Marvel fans are all set to witness Doctor Doom vs Ultron in the new one-shot Doom 2099: Rage of Doom #1. Written by Frank Tieri in collaboration with Von Randal, the one-shot is a sequel to the former’s popular work, Doomed 2099. Moreover, the cover art for this one-shot is done by Junggeun Yoon, Derrick Chew, and Peach Momoko.
Doctor Doom vs. Ultron set up for Doom 2099: Rage of Doom
Two of Marvel’s biggest antagonists, Doctor Doom and Ultron, are all set to face off against each other in Doom 2099: Rage of Doom.
The one-shot is a sequel to the highly popular Doomed 2099. Tieri’s work is based on a future version of Doctor Doom, who goes on a quest to undo his cruel fate and travels to the present.
According to a report by ComicBookMovie.com, Tieri recently gave a press release in which he said, “Behold the battle of two of comics’ all-time greatest villains! After the shock ending to the last one-shot—that Doom 2099 was responsible for wiping out his timeline and all life on Earth—fans of that book were clamouring to find out how things got that way. Well, they need wonder no more because we reveal it here in Doom 2099: Rage of Doom #1. And we’ve brought none other than Mr. AI terror himself, Ultron, along for the human life-ending ride.”
The synopsis of the Doctor Doom vs Ultron reads, “Doctor Doom’s spell didn’t just annihilate his enemies – it wiped out all life on Earth, leaving even him to regret the cost. In the desolate future of DOOMED 2099, Doom discovers Ultron’s buried head and risks everything to repair his time machine. But awakening a dangerously powerful machine intelligence invites new rebellion, and the path to redemption may demand a price even Doom never anticipated.”
Originally reported by Ishita Verma on SuperHeroHype.
“[Kevin Feige] and I have kept in touch. We’re pals. [Jon] Favreau and Feige and I have kept in touch. I’m close with the Russo Brothers; we have other business we’re doing. So there’s this little kind of group of fellow travelers,” Downey explained on the Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast. “And I had this instinct that I wanted to go to Bob Iger, and I had an idea outside of the [Marvel] Cinematic Universe for how I could be of service to what’s going on in the parks and all their location-based entertainment.”
But before that meeting, Downey recalled, he and his wife and producing partner Susan Downey were chatting with Feige, and the Marvel boss brought up the idea of Downey returning to the MCU. “Susan was like, ‘Wait, come back as what?’ And I was like [speechless confusion]? And then we both realized over time that it was another thing that just disproves any doubt anyone could ever have about that guy—a very sophisticated creative thinker—about how can we not go backwards? How can we not disappoint expectations? How can we continue to beat expectations? And he brought up Victor Von Doom.”
Intrigued, Downey took a look at Victor Von Doom as a character. “I was like, ‘wow.’” he recalled. “Later on, [Feige] goes, ‘Let’s get Victor Von Doom right. Let’s get that right.’ So then I said to Kevin, ‘Can I go talk to Bob Iger?’ He goes, ‘About [what]?’ I go, ‘About everything.’ And I [went] to Bob’s house, which—I don’t know how to describe that experience. I’ve had a lot of really cool experiences. We go to Iger’s pad and we sit down and start saying, ‘I just really want to be…’ He goes, ‘I like it.’ He likes it,” Downey said. Then, Iger invited Feige and Downey to visit Disney’s Imagineering Campus, Disney’s research and development hub.
“[We] go to the imagineering campus, and you want to talk about two guys that they’re not easy to have their minds blown, let alone at the same time—I can’t say too much about [it], but what is going on there right now is so beyond my expectation of what was possible,” he teased. “It’s also the only way that I felt like I can give a certain entertainment-seeking audience something that they may have a hankering to have an experience of, in a way where I can continue to develop my interest in the future of entertainment … so it’s this crazy, weird thing that’s going on.”
Mysterious—but also intriguing! Perhaps we’ll realize what he’s hinting at here when the Russo Brothers-directed Avengers: Doomsday arrives May 1, 2026.
