Updated
: Aug 17, 2026 8:59am UTC
Robert Downey Jr. will reprise his iconic role of Iron Man for Avengers Infinity Defense, a star-studded new battle against Thanos coming to Disneyland's Avengers Campus.
Downey Jr. will be joined by a slew of other MCU actors, including several others making long-awaited returns: Iman Vellani, most recently seen in 2023's The Marvels, and Jeremy Renner, who last picked up his bow as Hawkeye back in 2021.
Also on board are Anthony Mackie as Captain America and Chris Hemsworth as Thor. Shuri's Black Panther and Ant-Man also look to be making appearances.
A few familiar faces are joining in on the action 💪 @RobertDowneyJr, Anthony Mackie and @ChrisHemsworth will be featured in Avengers Infinity Defense opening at Disney California Adventure in 2028 ⭐ #D23 #Disneyland pic.twitter.com/bPJaXJYmhl
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) August 16, 2026
Avengers Infinity Defense was announced this weekend at D23, during the Disney announcement extravaganza's Horizons: A Carousel of Progress showcase. There, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige and Walt Disney Imagineer Brent Strong gave an update on two new experiences coming to Disney Parks globally.
"Our team enjoys being part of the Disney family because that means we can tell stories in so many ways that go well beyond the big screen," Feige said. "Plus, we've been able to create some storytelling that you can only hear about and experience with the Disney parks."
Opening 2028 in Disneyland's Avengers Campus in California, Avengers Infinity Defense will see guests "reassemble the Avengers to battle King Thanos", Disney has said. Concept art shows a gathered crowd receiving a mission briefing from Ms. Marvel, as numerous other heroes appear via FaceTime. Hey, Hulk is there too!
It's unclear if Avengers Infinity Defense is at all canon to the MCU or indeed where exactly it is set in the Sacred Timeline. Several things immediately are obvious: Tony Stark is most definitely alive here, even though Sam Wilson is Cap and Shuri is Black Panther. But hey, we are still in the Multiverse Saga — maybe this is some other reality's fight against Thanos?
Downey Jr. and Mackie will also reprise their roles for Stark Flight Lab, yet another new attraction coming in 2028 where guests will be able to get to grips with flying like Iron Man. And that's not all — Brie Larson is back as Captain Marvel for this one, too.
Of course, Downey Jr. is far from done with Marvel, as he's set to star in this December's Avengers: Doomsday and next year's Avengers: Secret Wars, albeit as Doctor Doom. What's odd here is seeing him back as his fallen hero, alongside others such as Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel, whose current MCU status remains unknown.
For more from D23, catch up on everything announced for Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line, as well all the big reveals from Disney's main D23 entertainment showcase, including a first proper look at Vision Quest, our best peek at Doom himself in Doomsday, and much more.
Image credit: Disney/Marvel
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at [email protected] or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
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