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Tony Stark’s Greatest Fear Might Finally Play Out in Avengers: Doomsday | Comic Con 2026
New footage shown at San Diego Comic-Con's Marvel Hall H panel has fuelled speculation that Doctor Doom's motivations in Avengers: Doomsday will mirror Tony Stark's greatest fear from Avengers: Endgame. Both characters are played by Robert Downey Jr., and the leaked clips suggest Doom's villainous plan stems from personal loss caused, directly or indirectly, by the Avengers' actions, echoing Stark's own fear of losing his daughter Morgan.
In the footage, Sue Storm describes Victor Von Doom as once kind and caring before "everything he loved was taken from him", while Doom himself accuses the heroes of having "stolen lives" that must now be returned. The prevailing theory links this to Steve Rogers' time-travel choices at the end of Endgame, which may have inadvertently caused a multiversal catastrophe that killed Doom's wife and/or daughter. This would parallel a deleted Endgame scene in which Stark confesses to a teenage Morgan that he feared the Avengers' time heist could have erased her from existence, suggesting Doom could be viewed as a dark mirror of Stark. Avengers: Doomsday is set for release on 18 December 2026.
In short
- Comic-Con footage hints Doom's motive mirrors Tony Stark's fear of losing Morgan
- Doom accuses Avengers of "stealing lives" tied to Endgame's time-travel fallout
- Robert Downey Jr. plays both Stark and Doom in the December 2026 film
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
This creative approach generates thematic sophistication and moral complexity. By linking Doom's vendetta directly to consequences of the Avengers' time-travel actions in Endgame—specifically the catastrophe that destroyed his family—the narrative deepens examination of the heroes' choices and their far-reaching ramifications. The casting of Robert Downey Jr. as both characters emphasises this dark mirror dynamic, transforming Doom from a conventional despot into a tragic figure whose suffering flows directly from Stark's own decisions. This frames the conflict as a meditation on how even the most well-intentioned actions can produce devastating unforeseen consequences.
The case against
This approach risks diminishing Doctor Doom's complexity by making him primarily a reactive antagonist defined by trauma rather than independent vision. Traditionally, Doom is portrayed as a sophisticated, ideologically-driven figure with his own grand vision; anchoring his motivation entirely to the Avengers' past actions potentially reduces his stature as a villain. The MCU has repeatedly explored sympathetic antagonists motivated by loss, and this narrative may feel derivative rather than revelatory. Furthermore, framing Doom as primarily a wronged victim of Stark's actions risks positioning him as secondary to Stark's narrative rather than as an equal, independent antagonist.
Explained simply
Avengers: Doomsday is the next film in Marvel's superhero series, scheduled for release in December 2026. Robert Downey Jr. returns to the franchise but now plays the main antagonist, Doctor Doom, a powerful figure who stands opposed to the Avengers.
Doom's motivation in the film appears rooted in personal loss. He blames the Avengers for taking away people he loved, and his plot centres on reclaiming what he believes they have stolen from him.
The casting of Robert Downey Jr. as both characters invites comparison between Stark's fears and Doom's grievance, both rooted in the threat of losing those he loves. This thematic echo highlights how the new film may explore the different paths individuals take when confronted with similar traumas.
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