Listen to the Hollywood Reporter’s full Downey interview, in which he also shares memories of being cast as Iron Man nearly two decades ago, right here.
If you’re still confused about the whole “Robert Downey Jr. being cast as Doctor Doom” thing, then get in line. Although we don’t exactly know what awaits us in Avengers: Doomsday, here are a few possible explanations (and comic book deep dives) as to why RDJ, of all people, is playing the MCU’s next big bad.
In case you missed it, this year’s San Diego Comic-Con was a bit of a doozy for fans of all things Marvel Entertainment. Studio head Kevin Feige took to Hall H on Saturday night to tease the next wave of MCU content, from Captain America: Brave New World to Thunderbolts to Fantastic Four. But perhaps the most head-scratching announcement of all was the confirmation that Robert Downey Jr., who of course played genius-billionaire-playboy-philanthropist Tony Stark, would be returning to the franchise after his “death” in Avengers: Endgame—this time, to play supervillain Victor von Doom, a.k.a. Doctor Doom.
As someone who was in the room when it all went down, the immediate reaction of the crowd when Downey Jr. took off his mask went a little something like “woooouhuhhhhh?” Gauging the temperature of the fanbase has been somewhat of an impossible task (even Gwyneth Paltrow is confused), with one side ecstatic to see the man responsible for “saving” the MCU taking on a new role, and the other side being downright puzzled that of all the popular fancasts for Victor von Doom, the studio landed on Downey. But regardless of how you feel about his return, it’s going to require a degree of mental gymnastics to explain how Iron Man and Doctor Doom are the same person—well, maybe, that is.
What Is Infamous Iron Man, and why are people convinced it’s the plot of Avengers: Doomsday?
Okay, if you’ve watched all 34 MCU movies (yes, 34) and the accompanying slew of Disney+ TV spinoffs, then you know that all roads lead to the Multiverse. Not only does this give Marvel the perfect excuse to add dozens of “member berries” and fanservice-y moments, but it also gives the MCU power to introduce alternate versions of beloved characters from different timelines, a.k.a. Variants. We’ve seen this trope play out in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Loki, and most on-the-nose in What If…?, so it wouldn’t be surprising to learn that Doctor Doom might be an (evil) Tony Stark Variant in Doomsday.
And there might just be the perfect comic storyline to back this up. The 2016 Infamous Iron Man comic book run, written by Brian Michael Bendis, follows a version of Doom trying to turn over a new leaf. To become the best version of himself, Doom drops the whole bad guy act and adopts the mantle of Iron Man, though his longtime foes the Fantastic Four wonder if he’s truly reformed, or if his new identity is part of an elaborate scheme. Oh, and there’s a really cool Doctor Doom/Iron Man hybrid suit.
Oh we’re getting the Infamous Iron Man suit, aren’t we? Maybe we start with their version of the classic look, but they’re totally going here. (I think it rocks.) #DoctorDoompic.twitter.com/5LOZh0HzlU
Promising theory, right? Except there’s one teensey-weensey problem. The Doctor Doom in Infamous Iron Man isn’t Tony Stark. Yes, he might have taken up the Iron Man moniker, but he’s not the man we all know and love from the Infinity Saga. Because of this, I’m extremely doubtful that Feige and Co. would choose to adapt this comic book run in the next Avengers movie, as Downey Jr.’s casting for this iteration of Doom just … wouldn’t make sense. Is there a way Marvel could explain it? Probably. But if this new and not-so-improved Iron Man isn’t Tony Stark, then surely, why would the MCU recruit the same guy?
Okay, what about Anthony Stark of Earth-11029?
Another theory is that Doomsday will follow Anthony Stark of Earth-11029, as depicted in the 2010 What If? Iron Man: Demon in an Armor #1 comic. In this story, a college-aged Victor von Doom convinces Tony to partake in an experiment that results in their minds being switched, with Doom walking around in Tony’s body and vice versa. This leads to a big confrontation where Tony eventually one-ups Doom, but it’s too little, too late: Doom has already soured Tony’s reputation and his company, Stark Universal.
