Ever since Marvel shook the world by announcing Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Doctor Doom, I haven't been able to stop thinking about what’s next for the MCU. As we edge closer to December, the hype surrounding “Avengers: Doomsday” has reached a fever pitch (and we haven’t even got the trailer yet). It’s easily shaping up to be one of the biggest, most monumental film events of the year.
Honestly, my group chats are constantly flooded with speculation, since my friends and I love to talk about everything Marvel. How will the Multiverse sustain this terrifying new threat? Is this Victor von Doom a corrupted Tony Stark variant, or someone completely fresh? The theories are flying fast, and that’s half the fun of being a fan.
If you're as excited as I am for this upcoming movie, here are five of the most convincing “Avengers: Doomsday” fan theories and what they could mean for the MCU.
1. Doctor Doom uses Tony Stark’s body to save (and control) Earth-616
This first theory is quite interesting when it comes to Doctor Doom’s true motive. It actually suggests that he isn't simply a version of Tony Stark from another universe. Instead, after Tony's death in “Endgame,” Doom takes over Stark's body in an attempt to keep Earth-616 from collapsing.
The idea comes from the Anchor Being concept introduced in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which says that every universe relies on one key person to hold it together. Since Tony was Earth-616's Anchor Being, his death could be causing reality to slowly break apart.
According to the theory, Doom uses a mix of science and magic to hijack Tony’s corpse and transfer his own mind into it (a bit strange, I know). This would explain why Doom looks like Tony Stark while still being a completely different character. If true, it would create a huge emotional dilemma for the Avengers since characters like Spider-Man would see the face of their fallen friend and mentor, making it much harder to fight Doom even if they know he's the villain.
2. Doctor Doom is a fallen Tony Stark on a multiversal revenge mission
This next one is also to do with Doctor Doom’s potential plan. Some fans have speculated that Doctor Doom is actually a version of Tony Stark from another universe who tried to “protect the world” by creating an all-powerful global defense system, but it ultimately turned into an authoritarian regime.
In this universe, Stark’s extreme methods led to rebellion from his allies. He was betrayed, imprisoned, and left for dead, but survived and reinvented himself as Victor Von Doom, hiding his identity and returning with a new purpose.
He then arrives in Earth-616 as a so-called savior, using advanced technology and magic to help fix multiversal problems. Publicly, he’s seen as a hero (even a cult-like figure) while secretly planning revenge on the Avengers and the idea of heroism itself.
The twist is that Doom isn’t just a villain fighting the Avengers since he’s already won over the world. That puts Earth’s heroes in a near-impossible position, where stopping him could make them look like the threat. That would be an insane move, for sure.
3. Steve Rogers’ decision broke the multiverse and created Doctor Doom
Remember when Steve decided to go back in time and be with Peggy? Well, it’s possible the collapse of the multiverse was actually caused by him choosing to stay in the past with Peggy at the end of the “Infinity” Saga.
By living too long in an alternate timeline, Steve unintentionally destabilized reality itself. His presence created a ripple effect that spread across other universes, slowly causing them to fracture and decay. One of the biggest consequences of this is a shifted timeline where Howard Stark’s life takes a different path. In this version of events, Tony Stark never becomes Iron Man, and instead the Stark lineage evolves into the ruling family of Latveria, essentially becoming the Von Dooms.
The result is a multiverse where Doctor Doom rises not because of an external villain or experiment gone wrong, but because of a chain reaction started by one emotional choice. This time, the heroes themselves may be responsible for the breakdown of reality!
4. Franklin Richards restores Doom’s face, and uses it to manipulate everyone
A post-credit scene in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” jumps ahead four years and shows Doctor Doom arriving at the Richards’ home, where he meets and interacts with young Franklin (the powerful son of Sue Storm). One theory states that Doctor Doom isn’t a Tony Stark variant at all. Instead, his familiar face comes from the hands of Franklin.
In this version, Doom recognizes the child’s ability to reshape reality itself. Doom then convinces Franklin to touch his scarred face, subconsciously using his powers to heal him. The result is that Doom’s appearance is transformed to resemble Tony Stark, the most trusted face in the MCU, allowing him to instantly gain the confidence of heroes and the public without question.
With that trust in place, Doom can position himself closer to the centre of cosmic power. The theory also suggests he eventually targets Loki and the structure of the multiverse itself, aiming to control reality at its source rather than just rule a single universe.
5. Wanda becomes Doom’s power source for a new reality
I’m not the only one who wants Wanda back. I think most Marvel fans want to see Scarlet Witch return, and even though she isn’t part of the current confirmed cast, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re keeping her secret to preserve as much of the plot as possible. Naturally, though, fans have come up with plenty of theories on how she could return, one being that she’s key to Doctor Doom’s plan.
After the events at Mount Wundagore, Wanda is found alive but without her memories. Doctor Doom could discover her and realize she’s the strongest known source of Chaos Magic in the multiverse. He takes advantage of her vulnerability, convincing her that he can protect her while secretly guiding her power.
Using advanced technology, Doom channels Wanda’s magic to stabilize collapsing universes during the incursions. Instead of saving reality, this process allows him to reshape it entirely into a single stitched-together world known as Battleworld, where he rules as God Emperor. This storyline is taken from the Secret Wars comics, and as we know, that’s the title of the next “Avengers” movie.
