Summary:
- Robert Downey Jr. surprised Comic-Con fans by announcing he’ll play the villain Doctor Doom in future Marvel movies.
- Marvel also revealed new Avengers and Fantastic Four movies.
- The recent success of Deadpool & Wolverine has excited fans for what’s coming next from Marvel.
In a surprise reveal at San Diego Comic-Con, Robert Downey Jr. announced his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe—not as Iron Man, but as the notorious villain Doctor Doom, also known as Victor Von Doom, in the Avengers series.
Downey, who started Marvel’s movie success with Iron Man and has played the beloved character in nine films, appeared on stage wearing Doctor Doom’s mask and a green cloak.
“New mask, same task,” Downey said, drawing wild cheers from the crowd.
Directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who will direct the movie featuring Downey, said his casting as Doctor Doom is “proof of the unimaginable possibilities in the Marvel multi-universe.”
“New mask, same task.”
Robert Downey Jr. surprises Hall H to announce his return to the MCU as Doctor Doom. pic.twitter.com/j1SEjzse3p
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
The announcement capped a lively return for Marvel to Comic-Con’s Hall H. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige started the panel by celebrating the weekend’s success of Deadpool & Wolverine, noting that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) had now made over $30 billion at the box office.
In a nod to a memorable scene from the movie, a choir performed Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” before Feige took the stage.
Released on Thursday, Deadpool & Wolverine, starring Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, has already broken one record and could set more in its opening weekend.
Feige used Saturday’s panel to outline the future of the MCU, announcing that legendary actor Harrison Ford will appear in the next Captain America film and revealing Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday as the titles of the next two epic superhero team-up films. Doomsday is slated for release in 2026.
Feige confirmed that all actors introduced at the panel will appear in the upcoming Avengers movies, directed by the Russo brothers. The duo previously guided the Avengers franchise to its climax with Avengers: Endgame in 2019, which included the death of Downey’s Tony Stark/Iron Man character.
“When we directed Avengers: Endgame, Joe and I truly believed that it was the end of the road for us in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because we had put all of our passion, our love, our imagination into The Winter Soldier, into Civil War, into Infinity War, climaxing all of it with Avengers: Endgame,” Anthony Russo said.
“That four-movie run was incredible and it left us creatively spent with all of our emotions on the film. In the time since, through a very special story, Joe and I have come to potentially see a road forward with you.”
The Russos described Secret Wars as the “biggest story that Marvel Comics ever told,” with Joe Russo recalling it as the first comic book run he read as a child that made him “fall in love with comics.”
Saturday’s session marked Marvel’s return to the convention after skipping last year due to Hollywood strikes that prevented writers and actors from speaking on panels.
The cast of Captain America: Brave New World—Giancarlo Esposito, Tim Blake Nelson, Danny Ramirez, and Anthony Mackie—kicked off the stage appearances, teasing details about the upcoming film.
Esposito revealed he’ll be playing the villain, Seth Voelker, also known as Sidewinder.
When asked about joining a Marvel project, Esposito said it was a “dream come true.”
“When your dreams come true and you get the call, you walk through the door,” he said. “I have a great deal of gratitude for all the fans who really had this dream come true, because it was fan casting that linked us together.”
The cast then stepped aside to present a scene from the movie, which showed President Thaddeus (Thunderbolt) Ross, played by Ford, planning to rebuild the Avengers with Mackie’s Sam Wilson. It also depicted Ford’s character transforming into the Red Hulk.
Harrison Ford takes the stage at Hall H.#CaptainAmericaBraveNewWorld#SDCC pic.twitter.com/3TAOB8waKY
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
Ford joined the panel following the clip, flexing his muscles to a cheering crowd. He expressed excitement over his new role, saying:
“I am delighted and proud to become a member of the Marvel universe.”
The Thunderbolts cast and director also surprised fans with a short clip from their movie, set for release in May 2025.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, and David Harbour (initially speaking in character as the Red Guardian) stormed the stage to share more details about their characters.
The Red Guardian (aka @DavidKHarbour) suited up for for Hall H.#Thunderbolts#SDCC pic.twitter.com/yJ10Jrjtn0
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
The final film teased at the panel was The Fantastic Four, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Filming begins Tuesday in London, and the movie is expected to hit theaters in July 2025.
Director Matt Shakman and Feige revealed the film’s official title, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, following a video created specifically for Comic-Con that featured the cast in full ’60s glory.
The Fantasticar takes flight in Hall H#FantasticFour#SDCC pic.twitter.com/bmYMhQQi07
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
Absent from the session was any mention of Jonathan Majors, who played the villain Kang the Conqueror and was previously a major part of Marvel’s Avengers plans.
The actor was fired after being convicted of assaulting a former girlfriend in December and was sentenced to a yearlong counseling program in April, avoiding jail time.
Marvel already made a splash in Hall H on Thursday with an electric panel celebrating Deadpool & Wolverine. Fans were treated to a full screening and surprise guest appearances alongside stars Reynolds and Hugh Jackman.
The excitement for Deadpool & Wolverine was palpable at Comic-Con and echoed across the U.S. as fans flocked to theaters.
The film set a new record for the Thursday preview of an R-rated movie, selling an estimated $38.5 million in tickets.
The film’s success revitalized a sluggish year for Marvel, easing concerns about box-office performance after the underwhelming launch of The Marvels, which opened with just $47 million in November.
