I'm even more convinced that Doctor Doom will appear in The Fantastic Four: First Steps after the reveal of the MCU reboot's first official synopsis. Out of all the MCU's upcoming projects, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is one I'm looking forward to the most. Not only am I excited to see Marvel's First Family reinvented by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, but I am also intrigued to see the multiverse explored in more detail, and to see some of Marvel's most iconic supervillains, including Galactus and the Silver Surfer, finally appear in the MCU.
After the Fantastic Four were confirmed to be joining the MCU following Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019, there was a huge amount of speculation about what story would unfold in the MCU reboot. I was thrilled to see Ralph Ineson and Julia Garner cast as the planet-eater Galactus and his herald, Shalla-Bal's Silver Surfer, suggesting they'd be the primary antagonists of the Phase 5 movie. However, following new updates, I reckon another powerful villain, Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom, will be making his MCU debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Synopsis Confirms A “Personal” Battle
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Is Scheduled To Premiere On July 25, 2025
Amid news that filming for the upcoming movie has almost been completed, a new synopsis for The Fantastic Four: First Steps has also been released. This synopsis not only confirms the "vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world," but also highlights the Fantastic Four's battle against "ravenous space god" Galactus and his "enigmatic herald." However, the final line of the official synopsis of The Fantastic Four: First Steps has me thinking that the movie will include another formidable villain, as the storyline will suddenly become "very personal."
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ben Grimm/The Thing as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.
I’m Convinced Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Will Appear In The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom Casting Was Confirmed At 2024's SDCC
I was one of many who were shocked when MCU veteran Robert Downey Jr. was confirmed to be returning to the franchise at 2024's SDCC presentation, though not as Tony Stark's Iron Man, but as iconic Marvel villain Doctor Doom. I can't wait to see Downey Jr.'s interpretation of Doctor Doom in the MCU's Phase 6, as he is currently expected to debut in 2026's Avengers: Doomsday. However, following the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps' official synopsis, I'm convinced we'll see Doctor Doom make his first MCU appearance in 2025.
Robert Downey Jr. hasn't been announced to be involved in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but there has been a huge amount of speculation about his possible appearance in the MCU's Phase 5. The Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman knew about Downey Jr.'s casting as Victor Von Doom, while there have been reports, including by insider Jeff Sneider, suggesting Doctor Doom will appear in the movie's end-credits scenes. Following the synopsis' tease of the movie being "very personal," I'm even more convinced that this will happen.
How Doctor Doom Can Make The Fantastic Four’s MCU Debut Even More Personal
Doctor Doom Has Personal Connections To The Fantastic Four
While some have theorized about how Galactus and the Silver Surfer can forge a personal story in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, I reckon it's much more likely that this personal touch will introduce Doctor Doom to the MCU. In Marvel Comics, Doctor Doom has strong connections to the Fantastic Four team, most notably as he studied alongside Reed Richards, the future Mister Fantastic, at university. Doctor Doom also considered Richards and Ben Grimm responsible for sabotaging an experiment that scarred his face and spurred his descent into villainy, which contributed to his lifelong vendetta against the Fantastic Four.
|
Doctor Doom Live-Action Actor |
Debut Movie |
Year |
|---|---|---|
|
Joseph Culp |
The Fantastic Four |
1994 |
|
Julian McMahon |
Fantastic Four |
2005 |
|
Toby Kebbell |
Fantastic Four |
2015 |
|
Robert Downey Jr. |
Avengers: Doomsday |
2026 |
I would love to see this twisted connection established in the MCU, especially since previous live-action adaptations of the Fantastic Four have failed to capture the full impact of Doctor Doom and the Fantastic Four's personal bonds. Introducing Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom as a childhood friend and archenemy to Pedro Pascal's Mister Fantastic would be great to see in the MCU. This would give both Richards and Doom an element of humanity, vulnerability and exposure that will make their Phase 6 storylines even more powerful and intimate.
Doctor Doom In The Fantastic Four: First Steps Perfectly Sets Up Avengers 5 & 6
Doctor Doom Will Be The Primary Villain Of Avengers: Doomsday & Secret Wars
In Marvel Comics, Doctor Doom is a significant component of both 1984's and 2015's Secret Wars events, with the latter featuring him as the architect of Battleworld, and he may be given this role in the MCU, too. We already know that the Russo brothers are wanting to adapt the story of Avengers: Secret Wars as faithfully as possible, which means Doctor Doom may be put front-and-center. This means it will be crucial to set him up as a major threat prior to Avengers: Doomsday, and I think The Fantastic Four: First Steps presents the perfect opportunity.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be set in an alternate universe, and since it seems likely that Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom will not be from Earth-616, it's very possible he helms from First Steps' parallel world. He could become aware of the destruction happening across the multiverse in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which can kick-start his Phase 6 storyline, with him fighting to save the multiverse by any means necessary. This would lay the foundations of a battle between Doctor Doom and Mister Fantastic in Avengers: Secret Wars, which I can't wait to see.
