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The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been in a bit of a slump ever since Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark got his heroic ending inAvengers: Endgame(2019). This is why, fans were elated to learn that the actor would be returning to the MCU, albeit not as Iron Man but as Doctor Doom. Of course, there was some pushback from fans but all in all, we are all pretty excited to see how Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. pull this one off.
For those who are missing RDJ’s Iron Man, well, Disney has just the news to put a smile on your beautiful faces. Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to Marvel not only as Doctor Doom but as Iron Man, too. Before you get your hopes up, we are letting you know that the Iron Man return is only for Disneyland.
Robert Downey Jr. is Back as Iron Man…Sort Of
The moment whenRobert Downey Jr.walked through a sea of Doctor Doom clones to unveil himself as the new big bad of the superhero universe will go down in MCU history as one of the most unexpected twists of all time.
As theRusso Brothersstated during the reveal at the San Diego Comic-Con, the MCU needed the“greatest actor in the world”to take the heavy responsibility of bringing Doctor Doom to life. Who could be better than RDJ himself?
As far as is known at the moment, Downey Jr. has signed up for two MCU films –Avengers: Doomsday,which has been named fromAvengers: The Kang Dynasty,andAvengers: Secret Wars.
“Ugh, really? That’s a second-tier superhero”: A Young Robert Downey Jr. Would Have Had Little Love for Iron Man Only for Fate to Make Him Return to MCU as Doctor Doom Later
As if this wasn’t enough for die-hard RDJ fans, the actor will be reprising his role as Iron Man for a new ride at Disney California Adventure. As per the announcement at D23, Disneyland’s Avengers Campus will be getting two new rides, one of which being ‘Stark Flight Lab.’
Seated on the ride, fans will be greeted by a familiar face – none other than Mr. RDJ’s Tony Stark himself.
Upon hearing the news of Downey Jr.’s return to hislife-changingrole, there was obvious confusion among fans. Many believed that the actor would be reprising the role in the MCU and a misunderstanding like this was bound to create a bit of a mess.
Regardless, here’s what fans have to say about Downey Jr.’s ride:
How many characters does bro play 😭😭
— AlwayzHoodie (@AlwayzHoodie)August 19, 2025
Robert Downey Jr when Marvel called:pic.twitter.com/nV8qCLPxFx
— YungDagger (@YungDagger808)June 27, 2025
does he need marvel or does marvel need him?
— SETHY 🪐 (@sethspov)July 31, 2025
Expect to see him as iron man in the movies also
— Hank Tyson (@frekondonbeakon)July 06, 2025
So many people are going to freak out by just reading the headline
— Cashcorn (@Cash03111)June 01, 2025
SFL is the only ride id wanna suffer through the lines at Disneyland
— Wolowitz Coefficient (@inquilabaurkya)August 15, 2025
Neither the ride nor Downey’s first look as Doctor Doom could come soon enough!
What to Expect from the Two Rides at Disneyland
First of all, it’s Disneyland we are talking about – of course, the rides are going to be absolutely epic and out of a dream. When has the theme park ever disappointed its visitors?
“Looks like Infamous Iron Man”: Russo Brothers’ Gift to Influencer Can Give us a Hint How Robert Downey Jr Will Look Like as Doctor Doom
At the D23, the Chairperson of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Josh D’Amaro,confirmedthat everything that was being announced is currently in“active development.”
At Disney Experiences, Imagineers dream, create, design and build these stories into real places. And we have Imagineers in place right now all around the world because everything we’re going to share with you is in active development. Plans are drawn. Dirt is moving. I just want to be clear about this: We are doing everything you’re going to hear tonight.
So you can rest assured that the hyped-up ‘Stark Flight Lab’ will be coming to the park sooner or later. It’s only a matter of time. As for the ride, it’ll have visitors sitting in two-person pods. They will then be deployed to a test station where a robot arm will grab their pods and whirl them around. Sounds super fun! Of course, RDJ’s Tony Stark will be right there to supervise his latest experiment.
Then there’s the second Marvel ride – ‘Avengers Infinity Defense’. The ride promises a thrilling adventure as visitors will travel to iconic locations like Wakanda and Asgard to help Avengers retrieve technology stolen by King Thanos. The tech helps the Avengers travel from one world to another with ease and we know just how important it is for our superheroes! I can’t wait to help them get it back.
Fans will get to work alongside different superheroes – big and small – and could even face off with King Thanos himself. It looks like Disney has outdone itself once again.
Avengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars willbe released in theatres on July 25, 2025, and July 20, 2025, respectively.
Mishkaat Khan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2256
A connoisseur of all things horror, fantasy, and the occasional chick flick, Mishkaat has been penning pieces for FandomWire since 2022. She started off as an intern and has worked her way up to a Senior Writer with over 2000 articles to her name.Outside of entertainment, she has also written well-researched medical content as a freelance writer and has experience in social media management.When not writing, you can find her relaxing with a romance novel and a tall glass of iced coffee in her hand or watching re-runs of ‘Supernatural’ and ‘The Office.’
