By: Yi Chen

On July 30, 1024 there was lots of surprise in Hall H, the centerpiece of the San Diego Comic-Con, when Robert Downy Junior was announced as the actor to play Doctor Doom in the Fantastic Four. Many admirers were packed in Hall H to hear about new upcoming films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and were greeted on a stage with hooded figures dressed as Doctor Doom, a villain from the Fantastic Four comics.

Once one of the hooded figures from the group revealed his face as the actor Downey Junior, the crowd went wild. Robert Downy Jounir is famous for playing Tony Stark, also known as the superhero Iron Man in many Marvel movies. The fans were shocked to see him in his new role, Doctor Doom. Robert Downy started acting for Iron Man for Marvel in 2008 and continued to act as Tony Stark until the character’s death in the 2019 Avengers: Endgame.

According to Newsround, Downey Jr said: “New mask. Same task. What’d I tell you? I like playing complicated characters.” The new character he plays, Doctor Doom, is the main enemy of the Fantastic Four heroes, who are also needed for a new movie: The Fantastic 4: First Steps which is scheduled for July 2025.

For superhero enthusiasts, the next year will be a big year, since they will also be looking forward to the Thunderbolts movie, which stars Florence Pugh and is due for release in May 2025. The Thunderbolts movie was supposed to open in 2024 but was delayed until 2025.