Marvel stars react to Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU: “He was the origin of this whole universe”

Exclusive: The cast of Thunderbolts* share their reactions to Robert Downey Jr. playing Dr Doom

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Marvel’s big return to Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con featured some huge teases about the future of the MCU.

However, there’s no doubt that the biggest news of the night was Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as Doctor Doom, the major new villain ofAvengers 5– which is officially titled Avengers: Doomsday.

Speaking to GamesRadar+ after the panel, some of the Marvel stars of Thunderbolts*, who will also be appearing in the upcoming Avengers movies, shared their thoughts on the announcement.

“That’s cool,” Julia Louis-Dreyfus tells us, as her co-star Lewis Pullman shares: “That’s amazing. I mean, that’s a beautiful thing because he was, in many ways, the origin of this whole universe. That’s awesome. Love to hear that.”

Downey Jr. made an appearance during the panel, revealing he was hidden behind a mask after the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday was teased. “New mask, same task,” he quipped. You can watch the moment it happened below.

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Elsewhere during the Marvel panel,a first look at Fantastic Four was revealedand we gota first trailer for Thunderbolts.

In short, then,Marvel Phase 5andMarvel Phase 6look absolutely packed with goodies.

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Avengers: Doomsday is arriving in theaters on May 1, 2026, andAvengers: Secret Warson May 7, 2027. Thunderbolts*, meanwhile, is landing May 2, 2025.

For everything else revealed at the panel, check out ourMarvel SDCC 2024 live coverage, or for the rest of Comic-Con, there’s ourSDCC 2024 live blog. If you’re after a recap of everything that’s happened, see ourSDCC schedule.

Keep up to date with the MCU with our guide to theupcoming Marvel movies and shows, or see how to watch theMarvel movies in order.

I’m the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for the Total Film and SFX sections online. I previously worked as a Senior Showbiz Reporter and SEO TV reporter at Express Online for three years. I’ve also written for The Resident magazines and Amateur Photographer, before specializing in entertainment.

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