The Oscar winner will return at the Disneyland Resort as Iron Man after the character previously died in “Avengers: Endgame.”

Robert Downey Jr. reviving Iron Man role, will return in new Disney project after Avengers: Endgame death

The Oscar winner will return at the Disneyland Resort as Iron Man after the character previously died in “Avengers: Endgame.”

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on August 16, 2026 11:40 a.m. ET

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Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in ‘Iron Man 3.’. Credit:

Zade Rosenthal/Walt Disney Pictures/courtesy Everett

- Robert Downey Jr. will reprise the role of Iron Man inside Disney California Adventure’s Avengers: Infinity Defense ride.

- Other stars who filmed scenes for the ride include Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, and Chris Hemsworth as Thor.

- The ride is set to open in 2028 at the Disneyland Resort.**

Over seven years after his character died at the end of *Avengers: Endgame,* Oscar-winning actor Robert Downey Jr. will reprise the role of Iron Man in a new Disney theme park project.

Disney announced Saturday at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event that Downey will return as Iron Man in the new Disneyland attraction Avengers: Infinity Defense alongside Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, and Chris Hemsworth as Thor.

*Ms. Marvel* actress Iman Vellani also filmed scenes for her return as the miniseries’ titular character, who will chart the course for guests in an introductory video presentation that will play before the ride begins.

All of the actors filmed scenes for the new attraction, which will open at the Disney California Adventure theme park in 2028, directly across from the original Disneyland park that opened in 1955.

Disney additionally unveiled some of the stars filming footage (above) that will eventually appear inside the attraction, with Downey addressing guests in rough footage as he tells them, “Welcome to Avengers Campus. We built this place to recruit, inspire the next generation” of heroes.

“You’re a big part of that mission,” he continues, teasing the ride’s plot that unites heroes to do battle with the notorious villain, Thanos.

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At one point, Downey exclaims, “They are not ready for Thanos,” while shots of Downey and the other stars doing battle also flashed on screen.

Infinity Defense will open alongside another new ride, Stark Flight Lab, which also centers around Downey’s Tony Stark, and will take riders on a tense journey while riding atop an arm that dips, dives, and moves side to side while fixed to a moving track.

Downey will again reprise the role of Iron Man for Stark Flight Lab, as will Mackie as Captain America. *Captain Marvel** *actress Brie Larson will join them, with new scenes filmed for the second attraction as well.

Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, and Iman Vellani return in ‘Avengers’ ride.

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“Together, they will be your flight instructors as you discover what it’s like to train like an Avenger,” Imagineer Brent Strong told the audience gathered inside Anaheim, Calif.’s Honda Center, where the company made most of its exciting theme park announcements for projects currently in development as well as major new additions heading to the parks in the coming years.

Other announcements included updates on Disney World’s long-awaited Villains Land, Harrison Ford’s return as Indiana Jones for a new Animal Kingdom ride, and updates on attractions heading to both California Adventure and Animal Kingdom themed to *Coco* and *Encanto*, respectively.

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Downey last played Tony Stark/Iron Man in 2019’s blockbuster hit *Avengers: Endgame*, though Iron Man died at the end of the film. He’ll return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, however, later this year as Victor Von Doom, also known as supervillain Doctor Doom, in December’s *Avengers: Doomsday**.*

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Source: “EW Disney”