Fans having the most anticipated return of Robert Downey Jr. to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will have to wait a little longer. Disney, the parent company of Marvel Studio, has officially pushed back the upcoming releases of its next two Avengers films – Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars – for allowing additional production time.

Robert Downey Jr. returns – as a Villain

In what may be the most shocking casting move in MCU history, Robert Downey Jr., loved and adored as Tony Stark/Iron Man, will return not as a hero but as the villainous Doctor Doom. This will be his first legitimate appearance in the role since Iron Man’s emotional farewell in Avengers: Endgame (2019) following years of speculation.

The actors return had already created a flurry of excitement online by fans who were eager to theorize how Marvel was going to incorporate Downey Jr. back into the ever-expanding multiverse. Fans will just have to wait a little longer.

New Release Dates Announced

As Disney confirmed, Avengers: Doomsday will now hit theaters on December 18, 2026, seven months after its expected May 1 release. Avengers: Secret Wars, the sequel of Doomsday, was also switched from May 2, 2027 to December 17, 2027.

Both films are part of the MCU Phase VI lineup and will be directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, who directed Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, which are two of the highest-grossing films of all time.

Why So Late?

A source to Reuters claimed that the new schedule would give the filmmakers more space as the movies are expected to be some of the most complicated Marvel movies to date. Production for Doomsday started earlier this year, and the new date is a way to ensure that both films are up to the visual and narrative standards Marvel is known for.

With the multiverse, ensemble cast, and immense considerations given to these films, the studio would rather push the release back then rush out the film. The studio likely did not want to get into a situation where the film’s quality was considered poor, given the expectations.

What We Know About Doomsday and Secret Wars

Avengers: Doomsday is projected to coincide with the Avengers, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, uniting them all to confront the multiversal threat of Doctor Doom. In addition to Doctor Doom being a potential obstacle to the MCU’s multiverse, it also serves as an opportunity for the remaining heroes Thor, the new Captain America (Sam Wilson), Shang-Chi, Yelena Belova and others to join together again, meaning this film could offer the biggest crossover since Endgame.

Secret Wars is expected to borrow from Jonathan Hickman’s comic arc of the same name, which included multiversal collapse through a “Battleworld” where alternate realities and timelines collided.

Looking for Billion-Dollar Benchmarks

With Avengers: Endgame having reached approximately $2.8 billion domestically and holding the second-highest box office record behind Avatar, both Doomsday and Secret Wars are anticipated to grow on that number. Industry insiders believe if both Doomsday and Secret Wars are successful, they may offer re-matching records and success, especially with RDJ returning for both ; as well as the Russo Brothers returning to direct again.

For Marvel, these films are not just the continuation of the MCU’s saga, they are a chance to create a whole new legacy for “the Marvel Universe” during the multiverse era.