Avengers Doomsday Theory: Robert Downey Jr.'s Dr. Doom Rewrites the MCU With Spider-Man at the Center
Doctor Victor von Doom is poised to become the MCU’s next nightmare, and a bold new theory says he won’t just conquer a universe—he’ll build one from scratch. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes may have to power up fast to stop one of Marvel’s coldest tyrants from rewriting reality.
Marvel has been quietly lining up Doctor Doom as the next problem everyone in the MCU has to solve, and a new fan theory goes big with how he allegedly does it: he builds his own universe, crowns himself emperor, and might take Spider-Man off the board to get there. Yes, it is that kind of theory.
The setup: RDJ as Doom, a new saga, and one very ambitious plan
Marvel tapped Robert Downey Jr. to play Doctor Victor von Doom, with his involvement in the new saga announced back in 2024. The theory making the rounds ties that casting into a larger arc that ends with Doom ruling something called Battleworld. It also leans on some deep continuity and a few recent teases, including a post-credit stinger from Fantastic Four: First Steps where Doom and Franklin Richards briefly cross paths.
Where the theory came from
An Instagram post from What Now Nerds kicked this off, and a November 1, 2025 tweet from The Marvelous Geek amplified it to the broader fandom. The gist is that Doom can tear down the multiverse, but to actually build a brand-new one where he is the unquestioned ruler, he has to work through a very specific checklist that involves several heavy hitters.
'Doctor Victor von Doom is capable of destroying the multiverse, but he won't be able to forge a new universe. However, in order to create his own universe where he is the king and the one being followed, he must manipulate six prime beings.'
How Doom supposedly pulls it off
- Day One: make room for a new universe by targeting Franklin Richards. The theory says Doom manipulates or kidnaps Franklin to carve out the cosmic 'space' he needs. That tracks with the quick tease of Doom meeting Franklin in the Fantastic Four: First Steps post-credits.
- Day Two: bring in Galactus for power. Doom cuts a deal to siphon cosmic energy, likely dangling Franklin as bait since Galactus has a documented appetite for the kid's power in the comics. Once Doom gets what he wants, he disposes of Galactus. Brutal, but on-brand.
- Day Three: sacrifice the Sacred Timeline's 'anchor being' on Earth-616 to mint new souls for the fresh universe. The theory points to Spider-Man as that anchor after Tony Stark's death, which implies Doom might literally kill Peter Parker to snap the timeline loose.
- Day Four: spark consciousness using The Void. Then twist reality into shape with Wanda Maximoff. The theory argues Wanda isn't actually dead; if she is, Doom revives her and bends her chaos magic to his will.
- Build the arena: the result is Battleworld, where Avengers and assorted heroes are forced into gladiator roles while Doom rules as emperor.
- Keep the machine running: Doom leverages Loki, who sacrificed himself at the end of the Disney+ series, to keep everything moving according to plan.
About those 'six prime beings': the post claims Doom has to manipulate six of them. It clearly names Franklin, Galactus, Spider-Man (as the anchor), Wanda, and Loki. The sixth isn't spelled out, which is either deliberate mystery or just part of the tease.
So what is going on with the Fantastic Four?
We have already seen the Fantastic Four's ship breaching the atmosphere of Earth-616, which implies they're in trouble. Two options, neither comforting: they're fleeing their own world to avoid Doom, or Doom has already snatched Franklin and the team is trying to get help from the Sacred Timeline's heroes.
A quick rewind for context
For a reality check on the character: Doom was last portrayed on the big screen by Julian McMahon in 2005's Fantastic Four from 20th Century Fox. Different universe, different vibe. If the current plan sticks, RDJ's Doom would be the centerpiece villain of Marvel's Multiversal Saga, culminating in Avengers: Doomsday.
What to watch if you want to track the breadcrumbs
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (May 6, 2022) is on Disney+. The Marvels (November 10, 2023) is also on Disney+. Loki Season 2 (October 5, 2023) is on Disney+ and matters here because of Loki's sacrifice and The Void. Captain America: Brave New World is pegged for February 14, 2025 on Disney+. Fantastic Four: First Steps has a bit of calendar confusion: a July 25, 2025 date has been floated, but it is also said to hit Disney+ on November 5, 2025. Either way, that post-credit moment with Doom and Franklin is the piece to watch for.
Dates to circle
Fantastic Four: First Steps is slated to land on Disney+ November 5, 2025. Avengers: Doomsday is dated December 18, 2026.
Wild theory? Definitely. But it's a clean, ruthless Doom-throughline that would explain a lot of recent setup. If Marvel actually goes there and Spider-Man is the anchor sacrifice, expect chaos. Thoughts? Predictions? Hit me with yours.