<p class="ingestion featured-caption">Joe (left) and Anthony (right) Russo are returning to direct the next "Avengers" film, while Robert Downey Jr. will play the main villain.Jesse Grant / Getty Images for Disney</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Marvel Studios announced that the next Avengers film will be "Avengers: Doomsday."</li><li>The company also revealed that Robert Downey Jr. is returning to play the villain Doctor Doom.</li></ul><p><a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/marvel-movies-ranked-how-much-money-at-global-box-office-2021-11">Marvel Studios</a> announced that Robert Downey Jr. and directors the Russo brothers will return for its next big crossover movie, "Avengers: Doomsday," in what appeared to be an attempt to use nostalgia to win back fans.</p><p>For months, fans have been worried about what will happen to <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russo-brothers-return-to-marvel-avengers-superhero-fatigue-2024-7">the next "Avengers" movie</a> after Marvel Studios faced a series of problems.</p><p>Destin Daniel Cretton, the original director of "Avengers 5," dropped out in November 2023. Weeks later, <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/actor-jonathan-majors-loses-bid-to-toss-domestic-violence-conviction-2024-4">Jonathan Majors</a>, who was set to play the next major villain, Kang, was fired by Marvel after he was convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend.</p><p>This came against a backdrop of audiences losing interest in <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mcu-movies-and-tv-series-ranked-by-critics-2022-6">Marvel TV shows and movies</a>, leading to the company's last release in 2023, "The Marvels," losing $237 million at the box office, according to<a target="_blank" href="https://deadline.com/2024/05/biggest-box-office-bombs-2023-lowest-grossing-movies-1235902825/"><u> Deadline</u></a>'s estimates.</p><p>Marvel Studios appears to be attempting to revitalize interest in its franchise by bringing back <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kevin-feige-robert-downey-jr-chris-evans-return-marvel-2024-7">beloved characters</a> and actors.</p><p>Marvel Studios announced at the end of their panel at the San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday that "<a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/marvel-movie-release-date-schedule-2020-4">Avengers: Doomsday</a>" and the film that follows it, "Avengers: Secret Wars," will be directed by the Russo brothers.</p><p>Joe and Anthony Russo directed the last two "Avengers" movies, which made over $4 billion in total and are the current second and sixth-<a target="_blank" rel href="https://www.businessinsider.com/highest-grossing-movies-all-time-worldwide-box-office-2018-4"><u>highest-grossing movies of all time</u></a>.</p><p>It also announced that Downey Jr., who played the beloved hero <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/robert-downey-jr-marvel-iron-man-would-flop-2022-12">Iron Man</a> for over a decade, is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to play Doctor Doom, the new villain in "Avengers: Doomsday."</p><p>Though there had been speculation that Downey Jr. may return to the MCU at some point, the announcement was a surprise to many fans because the actor only left the franchise five years ago after Iron Man sacrificed his life at the end of "Avengers Endgame" to save the universe.</p><p>Downey Jr.'s return could bring disillusioned fans back to the franchise. But some fans have said this move would ruin Downey Jr.'s final performance in "<a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/avengers-endgame-is-even-better-than-infinity-war-2019-4">Avengers Endgame</a>" and the legacy of Doctor Doom, one of the most popular Marvel comic villains.</p><p>Here's what to know about "Avengers: Doomsday," which premieres on May 1, 2026.</p>