Is Robert Downey Jr. Really Not in The Marvel’s Fantastic Four Movie?

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The question of whether Doctor Doom will feature in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” has finally been answered. It’s now known that Robert Downey Jr.’s new Marvel character will serve as the primary antagonist in the forthcoming films, “Avengers: Doomsday” (initially scheduled for May 2026 but now moved to December) and “Avengers: Secret Wars” (originally slated for May 2027, also rescheduled to December). Given that Doctor Doom is a long-standing adversary of Marvel’s First Family, it’s plausible he might appear in the cast of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”, but it remains uncertain at this point.

As per the most recent edition of Empire Magazine (as reported by ComicBookMovie), director Matt Shakman from The Fantastic Four: First Steps has clarified that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will not be featured in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film. Earlier speculations suggested that Doctor Doom was set to make his MCU entrance during the mid/post-credits sequence of The Fantastic Four First Steps, with recent gossip fueling this theory. However, Shakman insists that Doctor Doom is not part of the narrative for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, as it primarily revolves around Galactus and the Silver Surfer serving as the main antagonists. Here’s the exact quote from Shakman:

(Provide the full quote here)

“Doom is not a part of my film, and therefore not a part of my purview.”

What The MCU Fantastic Four Movie Director’s Doctor Doom Comments Mean

Marvel Studios Might Finally Break A Fantastic Four Movie Trend

In the upcoming movie, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” it’s unusual that Doctor Doom might not make an appearance, as he has been a constant presence in all previous live-action adaptations of the Fantastic Four. If this holds true, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” would be the first film in the series without Doctor Doom. Instead, his introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe could occur later in “Avengers: Doomsday,” where he is slated to play the main antagonist.

It’s always plausible that director Shakman might be withholding truths about MCU reveals to protect the movie’s secrets. If reports are correct and Doctor Doom makes an appearance in the credits scene of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’, then it could very well be that Shakman is speaking honestly, as he stated previously that the villain isn’t actually in the film, and technically a post-credits scene occurs beyond that. In simpler terms, there might be some ambiguity about whether what Shakman said is true or not if Doctor Doom does indeed show up in the movie’s credits.

Our Take On The MCU Fantastic Four Movie Director’s Doctor Doom Comments

Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU Villain Needs All The Time He Can Get

Given that the Multiverse Saga initially positioned Kang the Conqueror as the main antagonist for the next two Avengers films, it seems likely that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will be short on time to establish Doctor Doom. Therefore, introducing the character in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” would align well with the narrative. In this scenario, Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Doctor Doom doesn’t necessarily need a significant role; even a brief appearance could help create a link between him and the team. Considering previous rumors about a post-credits debut, I find it plausible that Matt Shakman might be concealing secrets related to “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

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2025-06-04 14:19