Summary
Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will reportedly debut inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. For the first time since 2019’sAvengers: Endgame, Downey will come back to theMarvel Cinematic Universe. RDJ has been cast as Doctor Doom, with the character set to play a major role in the next two Avengers movies,DoomsdayandSecret Wars. However, the villain will reportedly debut in one ofMarvel’s biggest 2025 movies.
According toThe InSneider,Downey’s Doctor Doom will be introduced to the MCU in the mid/post-credits sequence inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. The report also reveals that the original info the outlet received was that RDJ’s character, who was described as Victor von Doom byAvengers: DoomsdayandSecret Warsdirectors the Russo Brothers atSan Diego Comic-Con, would be a multiverse variant of Tony Stark, though that might not be the case. Downey will reportedly make $50 million per movie, not counting back-end deals. The move would be massive forThe Fantastic Four: First Steps' story.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Cast & Character Guide
The cast of Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four reboot has begun to be revealed, ahead of the highly-anticipated movie’s release on July 24, 2025.
How The Fantastic Four: First Steps Can Set Up RDJ’s Doctor Doom
The MCU Movie’s Setting Could Explain It
While Marvel Studios still has to say it, it is all but confirmed thatThe Fantastic Four: First Stepswill take place not just in the past but in a different universe. Elements like official concept art from the movie showing a retro-futuristic New York and more, thefirst teaser for the Fantastic Four rebootconfirming the 1960s retro-futuristic aesthetic, and casting have teased that the movie takes place in an alternate universe, with the Fantastic Four possibly coming to Earth-616 by the end of the film.
WithThe Fantastic Four: First Stepslikely taking place in a different universe and Ralph Ineson’s Galactus being the film’s main villain, there is a clear story that could be in play. The heroes could spend the movie trying to stop Galactus from coming to Earth and consuming their home. However, by the end of the movie, the team either realizes it has to escape and goes to Earth-616 — the main MCU — or Reed Richards and the others are brought to the MCU by an entity like the Watcher.
What RDJ’s Doctor Doom Casting Means For Iron Man’s MCU Return Theories
Robert Downey Jr. is coming back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to play Doctor Doom, and that casting impacts Iron Man’s return chances directly.
RDJ’s Doctor Doom could then come from the Fantastic Four’s universe. As Galactus is the main villain ofThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsand Doom has appeared in all of the team’s live-action films to date, it would make sense for the character to appear in his reported post-credits scene role. Doctor Doom could stay behind to watch his Earth get devoured by Galactus as the Fantastic Four escape. This would lead to Doom blaming Reed Richards and the others for the destruction of his home, which could culminate in RDJ’s Doctor Doom multiversal journey that starts inAvengers: Doomsday.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Cast
The Fantastic 4: First Steps features Marvel’s First Family navigating their dual roles as superheroes and family members in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. They defend Earth from a formidable space god, Galactus, and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer, testing their familial bonds and heroic resolve.
