When Robert Downey Jr. made one of the biggest announcements in Marvel history by returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom, he did not let Tom Holland find out from a press release. He called him. Speaking during the Spider-Man: Brand New Day press tour, Holland revealed that Downey personally phoned him ahead of the public announcement, and that he immediately turned to Zendaya the moment he hung up.
“I think I hung up the phone and said, ‘Downey’s coming back,'” Holland told Cinemania during the press tour. Zendaya, who was in the same room when he got the call, confirmed the story. Holland said the two actors have stayed in regular contact since their time together in the MCU, describing their friendship as one built on casual catch-ups rather than industry formality. “He checks in,” Holland said simply.
A Friendship Forged in the MCU
Holland and Downey’s bond goes back to the earliest days of Holland’s time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, when Tony Stark served as mentor and father figure to his Peter Parker across three team-up films spanning from Captain America: Civil War through Avengers: Endgame. Downey’s death as Tony Stark in Endgame was one of the most emotionally charged moments in the franchise’s history, and his return, now as Doctor Doom, sets up one of the most layered and potentially heartbreaking dynamics the MCU has ever constructed.
Holland admitted that the studios are deliberately keeping him in the dark about the details of Avengers: Doomsday, given his well-documented history of accidentally letting Marvel secrets slip. He handled the Doctor Doom news with unusual restraint, though only by limiting his circle of trust to one person.
What It Means for Spider-Man
The prospect of Peter Parker eventually coming face to face with a man wearing Tony Stark’s face, now as a villain, is one of the most emotionally loaded setups Marvel has planted in years. Holland has said he finds the idea deeply exciting, while also making clear that he does not yet know how or when Spider-Man factors into the Doomsday storyline.
Downey has reportedly thrown himself into developing Doctor Doom, contributing to backstory and costume design alongside the Russo Brothers. The character, also known as Victor Von Doom, is a very different figure from Tony Stark, and Downey’s involvement in shaping that distinction suggests the performance will be something unlike his Iron Man work.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens July 31, 2026, and Avengers: Doomsday follows on December 18. Check out our coverage of Brand New Day’s record presales and the latest on Avengers: Doomsday’s growing cast.
For the latest news and updates make sure to follow us on social media! Facebook | Twitter | Threads | Instagram
