Credit: Marvel Studios / Marvel ComicsThe rumor mill has been spinning non-stop ever since it was confirmed that Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe—but not as the beloved Iron Man. Instead, he’s suiting up as none other than Doctor Doom.
That alone would have been enough to send shockwaves through the fandom. But now, speculation is getting bolder: fans think Downey Jr. isn’t just coming back as Doom… he might be assembling an elite villain team to rival the Avengers.
The idea of Tony Stark’s face behind a mask of one of Marvel’s most feared villains is juicy enough. But imagining him pulling together some of the most dangerous characters in Marvel lore? That’s next-level storytelling potential. And the rumored group already has a name floating around: The Dominion Six.
From Avengers Founder to Villain Ringleader?
It’s almost poetic. Downey Jr.’s original run as Tony Stark laid the foundation for the entire MCU. He wasn’t just a character—he was the cornerstone. In 2012, Iron Man helped unite Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in The Avengers, a cultural phenomenon that forever shifted blockbuster filmmaking.
Now, years after his exit in Avengers: Endgame (2019), Downey Jr. may be positioned to spark another kind of alliance—one that doesn’t fight for truth or justice, but for domination. Instead of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) walking out of the shadows, imagine Doctor Doom calmly recruiting some of the most powerful and unpredictable villains the MCU could ever see.
This is where The Dominion Six comes in.
Enter: The Dominion Six
The rumored roster is stacked: Doctor Doom, Magneto (Ian McKellen), Emma Frost, Sabretooth, Sentry (Lewis Pullman), and Kraven the Hunter (Aaron Taylor-Johnson).
This isn’t your typical “let’s take over the world” cartoonish lineup. It’s a carefully balanced group that combines brilliance, raw power, strategy, and brute force. Each villain brings something unique to the table, and under Doom’s iron grip, they could easily pose a more organized, dangerous threat than anything the Avengers have faced.
Doctor Doom — The Mastermind
Doom doesn’t lead; he commands. His genius-level intellect, mastery of both technology and mysticism, and unmatched ego make him one of Marvel’s greatest antagonists. Unlike Thanos, who wanted balance, Doom wants control. He thrives on structure and believes the world would be better under his rule.
With Robert Downey Jr. set to step into the role, this isn’t just about power—it’s about charisma. Doom, in Downey Jr.’s hands, could be both chilling and mesmerizing. He’s the perfect figure to unify a group of villains who normally wouldn’t work together. If the Avengers had Iron Man leading the charge, the villains may soon have Doom.
Magneto — The Antihero
Magneto has always been a fascinating character because he’s not a traditional villain. He’s an idealist—a revolutionary who sees himself as a protector of mutantkind, not a destroyer. Aligning Magneto with Doom would give the Dominion Six a compelling layer of ideology.
Magneto wouldn’t follow Doom blindly. He’d view the alliance as a means to an end—pushing his vision of mutant supremacy further. His mastery over magnetism and leadership skills make him an essential piece of this puzzle. Where Doom sees control, Magneto sees revolution. That tension alone could make this team dynamic electrifying.
Emma Frost — The Mind
Emma Frost isn’t just a telepath—she’s a manipulator, a strategist, and someone who knows how to play the long game. If Doom represents brains and Magneto represents ideology, Emma represents quiet, yet effective control.
She doesn’t need to lift a finger to change the outcome of a battle. With her psychic abilities, Emma could infiltrate governments, manipulate heroes, or destabilize the Avengers before they even know they’re under attack. A villain team needs muscle, yes—but the real danger often comes from the one whispering in the background.
Sabretooth — The Beast
Every calculated plan needs a blunt weapon. That’s where Sabretooth comes in. His feral nature, brute strength, and brutal unpredictability make him the perfect attack dog for Doom’s plans.
He’s not here to strategize or negotiate—he’s here to make the heroes bleed. Sabretooth brings a layer of pure savagery to the Dominion Six, giving the team an element of chaos to offset Doom’s precision.
Sentry — The Pawn
Sentry is the ultimate “what if” card. A being with the power of a million exploding suns, Sentry isn’t just a villain—he’s an existential threat. If manipulated or controlled, he gives Doom’s team a weapon no hero can match head-to-head.
He’s less of a teammate and more of a tactical nuke. The idea of Sentry standing behind Doom would be enough to make the Avengers rethink their entire playbook.
Kraven the Hunter — The Predator
Kraven the Hunter completes the roster with precision and primal instinct. He’s not about world domination—he’s about the thrill of the hunt. Kraven is patient, calculated, and deadly. While Sabretooth charges in, Kraven stalks his prey.
He gives the Dominion Six a tactical edge, someone who can track and eliminate targets with unsettling accuracy. Heroes wouldn’t just be fighting—they’d be hunted.
A Dangerous Balance
What makes this rumored team so interesting isn’t just who’s in it—it’s how well they balance one another.
Doom: the mastermind and anchor.
Magneto: the ideological counterweight.
Emma Frost: the infiltrator.
Sabretooth: the chaos.
Sentry: the raw, unstoppable power.
Kraven: the precision hunter.
It’s a carefully crafted blend of power types and personalities, designed to make the team terrifying on multiple fronts. And for Marvel, this lineup has a bonus: it gives a few iconic villains another chance on screen (like Magneto and Kraven), while introducing others, like Emma Frost, to the cinematic universe for the first time.
A Force to Be Reckoned With
If these rumors prove true, The Dominion Six wouldn’t just be a one-off villain group—they could anchor a massive arc in upcoming projects like Avengers: Doomsday or future Secret Wars storylines.
With Doom pulling the strings and an elite lineup of villains ready to move, Marvel could create its most layered and dangerous threat yet. A well-constructed villain team has the potential to reshape the MCU in the same way the Avengers once did.
And if Robert Downey Jr. truly is the one behind the mask of Doctor Doom, this next chapter might not just rival the Avengers era—it could eclipse it.
The Rise of a New Power
The return of Robert Downey Jr. alone would have been enough to light a fire under the MCU fandom. But adding the possibility of him leading the Dominion Six as Doom? That’s the kind of shake-up that could define the next decade of Marvel storytelling.
From mastermind manipulators to brute-force brawlers, this rumored team isn’t just well-rounded—it’s formidable. If the Avengers were built to save the world, the Dominion Six might just be built to break it.
Whether it’s Doomsday, Secret Wars, or something entirely unexpected, one thing’s clear: if these rumors pan out, the MCU may be heading for its darkest and most thrilling chapter yet.