Not only would seeing an “evil” Anthony Stark becoming Doctor Doom be ridiculously fun, but it would also make sense for Downey Jr. to play the part. I know what you’re thinking: Didn’t the Russo Bros. outright say that Downey Jr. would be taking on the role of Victor von Doom, not Stark? Yes, but technically, he would be Doom in this scenario. There’s certainly some rich comic book lore for Marvel to pull from here, but again, it might not be the direction they decide to go in for Doomsday.
These aren’t even their only options, though Demon in an Armor is the only one where there’s actually a Victor von Doom with Tony Stark’s face.
What if it’s not that deep, really?
Perhaps the least satisfying explanation of all is that Downey Jr.’s iteration of Doom has absolutely zero connective tissue to the Tony Stark of MCU past. While it would be kind of baffling to see Marvel re-introduce the same actor to play a different character within the same franchise, without there even being a reason it’s the same actor, it’s not like this hasn’t happened before. Although it was the 20th Century Fox universe, Chris Evans, for one, did play Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four movies long before he picked up the shield for Captain America.
After all, this is the Multiverse Saga, so maybe we’ll just have to sit back, relax, and put our trust in Kevin Feige and the Russos. Doom’s not exactly known for showing his face, so maybe it doesn’t even matter that the man playing him looks exactly like the MCU’s Tony Stark, and all the varied Iron Man x Doom source material provides plenty of material to draw on, since the MCU is going to make changes to anything it adapts. Plus, we all know Robert Downey Jr. is an extremely capable actor, so dare I say it might be … fun? to see him wearing a different hat in the MCU—this time, as one of Marvel’s most formidable comic book villains. Either way, here’s hoping we get a more concrete answer soon.
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Ralph Ineson attends the BAFTA Games Awards 2024 Nominees’ Party at the Langham Hotel on April 10, 2024 in London, England.Photo: Scott Garfitt/BAFTA (Getty Images)
After some recent casting announcements that came with no details attached (Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich), Marvel’s Phase Six entry Fantastic Four—which already has Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the main heroes, plus Julia Garner as Silver Surfer—has just unveiled a doozy: geek godRalph Inesonwill play the villain Galactus.
Who Should Be the New Doctor Doom? io9 Picks
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news, writing that “Ineson is said to be playing Galactus, an intergalactic being who eats the life force of planets. And now he just picked the wrong planet to nosh on.” The Jack Kirby and Stan Lee-created character was last seen on the big screen (sort of) in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer—but fans can hope, especially with Ineson aboard, the new movie will present a much more satisfying take on the character.
Directed by Matt Shakman, and set in the 1960s, Fantastic Four is due to hit theaters July 25, 2025. As for Ineson, his other upcoming genre projects cover some important monster bases: vampire horror Nosferatu, which reunites him with The Witch writer-director Robert Eggers, and Guillermo del Toro’s made-for-Netflix Frankenstein.
Even before its casting was officially unveiled, Marvel Studios’ upcoming Fantastic Four movie was always poised to be a big deal. The First Family of Marvel Comics hasn’t had a movie since Fant4sticnearly a decade ago (despite Fox’s best attempts), and we’re also coming up on 20 years since the studios’ previous go with the 2000s movies. Those two films have an interesting place in the superhero movie canon, particularly since their Johnny Storm was Chris Evans, who went on to become Captain America for nearly a decade.
Who Should Be the New Doctor Doom? io9 Picks
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Joseph Quinn was asked about if any previous version of Johnny colored his approach to the character. While he was a fan of Evans’ portrayal back in the day, he’s chiefly concerned with “making it your own [version].” There’s “big boots to fill,” certainly, but he says discussions with director Matt Shakman made clear that this movie won’t be in conversation with earlier versions like the MCU Spider-Man movies are with their cinematic past. “There are aspects of it that are very much a singular thing and its own thing. […] I’m really looking forward to establishing this familial dynamic with [my costars] and with Matt Shakman’s guidance.”
