Robert Downey Jr. is back as Iron Man but there is a major twist

You did read that right, Robert Downey Jr. is returning as Iron Man… but in a way you may not think of

Robert Downey Jr. is officially coming back as Iron Man, but it’s not exactly how you might expect.

Many people still see him as the main star of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and he has just been revealed to take on the role of the supervillain Dr. Doom as phase five of the MCU gets closer.

After several not-so-great movies from the franchise that brought us so many awesome characters and quotes in the 2010s, it’s clear that people aren’t as happy with them anymore.

So, how have Marvel responded?

The news that the actor from Iron Man is returning, but in a new character, has really pumped up the excitement for fans of the series.

At San Diego Comic Con, when Downey took off his mask and showed everyone it was him, the audience jumped up and cheered, as if they were welcoming their king home.

He is going to portray a character in the new movies Avengers: Doomsday, which is scheduled to come out in May 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars, set to be released in May 2027.

Along with him, directors Joe and Anthony Russo are coming back to direct again. They have previously directed four MCU movies, with Avengers: Endgame being the most famous one.

Downey Jr then said to the fans: “New mask, same task. What’d I tell you, I like playing complicated characters.”

The actor has made a triumphant return to the MCU. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

This created a lot of complications because, with the multiverse storyline, many new possibilities have come up, especially now that Downey Jr. is back working with Marvel.

This makes us wonder: Is it possible for him to play Iron Man again? Even if it’s not the exact same character, fans would still be excited to see a different version of the one we all admired.

We found out what we were looking for at D23 when Marvel revealed a bunch of new movies and TV shows that are coming soon, along with some updates about Disney Parks too.

Disneyland’s Avengers Campus is getting a new attraction called Stark Flight Lab, where you can see Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, as part of the Disney Experiences showcase.

Downey Jr played Iron Man for 11 years. (Disney)

It’s not clear yet how he will be part of it or how much he will be involved.

“With the just announced Stark Flight Lab, you’re going to sit in two-person pods and deploy to a test station,” the description for Stark Flight Lab states.

“Then a robot arm grabs your pod and starts whirling you around in a simulated flight.”

It’s not exactly a part in a movie yet, but it could happen in the future. Still, it’s a good beginning for fans of Iron Man.

Right now, there isn’t a set date for when Stark Flight Lab will open at the park, but construction is expected to start in 2025.

Featured Image Credit: Marvel / Kevin Winter/Getty Images