Marvelhas a long list of characters that fans have been calling for since the early days. As Disney gradually acquired more and more of their competitors, they extended that list. Doctor Doom has been on the list since the failure of the thirdFantastic Fourmovie. As the franchise enters a grim time, they’re rapidly reaching toward the fan favorites. Perhaps their most desperate move to date came when they announced Robert Downey Jr. as the performer behind Doctor Doom. The reactions have been mixed, but it might not be the final word about the character.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a bit unimpressive with its multiverse so far. The options should be unlimited, with theoretically infinite new developments, but it typically uses theconcept as a justificationto pack in fanservice and callbacks. It’s the least imaginative version of the multiverse. Future iterations of the franchise will have to find things to do with the central gimmick. Multiple versions of known characters will likely be the most straightforward development, but infinite options should provide infinite opportunities.
Robert Downey Jr. will play Doctor Doom inAvengers: Doomsday
It’s hard not to imagine the writers room meeting before Marvel’s announcement at SDCC this year. They’re feeling the pressure of a few unsuccessful films. People on the internet thinkthe good days are over. Video game movies, toy adaptations, and biopics of World War II era scientists are beating the empire at its own game. They need a reset. The studio demands something to guarantee that there will still be something worth tuning in for. They bring out the big guns; Robert Downey Jr. is coming back. They know they can’t throw out the note perfect ending Tony Stark received, so RDJ has to do something new. They look at that long list of characters they still have on the table, possibly remember theDemon in an Armorrun from 2010, and drop what should’ve been their best idea yet.Robert Downey Jr. will return, but he’ll be Doctor Doom.
This version of Doom might be temporary
On paper, it’s a fine idea. Theywant their star backand their most popular villain on the scene, so they make a neat combination. The reaction was not as universally positive as they might have expected. A lot of fans bemoaned the obvious desperation it would take the company to resort to this casting call. News came out suggesting that RDJ would receive a considerably higher payout for the project, which isn’t necessarily a moral failing, but it definitely implies a degree of hopelessness. Bringing the Russo brothers back only supports that suggestion. It’s not unlike Disney’sstewardship overDoctor WhoorStar Wars, both of which saw familiar creators, characters, and concepts after a period of questionable performance. These complaints join the other concerns that follow Doctor Doom.
Doctor Doom has appeared in three feature films so far. He’s been terrible in every iteration, but the MCU seemed like an opportunity to do him justice. Leaning into Robert Downey Jr. as the performer seems opposed to that possibility. It seems impossible to imagine they’d just cast him without any references to the most iconic character in the franchise. It’s much more likely that RDJ is portraying a multiversal variant of Tony Stark. This isn’t confirmed, but one of the most consistent sticking pointsagainst Victor Von Doomis his name. Swapping in Tony Stark with a bit of justification from the aforementioned comic series would sort that out. It also seems too tantalizing for Marvel, as nothing would get an audience talking more than seeing an evil version of their favorite hero. With that idea in mind, it shouldn’t be out of the question to see a more traditional Doom in future iterations.
The MCU should introduce a more faithful Doctor Doom
Doctor Doom is one of the most interesting and complex antagonists in the MCU, but his role is varied. One of the problems in the MCU is that their villains tend to leave the roster after they lose in their debut appearance. Loki is nearly the only antagonist who gets to stick around and play both sides.Doom is almost nevera hero, but he is a figure who finds himself in many strange alliances. If Marvel wants an interesting version of Doom, he has to stick around, appear consistently, and do more than their usual one-off villains. If their Doom is a variant, they will eventually let that character overstay his welcome. That could happen in the first entry. If RDJ appears as a Stark variant, he doesn’t have to be the only version of the character. Let that iteration appear, face his enemies, die, and yield to the real Victor Von Doom.
Doom is too interesting to waste on a nostalgia-bait callback performance. He’s also a member of the Roma ethnic group who should be represented as such, but that’s a separate issue. It’s fine to use returning performers. No one even seems to have noticed that the guy who will playBen Grimm inThe Fantastic Fouris already Micro inThe Punisher. The difference is that casting Robert Downey Jr. is a transparent reach for the fanbase. Doom deserves better, and the opportunity to give him that is still there. Save Victor Von Doom for a real portrayal.
