comic-Con event’s famous venue, before setting out Marvel’s plans for the next three years.

The year 2025 will see three films, including February’s Captain America: Brave New World, with Ford playing Thaddeus Ross, a United States president who turns into a Red Hulk.

“I wanted a piece of the action,” said the 82-year-old veteran, on joining the Marvel franchise.

Also due in 2025 are Thunderbolts in May, starring English actress Florence Pugh, and July’s The Fantastic 4: First Steps, starring Chilean-American actor Pascal and set in 1960s New York.

Earlier on July 27 at Comic-Con, Disney’s rival studio Warner, which runs the DC superhero movies, offered a glimpse at crime drama series The Penguin, starring Irish actor Colin Farrell.

Spun off from the 2022 film The Batman, which starred Robert Pattinson as a grungy, noirish incarnation of the beloved superhero, The Penguin will hit HBO on Sept 19. AFP