Perhaps attempting to prove that reports of imminent box office demise have been greatly exaggerated, Marvel on Wednesday announced major casting news for its upcoming “Avengers” sequel that both flex the power of its history and set it up for the future.

Avengers: Doomsday will see Downey Jr return to the MCU to play a new character, taking on the role of the villainous Dr Doom rather than his long-time character Tony Stark, aka Iron Man.

Scots actor Alan Cumming has been cast in Marvel's new Avengers film - as a superhero he last played 22 years ago. The 60-year-old, who grew up in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, will reprise his role as X Men character Nightcrawler in Avengers: Doomsday.