Robert Downey Jr. is back as Iron Man but there is a major twist

Robert Downey Jr. has been confirmed to return in his iconic role as Iron Man, but not in the capacity that you might think.

Arguably (still) the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the actor has recently been announced to play the role of supervillain Dr. Doom ahead of phase five of the MCU.

Following a number of lacklustre films from the media franchise that gave us so many memorable characters, lines and moments in the 2010s, it's fair to say that there has been a drop in audience satisfaction since then.

So, how have Marvel responded?

Well, the announcement that the Iron Man actor is back, albeit in a different role, has injected some excitement into fans of the franchise.

As revealed as San Diego Comic Con, when Downey came out and revealed that it was him under the mask, the crowd were on their feet, almost like they were welcoming their king back.

He will play the character in the upcoming films Avengers: Doomsday, set to be released in May 2026 and Avengers: Secret Wars, which will be out in May 2027.

As well as him, directors Joe and Anthony Russo are returning to direct, having directed four MCU films in the past, most notably Avengers: Endgame.

Downey Jr then said to the fans: "New mask, same task. What'd I tell you, I like playing complicated characters."

The actor has made a triumphant return to the MCU. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

But this opened a can of worms, as with the multiverse saga, a range of possibilities have risen, especially with Downey Jr being back on Marvel's payroll.

It begs the question: Could he reprise the role of Iron Man? It may not be the same character, but fans would be happy with a variant of the one we knew and loved.

We got our answer at D23, when Marvel announced a number of upcoming films and TV shows, as well as news about Disney Parks as well.

As part of the Disney Experiences showcase, Disneyland's Avengers Campus will soon feature an attraction called Stark Flight Lab, featuring Downey Jr as Tony Stark.

Downey Jr played Iron Man for 11 years. (Disney)

Details as to how he will be included, or how involved he will be with it all is currently unconfirmed.

“With the just announced Stark Flight Lab, you’re going to sit in two-person pods and deploy to a test station,” the description for Stark Flight Lab states.

“Then a robot arm grabs your pod and starts whirling you around in a simulated flight.”

So it's not quite a role on screen, though that is a possibility - it's still a start for Iron Man fans.

There is currently no opening date for Stark Flight Lab at the park, though construction has been slated to begin in 2025.