MCU fans are known for analyzing footage to within an inch of its life as they hunt for plot clues. Now, they have turned their inquisitive gaze upon Robert Downey Jr’s hair.
The Iron Man actor recently sent out a Doctor Doom-themed invitation for this 60th birthday party, and as you'd expect it popped up online. It shows the MCU star with slightly longer curly hair; this is not the haircut of Tony Stark, that’s for sure.
Photos of RDJ at the party itself show the actor sporting a similar curly hairdo, sparking speculation about how his version of Victor Von Doom will look in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
Robert Downey Jr.'s Doom-themed birthday invitation featured him sporting a new curly hairstyle, a look he was also seen wearing two days ago.
— Nexus Point News (@NexusPointNews) April 6, 2025
Could this be an early glimpse at his portrayal of Victor Von Doom in ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAYʼ? pic.twitter.com/MltjPLCkoE
Robert Downey Jr.'s Doom-themed birthday invite showed him with a new curly hairstyle — the same look he had just two days earlier.
— MCU Film News (@MCUFilmNews) April 6, 2025
Possible first look at his take on Victor Von Doom in 'AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY' ? pic.twitter.com/YPJKhYNcRI
“He has this exact hairstyle right now in pictures,” redditor Overall_Affect_2782 said. “People are going to absolutely freak when it turns out this is his Doomsday look.”
“This is likely a fun little unofficial prototype version of the eventual look that we will see in Avengers: Doomsday,” added PhanStr.
Erik Voss of the New Rockstars YouTube channel suggested Marvel and RDJ may be taking Doctor Doom in an Oppenheimer-style direction, but from another universe.
“Doctor Strange? It’s Doom. I feel I have blood on my hands.” https://t.co/c7hhIL2v8U pic.twitter.com/ccD85JG1Uv
— Erik Voss (@eavoss) April 6, 2025
Others are unconvinced. “Based on this and the recent photos, I feel like Marvel just wanted Oscar Issac's hair from Moonknight to play Doctor Doom,” joked NerdyDadOnline.
“I’m laughing so hard that people think this is the legit design,” declared FewWatermelonlesson0.
Of course, this may all be nothing. It seems unlikely that RDJ would spoil Doctor Doom’s look in the MCU via a birthday party invitation. But now production on Avengers: Doomsday has begun in London, all eyes are on Marvel for secrets.
Last month's Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal was heavy on veteran X-Men actors. Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden are all now set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, confirming the X-Men are in the film in a big way. Grammer famously played Beast in the Fox X-Men franchise before making his MCU debut via The Marvels' post-credits scene. Stewart played Charles Xavier/Professor X in the X-Men films before appearing briefly in the MCU via Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as a member of the Illuminati. McKellen, who played Magneto, has yet to appear in the MCU. Neither has Cumming, who played Nightcrawler, Romijn, who played Mystique, nor Marsden, who played Cyclops. It begs the question: is Avengers: Doomsday secretly an Avengers vs. X-Men movie?
Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have teased they’re not done yet with the Avengers: Doomsday casting announcements, leading fans to believe other superhero stars could be on the way. Halle Berry, who played Storm in the Fox X-Men films, recently cast doubt on her chances of reprising the role.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
