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Robert Downey Jr. surprises audiences at Disney Experiences SXSW panel

By Sophia Soto | Last updated Mar 8, 2025 11:12 PM ET

During the The Future of World-Building at Disney panel at South by Southwest, Robert Downey Jr., aka Iron Man and soon to be Victor Von Doom, crashed to share some exciting updates for Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure.

"Our filmmakers and Imagineers connect throughout the process to bring these stories from the screen into the real world in innovative and surprising ways," Disney Experiences Co-Chairman Alan Bergman shared on stage. "One of my favorite parts of my job is joining Josh and his team in those early concept meetings, where we get to see our stories and characters take on a whole new life."

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Downey is ready to invite guests into Tony Stark's tech workshop with Stark Flight Lab. Disney Parks Blog reports, "Visit Tony’s workshop to see what he’s been tinkering with, and then find yourself practicing for battle, too, along with some fan-favorite Super Heroes."

This Summer, the Fantastic Four will also arrive in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. That's right, the whole family, including Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm, will be there to celebrate Fantastic Four: First Steps releasing in theaters.

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On the Star Wars' front, you'll have a new mission on Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run to promote The Mandalorian and Grogu, which will hit theaters on Memorial Day Weekend 2026.

Meanwhile, Disney World is getting a new Cars experience in Magic Kingdom that will "take guests on an off-road rally race as you race over rocky terrain, ascend to mountain peaks, and dodge geysers." In Hollywood Studios, you will be able to meet Mike, Sulley, and more of the Monsters, Inc. scare crew on a new door coaster. According to Disney Parks Blog, this will be the first ever suspended coaster and vertical lift at a Disney Park.

Avengers: Doomsday is currently scheduled to come out in May 2026.

Sophia Soto

Sophia Soto is a writer and interviewer with a passion for all things entertainment. She is a Senior Reporter at The Nerds of Color and contributes to Yardbarker, Screensphere, Den of Geek, What to Watch, Nerdtropolis, and Temple of Geek. You can see her past work on Remezcla, Young Hollywood, Looper, Paste Magazine, Primetimer, Soundsphere, and Starry Constellation Magazine

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