Robert Downey Jr. used Halloween to share a custom illustration that places Doctor Doom inside a famous Peanuts trick-or-treat scene. The art shows Ben Grimm/The Thing handing out candy, but Doom walks away with a rock and the line “I got a rock…” The image is playful on the surface, yet it has started a serious conversation among Marvel fans about what happens to The Thing in Avengers: Doomsday.
What Robert Downey Jr Shared on Halloween
The actor posted the artwork on his verified Instagram account on Friday, October 31, 2026, without a caption. The illustration places four trick-or-treaters on a front porch. Three of them wear hooded robes in lime green, purple, and golden yellow. The fourth is a small Doctor Doom with reddish skin and bright green eyes visible behind the mask.
A large orange hand extends from the doorway holding a bowl of candy. That hand belongs to Ben Grimm, also known as The Thing. The Doom trick-or-treater holds up an orange rock instead of candy and says, “I got a rock…”.
The scene directly parodies “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” the 1966 animated special where Charlie Brown famously receives rocks while his friends get candy. Downey’s post turns that unlucky moment into a Marvel joke, with Doom as the kid who gets the worst treat in the bag.
Why the Peanuts Reference Points to Ben Grimm
The joke works on two levels. First, Doctor Doom is one of Marvel’s most powerful villains, and the idea of him trick-or-treating like a disappointed child is intentionally silly. Second, the rock comes from The Thing, whose skin is literally made of orange rock. The visual connects Doom’s disappointing Halloween treat directly to Ben Grimm.
That connection is why the post has been read as more than a holiday gag. The Thing is confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, and he is one of the heroes standing against Doom. Some outlets have noted that the image places Doom and the three Latverian witches together while Ben Grimm appears only as a hand behind a door. That framing has led to theories that The Thing could face a brutal outcome in the film, or that Doom could try to turn him.
“I got a rock…”
The line is a direct quote from the Peanuts special, but in this context it also reads as a small, dark joke about what The Thing might be reduced to when Doctor Doom arrives.
The Thing Is Already Confirmed for Avengers Doomsday
Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays Ben Grimm/The Thing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He first appeared as the character in The Fantastic Four: First Steps in 2025, and he is confirmed to return in Avengers: Doomsday.
The rest of the Fantastic Four are also part of the film. Pedro Pascal plays Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby plays Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, and Joseph Quinn plays Johnny Storm/Human Torch. Their presence matters because the Halloween art places Ben Grimm at the center of the joke, and the film’s story brings the Fantastic Four into direct conflict with Doctor Doom.
When Avengers Doomsday Arrives in Theaters
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to open in theaters on December 18, 2026 in the United States and Canada. International release dates vary. The film is expected to arrive on December 17, 2026 in India, Australia, and Mexico, and on December 16, 2026 in the United Kingdom, China, France, Malaysia, and Singapore.
The movie is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, who previously directed Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. The confirmed runtime is 165 minutes, or 2 hours and 45 minutes.
What the Film’s Official Synopsis Says
Marvel has released an official synopsis for Avengers: Doomsday that sets up a multiverse collision:
“Universes collide and the Multiverse Saga begins its final chapter in Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday. Beloved heroes from three distinct universes will be set on a deadly collision course and ultimately face an existential threat unlike anything they’ve ever encountered.”
The three universes are Earth-616, the main MCU timeline; Earth-828, the world of the Fantastic Four; and Earth-10005, the Fox X-Men universe. Doctor Doom is the threat at the center of that collision, and The Thing is one of the heroes caught in it.
The Three Latverian Witches in the Art
The three hooded figures in Downey’s Halloween illustration match the Latverian Witches who have appeared in Avengers: Doomsday promotional material. The witches wear color-coded robes in green, purple, and red, and their identities have been kept secret.
Sandra Hüller has been confirmed for a cameo role in the film, and rumors have linked her to the Latverian Witches or to Doctor Doom’s mother, Cynthia von Doom. The Halloween art does not reveal who is under the masks, but it does place the witches beside Doom in the same frame as Ben Grimm’s doorway.
Ticket Sales and Runtime Details
Advance ticket sales for Avengers: Doomsday have been strong. Domestic presales reportedly crossed $50 million by early September 2026, and later reports put global presales past $125 million ahead of the December release. Premium-format tickets went on sale as early as July 20, 2026, nearly five months before the film’s opening.
The 165-minute runtime makes Avengers: Doomsday one of Marvel’s longest films. The length fits the film’s three-universe story, which brings together characters from the MCU, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men.
You May Also Like:
View all articles about
How the Halloween Post Fits the Campaign
Robert Downey Jr. has treated his Instagram account as part of the Avengers: Doomsday promotional campaign. He previously posted Doctor Doom-themed images for Valentine’s Day and Easter, and he has used the account to react to posters and trailers in character. The Halloween post continues that pattern: a lighthearted image that still gives fans something to study.
The artwork does not confirm anything about The Thing’s fate. Marvel has not commented on the theories, and the film’s plot remains under wraps beyond the official synopsis. What the post does show is that Ben Grimm is part of the Avengers: Doomsday story, and that Doctor Doom is positioned as the character who takes something away from him.
Also Read: Avengers: Doomsday Betrayal: Fans Are Convinced Doctor Strange Sides With Doom
For more entertainment news and movie updates, keep reading VvipTimes.
Leave a Reply