Robert Downey Jr. is officially suiting up as Iron Man again, even as his Marvel Cinematic Universe future takes a villainous turn. Disney confirmed at D23 that the Oscar winner will reprise Tony Stark for two new attractions coming to Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure.
Downey’s Iron Man will appear alongside Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye and other Marvel favorites when the expanded land opens in 2028. The announcement comes as Downey prepares to play Doctor Doom in “Avengers: Doomsday,” meaning fans will soon see him embody both an iconic Marvel hero and one of its most dangerous villains.
Disney revealed the new details during its Experiences showcase at D23 in Anaheim on Saturday, August 15. According to PEOPLE, Downey will portray Tony Stark in both Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab, two attractions currently under construction at Disney California Adventure.
The projects will double the size of Avengers Campus and bring several MCU actors back to their established roles. Imagineers shared behind-the-scenes footage of Downey, Hemsworth, Mackie, Larson and Renner recording material for the attractions while working on the set of “Avengers: Doomsday” in London.
The news marks Downey’s latest return as Iron Man following Tony Stark’s death in 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.” His involvement is not limited to a recycled movie scene or archival footage. The actor has recorded new material created specifically for the Disneyland Resort experiences.
‘Avengers Infinity Defense’ Will Bring Thanos Back
Avengers Infinity Defense will place guests in the middle of a multiverse-spanning fight against an alternate version of Thanos. The attraction begins when Ms. Marvel, played by Iman Vellani, welcomes riders as new recruits and delivers their assignment. “It’s up to you to assemble the Avengers and stop Thanos,” Imagineers explained during the presentation.
The attraction’s villain is King Thanos, a version of the character from a reality in which he successfully defeated the Avengers. Riders will be tasked with reassembling the heroes and preventing him from using stolen Stark technology to spread destruction across multiple worlds.
The adventure will transport guests through recognizable Marvel locations, including Asgard, Wakanda, and New York City. Disney says the attraction will combine large physical sets with massive media scenes to create the feeling of moving between different worlds.
‘Stark Flight Lab’ Lets Guests Train Like Avengers
Downey will also play a central role in Stark Flight Lab, an attraction inspired by Tony Stark’s technology and experimentation. Mackie and Larson will join him as Captain America and Captain Marvel. “They will be your flight instructors as you feel what it’s like to train like an Avenger,” Imagineers said.
Guests will sit inside two-person “gyro-kinetic pods” that travel along a track before arriving at a testing station. A giant robotic arm will then lift each pod and perform high-speed movements designed to simulate flying like an Avenger.
Disney has said the ride’s movements will be inspired by Iron Man and other Marvel heroes. Imagineers previously worked with dancers to help choreograph how the robotic arms move, allowing the machines to produce different flight patterns and experiences.
Avengers Campus Will Double In Size
Both new attractions are scheduled to open in 2028. They will join the two existing Marvel rides at Disney California Adventure: Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! and WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure.
Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! follows Rocket as he attempts to free the other Guardians from the Collector’s fortress. Meanwhile, WEB SLINGERS allows guests to help Spider-Man capture Spider-Bots that have escaped inside the Worldwide Engineering Brigade campus.
Avengers Campus also includes character encounters and Pym Test Kitchen, a restaurant inspired by “Ant-Man and The Wasp” that plays with dramatically enlarged and reduced food items.
Marvel Fans Will See Downey As Both Hero And Villain
Downey first portrayed Tony Stark in 2008’s “Iron Man,” the movie that launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He continued playing the character across numerous solo films and team-up events before Stark sacrificed himself to defeat Thanos in “Avengers: Endgame.”
His return to Marvel was announced with a completely different character, stunning fans who expected any potential comeback to involve an alternate version of Iron Man. Now, Disney is giving audiences both. Downey will embrace his darker Marvel future as Doctor Doom on the big screen while preserving his heroic legacy as Tony Stark at Disney California Adventure.
Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab will open in 2028, giving fans their next chance to assemble with Downey’s Iron Man, even as his Doctor Doom prepares to tear the cinematic universe apart.
