2026 may be packed with MCU stories, but the one all fans will be looking at will see the return of Robert Downey Jr., just not as we know him. Taking on the role of the Fantastic Four's longtime foe Doctor Doom, he'll lead the charge against Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Avengers: Judgment Day, and according to one of the film's stars, not all of them will make it to the end credits.
During an appearance at Tokyo Comic-Con (via ComicBookMovie), the former Winter Soldier hinted at what kind of drama awaits us in the new blockbuster of the Russo brothers. “I don't know if I can say much about this,” Stan admitted. “I don't know what will happen. Let's see who succeeds and who doesn't. I think the most exciting thing is the return of Robert Downey Jr., one of the greatest players. He'll definitely have something in store for everyone.”
Considering that Avengers: Judgment Day will be followed by Avengers: Secret Wars, die-hard Marvel fans may already be ready for the former, given the comic book event from which the latter film takes its name. Secret Wars was not only a 1984 event, but also a 2015 event where the Marvel universes merged and some characters were lost in the event. With that in mind, there's a chance that some of our favorite heroes could suffer a fate worse than being plucked from existence only to return in Avengers: Endgame.
We know that one person who will live long enough to appear in Secret Wars is Letitia Wright. who revealed that she plans to return to action for the 2027 film. For now, we'll have to wait and see what level Downey's new Doom villain takes when Avengers: Judgment Day hits theaters on December 18, 2026. While we wait, why not check out our guide to All upcoming MCU movies and shows are heading here.
