This July 20, a new trailer for “Avengers: Doomsday” was released with a lot of images that can overwhelm any fan of the saga. The Fantastic Four appear, several X-Men, the reunion of Steve Rogers with Thor and another curiosity that remains open: Is Doctor Doom Tony Stark?

The most anticipated film of 2026 premieres on December 18 and marks the return of actor Robert Downey Jr. to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, after becoming the face of Iron Man for more than a decade (and passing away in "Endgame"), he will now play the big bad.

Is Doctor Doom actually Tony Stark or did Marvel simply cast the same actor to play another character? Although the official answer points in one direction, theories about the multiverse keep any possibility open.

Read also: Why the remake of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a horror game

In the comics, Doctor Doom and Tony Stark are completely different characters

In the original Marvel Comics story there is no doubt: Victor Von Doom and Tony Stark are different people.

Tony Stark is the brilliant businessman and inventor who becomes Iron Man, while Victor Von Doom is the ruler of Latveria, a scientist with intelligence comparable to Stark's, but who also masters the mystical arts.

In fact, his combination of advanced technology, strategy, and magic has made him one of the most powerful villains in the Marvel universe for decades.

And although both characters have faced each other and sometimes even collaborated in the comics, they have never shared the same identity.

So why is Robert Downey Jr. playing Doctor Doom?

Marvel Studios' decision to return Robert Downey Jr. to the MCU, but now as Doctor Doom, seems to respond to both a narrative and emotional strategy.

On the one hand, the studio recovers one of the most important actors in its history to lead a new stage. On the other hand, it uses the impact generated by seeing Iron Man's face become the Avengers' main enemy.

Marvel has not yet officially revealed how it will explain this change within the story, but the choice seems designed to surprise both the characters and the audience.

Multiverse theories fuel the mystery

The hypothesis that has gained the most strength among MCU followers maintains that this Doctor Doom could be a variant of Tony Stark from another reality.

Since Marvel introduced the concept of the multiverse in recent films and series, it has become clear that the same character can have multiple versions with completely different stories. Under that logic, a Tony Stark who made different decisions could end up becoming a villain.

That same narrative offered by the multiverses allows the return of Steve Rogers and also offered the coincidence of the three Spider-Mans with three different actors.

Another possibility is that Victor Von Doom is the exact same character from the comics and simply has the same face as Tony Stark. In that case, Marvel would use the physical resemblance as a dramatic resource to cause a strong emotional impact on heroes like Spider-Man, who lost his mentor in “Avengers: Endgame,” or on other characters who fought alongside Iron Man.

However, this theory has not been revealed in the trailers.

Those responsible for “Avengers: Doomsday” have hinted that there is a connection between Tony Stark's sacrifice in “Endgame” and the arrival of Doctor Doom, although they have not yet explained what exactly it will be. The only certain thing is that, with Marvel, the capacity for wonder is not lost.

You may be interested in:

· How Gaspi, the Argentine YouTuber who died in a helicopter accident, became famous · Who would win a fight between Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee: the AI ​​is clear · Sam Neill, star of Jurassic Park, died: he was 78 years old and his family clarifies that it was not due to cancer