Robert Downey Jr returns to the MCU - but as supervillain Doctor Doom

Robert Downey Jr is likely to make his evil debut in 2026's Avengers: Doomsday

There was a big surprise in the famous Hall H of San Diego Comic-Con, when a familiar face was announced as the newest actor to play an iconic comic book character.

Fans were packed in to hear new details about the upcoming films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and were greeted to a stage of hooded figures dressed as Doctor Doom, a villain from the Fantastic Four comics.

When one of them stepped forward and revealed themselves as actor Robert Downey Jr, the crowd went wild.

Downey Jr is famous for playing Tony Stark, aka superhero Iron Man, in many Marvel movies - so it was a shock for fans to see him return in a new role.

Which big superhero films are you looking forward to in the future? Let us know in the comments!

Happy families: The new Fantastic Four characters will be played by Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby

The actor began his journey with Marvel back in 2008's Iron Man, and went on to play Tony Stark until the character's death in 2019's Avengers: Endgame.

Speaking to the Comic-Con crowd, Downey Jr said: "New mask. Same task. What'd I tell you? I like playing complicated characters."

His new character, Doctor Doom, is the main enemy of the Fantastic Four heroes, who are also due a new movie with 1960s-set The Fantastic 4: First Steps scheduled for July 2025.

Next year will be a big year for superhero fans, who will also be looking forward to the Thunderbolts movie, starring Florence Pugh, which is due for release in May 2025.

Which superhero is your favourite and why? What do you think of Robert Downey Junior being Doctor Doom? Let us know in the comments.