Robert Downey Jr.’s comeback to the MCU has fans wondering if the actor would also return as Iron Man, AKA Tony Stark in the franchise. The 59-year-old actor was recently confirmed as the villainous Doctor Doom in Marvel’s upcoming Avengers movies. However, recent reports have revealed that the veteran thespian will be portraying Tony Stark once again, albeit on a different platform.
Here’s what we have discovered about Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the Marvel franchise and whether he would be reprising his role as Iron Man.
Robert Downey Jr. to voice Tony Stark at Disney’s California Adventure
Marvel has confirmed that Robert Downey Jr. will indeed return as Iron Man/Tony Stark to voice the iconic character for new attractions at Disneyland.
The news was confirmed at Disney Parks’ D23 panel on Saturday, as per ComicBook.com. Downey Jr. has always been the face of Marvel’s ever-expanding cinematic universe, ever since his first Iron Man film kickstarted the franchise in 2008. He donned the famous armor for 11 years, before calling it a day after 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.
Nevertheless, Robert Downey Jr. will now return as Iron Man for Disneyland’s Avengers Campus. The Oscar-winning actor is set to voice the fan-favorite character for two new installments at the recreational park. One of the new attractions, titled Stark Flight Lab, will begin construction sometime in 2025. According to Disney, the ride would consist of a two-person pod. Functioning as a flight simulator, it will take fans through one of Stark’s suit-building laboratories.
The second Avengers Campus attraction that will feature Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Iron Man is named Avengers Infinity Defense. The ride will also include King Thanos and would allow visitors to travel through multiple MCU locations, including Asgard and Wakanda.
Will Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man return in MCU?
So far, Robert Downey Jr.’s comeback to Marvel as Iron Man has only been confirmed for the new Disneyland attractions. Consequently, he is not expected to reprise his most iconic role on the big-screen.
Nonetheless, several fans have speculated that Downey Jr.’s forthcoming portrayal of Doctor Doom could contain connections to Iron Man. It is believed by many that the character Victor Von Doom could be an evil, otherworld variant of Tony Stark. However, Marvel officials are yet to convey any news of such kind.
Doctor Doom will mark Robert Downey Jr.’s second MCU debut with 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday. The project is slated to be helmed by the Russo brothers.
