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Avengers: Doomsday Star Might Have Just Spoiled a Doctor Doom Reveal
Marvel Studios cast Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom in the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday rather than returning him as Tony Stark, creating a puzzling situation: how will the films explain why the MCU's new primary antagonist has the face of a hero already known to be dead? During a recent Variety interview, David Harbour, who plays Red Guardian, teased a potential answer when asked to recite a line from the film. He delivered the phrase "You … are Tony Stark" in character, suggesting Red Guardian may be the one to openly confront this visual discrepancy in the narrative.
Harbour's cryptic remark leaves unclear whether he revealed an actual plot development or engaged in playful promotion. The film positions Doom as originating from an alternate dimension housing the Fantastic Four, a universe where residents would not recognise Stark, though the main-timeline Avengers certainly would. Marvel's notoriously stringent confidentiality protections make it unlikely Harbour would leak significant spoilers without consequence, yet his response has generated considerable speculation among fans. Avengers: Doomsday arrives December 18, with a continuation already scheduled for 2027.
In short
- Red Guardian actor David Harbour hinted his character may directly acknowledge that Doctor Doom bears a striking resemblance to the deceased Tony Stark
- Marvel Studios must resolve a narrative puzzle created by casting Robert Downey Jr. as a new villain who shares Iron Man's appearance
Explained simply
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a series of connected superhero films. Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man, was a central hero who died in an earlier film. Robert Downey Jr, who played Stark, has been cast as Doctor Doom, a major villain from Marvel’s comics.
Doctor Doom is expected to come from another universe, where the Fantastic Four live. People there may not know Stark, but characters from the main MCU timeline do. That raises a question about how they will react to Doom looking like someone they remember.
David Harbour plays Red Guardian, a Russian superhero who appears in the MCU films. His recent comment has led fans to wonder whether his character will address the resemblance, though it is not clear if the line hints at the story or was a joke.
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