From the stars to Shakman and writers Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer, and Eric Pearson, everyone involved wants to “get [Fantastic Four] right,” continued Quinn. According to him, this new movie will feel different from earlier Marvel movies in ways he clearly can’t explain. But he was hopeful that the end result will be a movie that both does right by the Four and also converts anyone who’s had understandable burnout on superhero movies in the last few years.
In regards to fatigue, Quinn noted that superhero movies have to put the people before the punches and bombast, nothing it’s why people see these in the first place. That’s something Fantastic Four is aiming to deliver on, and something that sounds like the core ethos of the entire film: “We’re not just in a penny, “ he said, “we’re in for a pound with this one. We’re going to go for it.”
The Fantastic Four comes to theaters on July 25, 2025, but Quinn can be seen next in A Quiet Place: Day Oneon June 7.
WithBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever finally in theaters, one question can finally be laid to rest: is Doctor Doom in this movie, or not? Multiple rumors over the past few months indicated that he’d be making an appearance, but here’s the final verdict.
Victor Von Doom in the comics and the MCU
In the comics, Doom is a super genius and the ruler of Latveria. Born in a Romani camp in Latveria, Doom loses his mother to Mephisto, and grows up obsessed with getting her back. He accepts a scholarship to the same university that Reed Richards, a.k.a Mister Fantasic, attends, and he and Richards become friends. When Doom tries to free his mother by building a machine that can project astral forms into other dimensions, Richards tries to help. Ignoring Richards’ help, Doom activates the machine, which promptly explodes and scars his face. After that, it’s a life of crime for Doom!
The comics establish Doom as one of the most intelligent people on Earth. He masters both science and sorcery, meaning that his powers are on par with heroes like Tony Stark and Stephen Strange. Throughout his long history as a supervillain, Doom has dealings with both Atlantis and Wakanda. He forms an alliance with Wakanda during the superhero civil war, and later, when Atlantis is destroyed, he opens Latveria up for Atlantean refugees … as part of one of his evil schemes, of course.
Although Doom multitasks as one of Marvel’s Big Bads, including the main protagonists in 2015’s Secret Wars comic series, he’s traditionally been the nemesis of the Fantastic Four, since he blames Richards for the accident with his astral projection machine. With both a Fantastic Four movie and aSecret Wars adaptation coming up, it’s only natural for Doom to appear in the MCU soon.
The first rumor
So why have people been speculating about a Doctor Doom appearance in Black Panther 2 in the first place? Where did the rumors come from?
It all started with a post at Bleedingcool.com, which has since been deleted. Before it disappeared, though, The Direct reported the following:
According to this rumor, Doom’s role is “very minor” as the movie uses him to “imply that the war between Wakanda and Atlantis [now Talokan] was down to Doom’s interference.” The report doesn’t confirm if Doom will actually make an appearance or not, although the production team is reportedly working on a costume as well.
That’s it. That’s the whole rumor. There’s really not much to see here. But later, something else surfaced.
Alleged concept art
In July 2022, an alleged bit of concept art surfaced on the r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers subreddit. The art shows a computer generated Doom confronting another figure in what looks like a warehouse or cargo hold.
As you can see, it’s Doom in his full regalia, looking like he just stepped out of the comics. The Reddit post has the tag “BP: Wakanda Forever.”
Again, though, there’s zero evidence that the image is authentic. It’s unclear where it came from—whether it’s a genuine bit of concept art that’s been leaked out of context, or a scrapped idea, or something that was completely fabricated by someone unaffiliated with Marvel.
So is Doom in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever?
Sorry, Doom fans—Doctor Doom doesn’t make an appearance in Black Panther 2. In fact, in October, producer Nate Moore officially stated in an interview that Doom isn’t in the movie. But don’t give up hope! We’ve still got plenty of Multiverse Saga to go.
