Joe and Anthony Russo are returning to direct the next "Avengers" film, while Robert Downey Jr. will play the main villain.Jesse Grant / Getty Images for DisneyMarvel's next film, "Avengers: Doomsday," is set for release in theaters on December 18.OG Avengers like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, and Chris Evans will return to the MCU.The movie also unites characters from "Thunderbolts*," "The Fantastic Four," and the X-Men series."Avengers: Doomsday" finally has an official trailer, teasing an ambitious fusion of MCU characters from the original "Avengers" series, "Thunderbolts*," "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," the "X-Men" universe, and more."Doomsday" was directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the brothers behind "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame," which together grossed over $4 billion at the box office.Although "Doomsday" was originally scheduled to premiere in the spring of 2026, the movie was delayed as part of an extensive shake-up of Disney's theatrical slate. It's now set for release on December 18, 2026, the same day as "Dune: Part 3," causing Marvel Studios to lose its bid for IMAX screens.Here's what to know about the next installment in the lucrative "Avengers" franchise.Ayomikun Adekaiyero, Eammon Jacobs, and Olivia Singh contributed to an earlier version of this story.Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU as a new character: Doctor Doom.Robert Downey Jr. appeared onstage at Marvel's San Diego Comic-Con panel on July 27, 2024, to reveal he is playing Doctor Doom.Jesse Grant / Getty Images for DisneyInitially, Kang was set to be the next major villain for the Avengers, but Kang actor Jonathan Majors was fired by Marvel in 2023 after he was convicted of one misdemeanor count of reckless assault and one count of harassment related to an assault of his ex-girlfriend. (Majors, who pleaded not guilty, was sentenced in 2024 to a 52-week domestic-violence program.)A month before Majors was fired, the "Loki" season two finale seemingly diminished Kang's role in the multiverse when Tom Hiddleston's titular antihero rewrote the timeline, providing an easy route to eliminate Kang from the MCU.Then, in July 2024, Marvel announced at the San Diego Comic-Con that Robert Downey Jr., known for playing the beloved hero Iron Man for over a decade, had been cast as the Marvel Comics villain Doctor Doom.While there had been speculation that Downey Jr. might return to the MCU at some point, the announcement came as a shock to many fans. The actor only left the franchise a few years prior, when (spoiler alert!) Iron Man sacrificed his life at the end of "Endgame" to save the universe.The answer to how this recast is possible lies in the multiverse — the various dimensions that are interconnected through time and space.Recent Marvel projects have introduced fans to alternate versions of heroes from other universes, including Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Deadpool, Wolverine, and more. It seems likely that Downey Jr.'s version of Doom is from a different universe than Downey Jr.'s version of Iron Man.We've seen Doctor Doom onscreen before.Ioan Gruffudd, Michael Chiklis, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, and Julian McMahon at the 2005 premiere of "Fantastic Four."Michael Loccisano/FilmMagicDoom is the Fantastic Four's main enemy in the comics. In fact, he appeared in the 2005 "Fantastic Four" movie, played by Julian McMahon — back when Chris Evans played the Human Torch, not Captain America.Marvel Studios' head honcho, Kevin Feige, already confirmed that the foursome's latest reboot, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," takes place in a different universe than the main "Avengers" series. Perhaps in this universe — where Joseph Quinn plays the Human Torch — Tony Stark took the path toward villainy rather than heroism.There have also been versions of Iron Man in the comics that have turned into Doom. Most notably, a young Victor Von Doom body-swapped with Stark as a young man in 2010's "What If? Iron Man: Demon in an Armor #1."Doom himself took up the Iron Man mantle in "The Infamous Iron Man" series in 2016. So, there is some precedent for blending their identities.If the villain does come from another universe, Marvel Studios could still cast another version of Doom for the main MCU on Earth-616 if they wanted someone else to take over the role in the future.Fans are split on Downey Jr.'s return, but an analyst says it's a smart move for Marvel.Marvel / ParamountThe internet was divided about Downey Jr.'s return, with many criticizing Marvel Studios for playing the nostalgia card and being too safe with their casting choice.Some fans also said this move would ruin Downey Jr.'s final performance in "Endgame" and the legacy of Doctor Doom, one of Marvel's most popular comic-book villains.But Rob Mitchell, the director of theatrical insights at Gower Street Analytics, told Business Insider in July 2024 that bringing him and the Russo brothers back is a logical decision."The chances are people are going to go,
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