'Avengers: Doomsday' Villain Is More "Ego-Driven" Than Thanos, Russo Brothers Say

What to expect from Doctor Doom? In an interview with Empire magazine, brothers Anthony and Joe Russo commented on the tone and personality of the main villain in Avengers: Doomsday.

According to the filmmakers, the character played by Robert Downey Jr. will present a threat of a different nature than that presented by Thanos, the former antagonist of the Avengers. "Doom is much more ego-driven than Thanos", explained Anthony Russo, emphasizing that the Titan believed he was acting in the name of a greater good.

Joe Russo, in turn, described Doom as a gothic character, extremely powerful and linked to dark magic. “He says, ‘Hell answers to me,’ and he’s not kidding. He’s a very powerful character with some very dark magic, and he’s not above selling his soul to get what he wants. He’s worth being scared of,” he stated. The director also revealed that the villain's threat is linked to a personal tragedy: Doom is a father traumatized by the loss of a son.

“When people see the film they say it’s a very scary movie. It’s scary because he’s so profoundly damaged,” he added.

Everything you need to know about Avengers: Doomsday

The villain of the fifth Avengers movie will be Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr., the actor who portrayed the legendary Iron Man in the MCU's Infinity Saga and now takes on the role of the antagonist. Avengers: Doomsday will be directed by brothers Anthony and Joe Russo (Endgame), with a script by Michael Waldron (Loki) and Stephen McFreely (Endgame).

Marvel has already confirmed the main cast members for the new film, in one of the biggest MCU star reunions ever assembled. Returning from previous Avengers films are: Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Winston Duke as M'Baku, and Letitia Wright as Shuri/Black Panther.

Among characters introduced after Avengers: Endgame — in phases 4 and 5 of the MCU — we have Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Danny Ramirez as Falcon, the entire new Fantastic Four (Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the Thing), almost the entire cast of Thunderbolts* (Florence Pugh as Yelena, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Hanah John-Kamen as Ghost, and Lewis Pullman as Bob, the Sentry), and Tenoch Huerta as Namor.

The film also features the return of the classic X-Men from the old Fox movies, including Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, James Marsden as Cyclops, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, Kelsey Grammer as Beast, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, and, introduced in Deadpool & Wolverine, Channing Tatum as Gambit.

Avengers: Doomsday opens on December 18, 2026.