Downey and Pascal Swap Marvel Roles for Halloween

Robert Downey Jr. and Pedro Pascal marked Halloween by swapping the Marvel characters they are set to play in Avengers: Doomsday, sharing a video of the costume change on social media. Downey appeared as Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, while Pascal wore Doctor Doom’s costume. The playful post offered no confirmation of fan speculation that the swap signaled a plot development. Downey posted the video on Instagram with the caption, “Victor. Richard. Costume swap!” The names refer to Victor von Doom and Richards, the characters the actors are expected to portray in the film. In the clip, the pair reveal their costumes; Downey also jokingly says, “Crossdressing!” Pascal responds with an amused laugh. The roles reverse the actors’ planned screen identities: Downey is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom, and Pascal is playing Richards. Their characters are associated with a rivalry in Marvel stories, giving the Halloween exchange a connection to the film’s central pairing. The video itself, however, was presented as a costume joke, not an explanation of the story. Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for release in U.S. theaters on December 18, 2026....