At San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios delighted fans with a series of exciting announcements, including the return of Robert Downey Jr. to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, Downey will not be reprising his iconic role as Iron Man. Instead, he is set to play the villain Victor Von Doom, also known as Doctor Doom, in an upcoming "Avengers" film.

Downey, who launched Marvel's cinematic success with "Iron Man," made a surprise appearance wearing Doctor Doom's mask and a green cloak, thrilling the audience with his line, “New mask, same task.” The Russo brothers, who will direct the movie, emphasized the endless possibilities in the Marvel multiverse, signaling a fresh and intriguing direction for Downey’s character.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige kicked off the panel with impressive statistics, revealing that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has surpassed $30 billion in box-office earnings. The panel also introduced other significant updates, including Harrison Ford's role in the next "Captain America" film and the announcement of the next two "Avengers" movies: "Avengers: Secret Wars" and "Avengers: Doomsday," with the latter set to premiere in 2026.

The reveal of Downey as Doctor Doom, along with other star-studded appearances and film updates, marked Marvel’s triumphant return to Comic-Con, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next phase of the MCU.