ROBERT Downey Jr is making a shock return to save the ailing Marvel franchise as evil Doctor Doom — five years after his Iron Man character died.
The Oscar winner, 59, was unveiled yesterday as the baddie for the next Avengers movie, Doomsday, due in May 2026.
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His return comes after several box office flops for the superhero juggernaut including Eternals, Ant-Man Quantumania and The Marvels.
And he solves a problem for bosses following the departure of Jonathan Majors — who had been due to play major villain Kang — after a domestic abuse conviction.
Downey Jr played superhero Iron Man/Tony Stark for more than a decade until Avengers: Endgame in 2019.
He was unveiled as Victor Von Doom at Comic-Con in the US — hidden among several figures on stage wearing the villain’s attire.
Removing his face cover to a rapturous ovation, RDJ said: “New mask, same task.”
As well as Doomsday, he is due to appear in follow-up Secret Wars — both directed by Joe and Anthony Russo.
Also at the event in California was Brit actress Florence Pugh, 28.
She will reprise her role as Yelena Belova in Marvel film The Thunderbolts, due out next April.