Marvel’s Mega Reset: Robert Downey Jr. & Fantastic Four Return at Comic-Con!

This past weekend was a significant one for Marvel Studios.

Kevin Feige, head of Marvel Studios, made a grand appearance in the revered Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, showcasing a slew of exclusive clips, announcements, and more exciting news about upcoming Marvel projects. Interestingly, just a few days prior, the very same hall at Anaheim Convention Center was bustling with festivities centered around “Deadpool & Wolverine.”

Feige’s presentation shed light on some future releases such as “Captain America: Brave New World,” “Thunderbolts,” “Fantastic Four,” and a pair of “Avengers” movies.

The big reveal from Marvel was the news that Robert Downey Jr. will be making a comeback to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Doctor Doom in the forthcoming “Avengers” flick. Downey, who launched the franchise with the 2008’s “Iron Man,” has donned the character of Tony Stark, a billionaire playboy and a key member of the Avengers, in over nine movies during his 11-year run. His most recent appearance was in 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,” where Stark met his end while saving the universe.

However, “Avengers 5” not only marks the return of Downey but also brings back the Russo Brothers, Anthony and Joe, to the Marvel universe. The Russo Brothers have directed four MCU films in the past: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014), “Captain America: Civil War” (2016), “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018), and “Avengers: Endgame” (2019). It seems like Marvel Studios is hitting the reset button after a few turbulent years.

Here are the key takeaways from Marvel’s presentation.

Marvel is charting its future by revisiting its past

By reinstating Downey and the Russos, Marvel Studios is making a clear statement that it wishes to recreate the golden period of its past. The Russo brothers have directed two of MCU’s biggest box office successes — “Avengers: Endgame” alone has raked in over $2.7 billion globally — and Downey was the face of the franchise for over a decade.

It’s no secret that Marvel has been grappling to regain its mojo post “Endgame.” Both Phases Four and Five have been somewhat disappointing, leading some critics to label it as Marvel’s “flop era” after a series of uninspiring releases. To revive its fortunes, the MCU is undergoing a course correction.

The audience’s reaction to “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which grossed $205 million domestically and over $438 million globally, suggests that this could be a successful strategy, at least temporarily. “Deadpool & Wolverine,” like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021) before it, capitalized on nostalgia and was replete with cameos and references to past superhero comic book movies.

End of Kang reign

“Avengers 5,” formerly known as “Avengers: Kang Dynasty,” has been officially renamed as “Avengers: Doomsday,” set to release in 2026.

When Marvel axed Jonathan Majors last year following his conviction on assault and harassment charges, there were speculations about how the movie would progress. Would the role be recast or would the entire film (and MCU’s trajectory) undergo a major overhaul?

The new title suggests that MCU is shifting its focus to a new antagonist: Doctor Doom. In the comics, Victor von Doom is a villainous mastermind who is primarily known for his battles with the Fantastic Four, although he has also squared off against the Avengers and the X-Men in his attempts to conquer the world.

For the time being, MCU is bidding farewell to Kang.

Emphasis on the First Family

Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach graced Hall H to give a sneak peek of their upcoming film, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” set to release in 2025. The movie, which officially begins production this week, will be set in 1960s New York, although its exact slot in the Marvel multiverse is yet to be determined.

It was also confirmed that Marvel’s initial superhero team will be featured in “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars,” implying that MCU is now focusing on the Fantastic Four after regaining the film rights to the characters. As the official Avengers lineup for the upcoming films remains undisclosed, building anticipation for the team that will kickstart MCU’s Phase Six seems a logical move.

Is silence telling?

One noticeable omission in Feige’s presentation was “Blade,” which was a major surprise announcement in a previous Hall H presentation. The movie, starring Mahershala Ali as the titular daywalker, was once slated for a 2025 release but has seen several creative upheavals since. Yann Demange, the second director linked to the project, left the film last month.

Also missing from the presentation were Marvel’s upcoming TV shows such as “Agatha All Along,” “Daredevil: Born Again,” and “Iron Heart.” Perhaps Feige is reserving some announcements for Disney’s own convention, D23 Expo, scheduled for August.