Doomsday’s Trailer Hide Robert Downey Jr.’s Face?

November 11, 2025

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Now that Avengers: Doomsday‘s trailer release window is known, conversations have shifted from when it could arrive to what Marvel Studios will show in it. There are plenty of exciting elements that the teaser trailer can focus on, such as new character team-ups, fan-favorite characters returning, the multiverse story, and, of course, Doctor Doom.

Robert Downey Jr.’s appearance as Doom has yet to be fully unveiled by the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with only bits of his design seen in The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ post-credits scene. That will surely change with Avengers: Doomsday‘s trailer launch next month. The movie’s title alone suggests a heavy focus on the iconic Marvel villain.

But a debate has arisen regarding whether the footage should show RDJ’s face as Doom for the first time. This comes following rumors that it will not be revealed, with Doom potentially remaining masked for the entire trailer. So, let’s look at the pros and cons of Marvel hiding RDJ’s Doom face in the Doomsday trailer.

The Pros Of Avengers: Doomsday’s Trailer Hiding Robert Downey Jr.’s Face

If Marvel decides to keep Doom’s appearance under the mask a secret for the start of the marketing campaign, that could provide some long-term benefits. The Doomsday trailer could preserve a big mystery and allow audiences to keep debating what Downey Jr. will look like once the metal mask comes off.

That could be smart for Marvel since Doomsday will still be a year away when the trailer debuts. There will be lots of time for additional trailers, posters, images, and more to include RDJ’s face. Keeping it out of the initial teaser will make the reveal even bigger as the film gets closer to release.

This decision would also help set some expectations for Doom’s appearance in the movie. The reason Doom wears the mask in the comics is because of the facial scarring he suffered. Victor Von Doom’s ego also plays a role in this wardrobe choice, as there’s a belief that his desire to be perfect makes him unable to look at himself without the mask, nor does he want others to see him as less than perfect.

By keeping Doom’s mask on in the Doomsday trailer, Marvel can set a precedent for audiences that RDJ’s face won’t be shown prominently in the movie itself. This really depends on how the Russo brothers plan to adapt the character, as Doom taking the mask off in his MCU debut scene may mean he’s less worried about his physical appearance.

Marvel Studios can still use RDJ’s voice and tease Doom’s face without showing it fully, and taking a hidden approach to his appearance could also help the film’s actual heroes. There are dozens of characters in Avengers: Doomsday‘s cast, and they deserve to get a lot of attention as the marketing starts.

If Doom’s face is obscured, then there will naturally be a larger focus on the other characters whom audiences can clearly see. With some complaints about how the MCU has developed various heroes to be in the spotlight for such an event, focusing on them can help give us an idea of which ones have the largest roles to play in fighting Doom.

The Cons Of Avengers: Doomsday’s Trailer Hiding Robert Downey Jr.’s Face

Fantastic Four First Steps Post-Credits scene of Franklin Richards and Doctor Doom

Being secretive about Downey Jr.’s face could also backfire for Marvel Studios and Disney. Everyone wants to know what he looks like in the role and catch a glimpse of how he’s bringing the villain to life. Not showing his face risks making fans upset over not getting something they assumed they would.

This could then take attention away from what Doomsday‘s trailer does include. Not showing his face may become just as big a talking point as if Marvel did show it. This reality would then mean more divisive reactions to the trailer than Marvel can afford.

Showing RDJ’s face is among the biggest reveals the teaser can make without spoiling the film, especially for casual viewers. Keeping that element out of the first trailer could keep buzz from reaching the same heights Marvel achieved with the Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame trailer launches.

It could also be a negative for Doomsday‘s marketability. Even with so many major stars attached, Robert Downey Jr. is still the biggest of them all. He was the face of the MCU for 11 years, and Marvel hasn’t successfully replaced him over the last six years.

They need his face in the trailer to get that pop with audiences and get everyone interested in seeing Doomsday. His face/casting reveal at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 was the biggest moment for Marvel Studios, and if they want the trailer to recapture the levels of discourse online and in person, they need RDJ’s face reveal.

Final Verdict: Doomsday’s Trailer Should Show Robert Downey Jr.’s Doom Face

Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark looking deep in thought at Morgan Stark in Avengers: Endgame — Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark looking deep in thought at Morgan Stark in Avengers: Endgame

After showing RDJ’s face at SDCC but not including it in The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ credits, Marvel has seen the positives and negatives of both showing and hiding him. But after laying all this out, if there is still any debate within the halls of Marvel Studios and among Kevin Feige, fellow executives, and the Russos about what to do, they should show Doom’s face in full.

They simply can’t afford not having the face of the franchise’s biggest star, who is adored by audiences and synonymous with the MCU’s success, present in Avengers: Doomsday‘s first trailer. Including his unmasked appearance as Doctor Doom, even if only for a single shot, is the most surefire way to set the internet ablaze with discussions and, likely, hype.

In this case, the pros of not showing his face do not outweigh the cons. Now we just have to wait until December to see if Avengers: Doomsday‘s trailer gives a proper look at Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom face.