Did Robert Downey Jr. Just Confirm Doctor Strange & Spider-Man For Avengers: Doomsday?

2 weeks ago 12

Published Apr 6, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT

Cooper Hood is the Associate Editor for all new movie releases, in theaters and on streaming. In addition to writing articles about these titles and upcoming releases, he also oversees content planning for each, ensuring that ScreenRant continues to cover major releases for months after their release.

He has written various reviews for ScreenRant that appear on Rotten Tomatoes, coordinated Oscars and San Diego Comic-Con coverage, appeared on CNN to talk about Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and done select interviews with talent over the years.

Two of Marvel's biggest heroes may have just been confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday, thanks to Doctor Doom star Robert Downey Jr. Even while we wait for the first official look at the former Iron Man actor's role in the Phase 6 blockbuster, he has been central to fanning the flames of speculation about the fifth Avengers.

Marvel Studios gave the public an early idea of what to expect when they announced 27 Doomsday cast members, with RDJ the only one to physically be shown in the incredibly long chair reveal video. This was where we found out the X-Men, Avengers, New Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four, and others would have pivotal roles in the multiversal narrative.

And even though we've previously received four Avengers: Doomsday trailers, only a handful of characters have actually been seen. More interestingly, these teasers also confirmed that the movie includes several individuals who were not part of the original cast announcement, such as Steve Rogers.

With Marvel, RDJ, and Kevin Feige previously teasing more unannounced cast members, there has been no shortage of theories about who else could appear. Everyone from Deadpool, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, Kate Bishop, Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Hulk, and more have been considered as possibilities to appear. The Sorcerer Supreme and friendly neighborhood web-slinger may now be confirmed.

Robert Downey Jr.'s Latest Avengers: Doomsday Tease Has Major Easter Eggs

To celebrate Easter, Robert Downey Jr. shared an Easter-themed piece of art for Avengers: Doomsday on Instagram. The post didn't include a caption of any kind, but the image shows Doom holding a basket filled with Easter eggs carrying familiar logos on them. This clearly includes logos for Ant-Man, Captain America, Loki, Black Panther, X-Men, Thor, Namor, New Avengers, Shang-Chi, and Fantastic Four.

Two other Easter eggs are more obscured; one on the left that's blue with a yellow and red design, and a red one with a white design on the right. The right one is easier to identify as Spider-Man's logo. The left one looks to be the Eye of Agamotto, the symbol of Doctor Strange.

Perhaps this is a total coincidence, but RDJ's post suggests Doctor Strange and a version of Spider-Man are in Avengers: Doomsday. The art is clearly meant to tease the upcoming MCU event film, so it'd be odd for it to include eggs for all the known characters and then throw in some "random" ones that have no connection to the plot.

This art now becomes the first legitimate tease from someone involved in Doomsday that Doctor Strange and Spider-Man will appear. Benedict Cumberbatch already confirmed Strange will be "central" to Avengers: Secret Wars, so a role in the lead-in film makes sense.

As for Spider-Man, the logo looks similar to the new one Tom Holland's Peter Parker has for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It could also reflect a modified logo that Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man could sport if he's involved in the multiverse plot.

What Roles Doctor Strange & Spider-Man Could Play In Avengers: Doomsday

Benedict Cumberbatch's Stephen Strange looks focused in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Doctor Strange and a Spider-Man appearing in Avengers: Doomsday could be easily explained, even though Marvel Studios hasn't confirmed either of them.

The last time audiences saw Strange in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' post-credits scenes, he was meeting Clea (Charlize Theron) and learning about the incursions his actions started and how they were threatening the multiverse. Going with Clea into the Dark Dimension to try to stop incursions set up a role for him in Doomsday. He knows the threat Earth-616 will face and could appear to provide some multiversal context.

Additionally, there is a chance that Cumberbatch's return won't be as the MCU's primary Doctor Strange. Many variants of him could appear, including one working for Doom. Given his mystical powers and multiversal knowledge, Strange could easily have a small role here before occupying the larger role Cumberbatch teased for Secret Wars.

As for Spider-Man, his role in Doomsday could be wildly different depending on which one appears.

Holland's version will be fresh out of the events of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and it's unclear exactly how that movie could tee up a potential role in the following MCU movie. He could appear as a member of the Avengers or cross paths with heroes from another universe as the incursions begin.

Maguire's Spider-Man may have a more natural and important role to play in Doomsday. His appearance would certainly mean getting a glimpse at his universe being impacted by the incursions wrecking the multiverse. There are even theories Doomsday could start with Maguire's universe being destroyed and him dying.

Doctor Strange and Spider-Man have clear paths to playing major roles in Avengers: Doomsday, if they are, in fact, in the movie. Personally, I don't think RDJ's post is a coincidence, filling the literal Easter eggs with MCU Easter eggs, and setting up these two important heroes playing a role in the upcoming feature.