Marvel Studios made a triumphant return to San Diego Comic-Con by announcing news about upcoming movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to Marvel’s movies, but not as Iron Man. He will play the villain Victor Von Doom, or Doctor Doom, in at least one of the upcoming “Avengers” films. This announcement was met with frenzied cheers from fans. The Russo brothers, who will be directing the film featuring Downey, described his appearance as proof of the unimaginable possibilities in the Marvel multi-universe.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige revealed that the success of “Deadpool & Wolverine” had helped the MCU surpass $30 billion in box office earnings. He also announced the titles of the next two “Avengers” films – “Avengers: Secret Wars” and “Avengers: Doomsday.” These films are set to be directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, who expressed their excitement at the opportunity to continue working in the MCU. They described “Secret Wars” as the biggest story Marvel Comics has ever told and their inspiration for falling in love with comics.
The panel at Comic-Con also featured the cast of the upcoming film “Captain America: Brave New World,” including Giancarlo Esposito, Tim Blake Nelson, Danny Ramirez, and Anthony Mackie. Esposito revealed that he would be playing the villain Seth Voelker, also known as Sidewinder. The cast shared a scene from the movie, which introduced President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, played by Harrison Ford, and revealed his transformation into the Red Hulk. Ford expressed delight and pride in joining the Marvel Universe.
Another surprise at the panel was the announcement of the film “Thunderbolts,” featuring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, and David Harbour. They shared some details about their characters, with Harbour appearing in full costume and speaking in character as the Red Guardian. Additionally, the film “The Fantastic Four” was teased, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Filming is set to begin in London, with a release date in July 2025.
The panel did not mention Jonathan Majors, who had been a major part of Marvel’s “Avengers” plans but was fired by the studio due to a criminal conviction. Marvel’s presentation at Comic-Con helped invigorate interest in the MCU, especially after concerns about box office underperformance in late 2023. “Deadpool & Wolverine” broke records for an R-rated movie during its Thursday preview screenings, signaling a strong start for the film. The success of this movie and the excitement generated by the Marvel announcements at Comic-Con bode well for the future of the MCU.
