4 Marvel Heroes That Could Actually Be Villains in Avengers: Doomsday

Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom could turn several powerful Marvel Cinematic Universe superheroes into villains in Avengers: Doomsday. Marvel Studios has already confirmed 27 actors set to appear in the Russo brothers’ upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, including many of the MCU’s most notable heroes. With many more stars expected to be announced in the coming weeks, recent speculation has suggested that their stories might not be so heroic in the Phase 6 crossover movie, and some heroes might even turn to darkness.

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Some have recently theorized that a number of heroes could, in fact, work with Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. If Doomsday explores Marvel Comics’ Time Runs Out and Secret Wars events from 2015, this would make sense, as Doom fought to save the multiverse from devastating incursions in these storylines. We’re still waiting for Avengers: Doomsday’s full cast to be revealed, but these four heroes seem to be the most likely to become villains alongside Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom in the MCU’s Phase 6.

4) Wanda Maximoff’s Scarlet Witch

Elizabeth Olsen’s formidable Wanda Maximoff has already had a run as an MCU supervillain, as she became corrupted by the Darkhold in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This corruption pushed her to embark on a murder spree across the multiverse in search of her children, though she eventually redeemed herself by sacrificing herself to bring down the Darkhold Castle on Mount Wundagore. Despite her death, many expect Maximoff’s Scarlet Witch to return in Avengers: Doomsday, and it would make sense for this to be alongside Doctor Doom.

After her apparent death in Marvel Comics, an amnesiac Scarlet Witch returned as Doctor Doom’s wife, so there is precedence for her to partner with Doom. Doctor Doom has an affinity for magic in Marvel Comics, so it would make sense for him to seek the help of the MCU’s most powerful magic-user, and he’ll surely be attracted to the unpredictability of Maximoff’s power, too. This would be an excellent way to bring the Scarlet Witch back to the MCU, while her continued run as an unwitting villain could have an even more dire impact in the future.

3) Riri Williams’ Ironheart

Following her debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Dominique Thorne got the chance to better develop Riri Williams into a fully-formed armored hero in 2025’s Ironheart. Things didn’t exactly go according to plan, however, and Riri actually found herself embroiled in a life of crime alongside Parker Robbins’ Hood (Anthony Ramos). Even though she eventually turned against the Parker, Riri then struck a deal with the demonic ruler of Hell himself, Mephisto (Sacha Baron Cohen), and took the Hood for herself, teasing her evolution into a villain.

This could be exactly where Avengers: Doomsday finds Riri Williams – sporting the Hood as a corrupt, magic-wielding armored antagonist. Her vulnerabilities make her an easy target for Doctor Doom’s manipulations, and since she’s now become one of the MCU’s most dangerous and powerful characters, Doom would surely want her in his corner. Thorne hasn’t yet been confirmed to be returning in Doomsday, but Ironheart quickly became one of the most successful projects in the MCU’s Phase 5, so it would be fantastic to see her have a key role in the upcoming crossover event.

2) Peter Parker’s Spider-Man

Tom Holland is set to reprise his beloved role of Peter Parker in Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will release only five months before Avengers: Doomsday. As the last movie releasing before Doomsday, Brand New Day will surely set up the crossover in some major ways, and bringing Spider-Man and Doctor Doom together would accomplish this magnificently. What may make their bond even stronger in Doomsday is the fact that Parker admired Tony Stark so much, and Victor Von Doom has Stark’s exact face – both portrayed by Robert Downey Jr..

After the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker is working as a solo and anonymous hero on the streets of New York City. This will make him more mature, grounded, and gritty, which could transform him into a darker hero in Brand New Day. If this is the case, he may be better-primed to partner with Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. It’s unclear how far Parker would go to please someone with the same face as Tony Stark, but his rage in No Way Home and new isolation in the MCU could push him to the extreme

1) Doctor Stephen Strange

The most prominent subject of recent speculation suggesting Doctor Doom will utilize notable MCU heroes in Avengers: Doomsday is Doctor Strange. Benedict Cumberbatch has portrayed the Master of the Mystic Arts since 2016, and he has already proven that he would make a formidable villain in practically all of his MCU appearances. John Krasinski’s Reed Richards even described Strange as “the greatest threat to the multiverse” in 2022, so it isn’t too much of a stretch to imagine Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom working together in Doomsday, just as they do in Marvel Comics.

Strange and Doom work together to reach the Beyonders and steal their power in 2015’s Secret Wars event, after which Strange becomes God Emperor Doom’s sheriff on Battleworld. Of course, he soon learns the error of his ways, but the stage is already set for Cumberbatch’s Strange to become Doom’s right-hand-man in the MCU. He’s already caused an incursion – which he is supposedly trying to fix with Clea (Charlize Theron) – and has an intimate knowledge of the multiverse after his Phase 4 adventure, so Doctor Strange would be a huge asset to Doctor Doom’s upcoming scheme.

Which heroes do you want to see partner with Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday? Let us know in the comments!