A new MCU rumor reveals that Robert Downey Jr.’s version of Doctor Doom may be the only one fans see on the big screen. In addition to the next two Avengers films, the upcoming Marvel Studios slate includes a Fantastic Four movie featuring Galactus as a villain, but it seems that the franchise will not be delving into Doom’s relationship with Marvel’s first family. For those who were looking forward to the MCU’s Doctor Doom as a long-term solution to replacing Jonathan Majors’ Kang, the latest rumor may heavily disappoint them.
Industry insider DanielRPK posted on X/Twitter about Doctor Doom’s role in the MCU, well past Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. Ever since Robert Downey Jr. was announced as the villain at San Diego Comic-Con, many have speculated that his grand return would be for more than just a handful of MCU films. However, the epic price tag he carries (along with the Russo brothers) doesn’t change the alleged fact that his Doom will be reserved for an appearance in The Fantastic Four: First Steps and the main villain in Avengers. According to Daniel Richtman, there is no plan to include a different version of Doctor Doom once Downey Jr. eventually retires the mantle.
“That is the big issue with how they’re handling Doom. Even if him and Reed will have a lot of interactions in Doomsday/SW, they are still making him the main antagonist of the multiverse saga and the the Avengers films and Galactus the villain for the F4 movie meaning Doom is now primarily set up as an Avengers villain in the MCU and not a F4 villain. And since MCU villains often die at the climax of their arc it doesn’t leave any chance for him to be a F4 villain afterwards.”
Of course, there is still a chance that somewhere down the line the MCU will eventually re-introduce Doctor Doom. However, it seems incredibly unlikely that Marvel Studios will be doing that in the next phase, nor will they be having Downey Jr. (or otherwise) play the character as the main antagonist in a Fantastic Four film. As Richtman adds, “once the saga wraps up, that’ll likely be it for him.”
The Next Avengers Villains Aren’t Just Doctor Doom
Although Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will be the main villain for the next two Avengers movies and the Multiverse Saga as a whole, he will reportedly not be the only one fighting against Earth’s mightiest heroes. The latest reports surrounding Avengers: Secret Wars suggest that the superhero team could be up against the “Multiversal Masters of Evil,” an amalgamation of heroes and villains from different timelines. It would be a way to replace the Council of Kangs, which were the original bad guys before Jonathan Majors was fired. Obviously, this doesn’t change the fact Doom’s future in the MCU is not what some fans were expecting, but he may be joined by some alternate versions of Doctor Strange, Hulk, Scarlet Witch, among many others.
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Doctor Doom won’t be the main villain in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but everything suggests that he will still appear in the upcoming film and derive from their alternate universe. The disappointing part is that he won’t have the classic relationship with Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), a vital part of their journey in the comics. Still, it seems Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige are determined to make Downey Jr.’s Doom the definitive on-screen version, as this is their chance to “get it right.”