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Anthony Mackie Addresses Robert Downey Jr.’s Return as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday

July 28, 2025

Robert Downey Jr.’s unprecedented return to the MCU as Avengers: Doomsday‘s arch-villain, Doctor Doom, has been addressed by his co-star, Anthony Mackie. Mackie was last seen in the MCU in Captain America: Brave New World, where he embodied the titular role in earnest and ultimately decided to reform the Avengers, starting with his partner, Joaquin Torres’ Falcon.

Anthony Mackie’s Cap will now face off against Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday with a new team of Avengers, although the other heroes comprising the latest iteration of the Avengers are still to be confirmed. Nevertheless, this will be the first time that Mackie and veteran MCU co-stars will star alongside Robert Downey Jr. since Avengers: Endgame in 2019.

Mackie addressed this upcoming collaboration in an interview with Entertainment Tonight (via GamesRadar), where he reflected on his time working with Robert Downey Jr. now and in his earliest days within the MCU. In a succinct line, Mackie said that RDJ was an integral part of his early career, and enthused about his return. His full quote is as follows:

“You know, the fun part is Robert Downey Jr. was such an integral part of the beginning of my career at Marvel. It’s great to have him back and continue the legacy he built with the MCU.”

Mackie’s MCU Career Began In Some Important Iron Man Movies

Anthony Mackie’s MCU career began with Captain America: The Winter Soldier, one of the MCU’s best-rated and most definitive movies. He worked most closely with Chris Evans since then, appearing in every subsequent Avengers movie and Captain America: Civil War. Mackie first starred alongside Robert Downey Jr. in Avengers: Age of Ultron, although the two didn’t interact on-screen.

With Robert Downey Jr. proclaiming “New mask, same task” when he was revealed as the MCU’s Doctor Doom, and Anthony Mackie stating that he is “continuing” his legacy, this feeds into the notion that Doctor Doom will be directly tied to the MCU’s Iron Man.

Still, he ended this movie by joining the Avengers, the team with which RDJ’s Iron Man is synonymous. Their most consequential time on-screen together would then occur in Captain America: Civil War, where they fought on opposite sides of the ideological divide. These films could arguably be the “beginning” of the career to which Mackie refers.

Doctor Doom Takes Over From Iron Man To Become Avengers: Doomsday’s Villain According To MCU Theory

Many people point to Infamous Iron Man as a comic book precedent for RDJ playing Doctor Doom – and a new theory makes this way more likely.

Both movies are also integral building blocks for the legacy RDJ built in the MCU. Avengers: Age of Ultron established Tony Stark’s dream of building a suit of armor around the world, while Captain America: Civil War developed this with his deference to oversight, arguably putting him in his most villainous role in the MCU.

With Robert Downey Jr. proclaiming “New mask, same task” when he was revealed as the MCU’s Doctor Doom, and Anthony Mackie stating that he is “continuing” his legacy, this feeds into the notion that Doctor Doom will be directly tied to the MCU’s Iron Man.

I’m Glad To Hear That Anthony Mackie Is Enjoying Working With RDJ

Whatever the case, it is heartening to hear that Anthony Mackie is enjoying working with Robert Downey Jr. once again. I’m also intrigued to see how the two build upon their interactions in the Infinity Saga, as Avengers: Doomsday will likely involve the most engaging interaction the two have ever shared.

Although Mackie’s Sam Wilson was arguably one of the least affected by Tony Stark’s death, the fact that he now leads the team once financed by the superhero should make for an interesting dynamic if and when Sam Wilson recognizes Tony Stark’s face in Avengers: Doomsday.