Robert Downey Jr and Pedro Pascal swap Avengers alter egos for Halloween

Of course, the world knows that former Iron Man Downey is (somehow) essaying the new Big Bad role of Doctor Victor Von Doom in the upcoming box office conqueror, with Pascal reprising his Fantastic Four: First Steps role as super-genius who somehow screws everything up Reed Richards (aka Mr. Fantastic). But the actors, parodying Downey’s CinemaCon unmasking as his second metal-masked MCU character earlier this year, clearly delighted in puncturing some of the somber blockbuster seriousness surrounding the relentless Avengers: Doomsday marketing. (The film opens on December 17.)

Downey mugged in fear as Pascal slowly lifted his Doom mask to reveal the switcheroo, with Downey exclaiming, “Cross-dressing!” while Pascal adopted a badass stance and let out an adorable little evil hiss. Downey later posted a Peanuts-recalling cartoon of his Doom trick-or-treating with his witch pals. (Who dares give Von Doom a rock?)

Naturally, there’s rampant speculation online about the clearly lighthearted gag, most of it centered on Pascal’s Doom sporting an M.I.T sweatshirt. After all, in the comics, Reed and Victor were brainy college besties before an accident scarred Victor’s face, sending the pair down very different moral paths. Regardless, it’s pretty cute stuff, and while it’s unclear where the video was taken, it’s hard not to wish that Pascal and Downey stuck around to answer the door to some kids trick-or-treating in Avengers costumes.