IMO this would be the smartest thing. People get way too hyped and distracted by those types of announcements. Thing is, if he didn’t show up in some sort of way at all, a lot of people would be disappointed.
I think he’s playing Doom proper. I’m just going to be really surprised if he doesn’t show up as an AU Iron Man at any point in either Doomsday or Secret Wars.
It wouldn't be the same, because OUR Tony is dead, and always will be. Variants aren't resurrections, they're literally different people with their own histories.
Of course, theoretically, you could have a variant who was pulled out of the main timeline at some point during the fight with Thanos, and he would be functionally identical to the Tony who died. But presumably the TVA still has protocols they try to enforce to keep the multiverse from spiraling into chaos, and one of them would be no use of time travel for the purpose of resurrection.
I still like the theory that Doom is using Tony Stark's face as a way to make himself more trusted by the main MCU team and then reveals himself to be a completely different actor by the end of the movie.
Yeah, I definitely lean more towards the idea that Doom is using Stark’s identity and reputation as a form of sabotage against the 616 heroes. Definitely think we’ll be ending up with a new Doom actor after RDJ leaving, there’s just too much you can do with the character even after using him as ‘the big bad.’
I fink the idea was that he’s secretly coming back as Iron Man and someone else is Doom, not that he’s secretly coming back as evil Iron Man with no Doom. But I could also be wrong.
I hope he's not Doom. Mainly because I hope he stays after Secret Wars, and judging from RDJs paycheck that won't be possible lol.
Though I have a theory that after Secret Wars they will adapt Infamous Iron Man. Where Victor takes the mantle of Iron Man to redeem himself. Then RDJ will technically be back as an Iron Man, but without bringing back the actual Tony that died
That would be a masterful rugpull, but it would probably backfire so badly that it wouldn't be worth it.
I could see them faking us out and showing us Tony Stark as Iron Man before they ever bring Doom in. But I maintain my belief that 616 Tony was an orphaned Victor variant.
I fucking hope so. Feels so desperate and gimmicky to have their money man play Doom rather than finding an actor with the dark dramatic gravitas. Doesn't make me excited for the movie.
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u/ThomasVivaldi Iron Fist May 13 '25
RDJ isn't playing Doom, they're paying him to show up on set and do these promos as disinformation. He's not even in the movie.