We’re still reeling from the Marvel Studios panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Not only did we learn that Avengers: The Kang Dynasty will now be titled Avengers: Doomsday, but also that Robert Downey, Jr. is taking up the role of iconic Marvel villain Doctor Doom. Fans have waited years for the Fantastic Four and Doom to make their way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but we won’t have to wait much longer.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is arriving in theaters on July 25, 2025, and Kevin Feige confirmed at the panel that the Fantastic Four will be appearing in both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. We’ve discussed recently why the Multiverse Saga pivoting to Doctor Doom was Marvel’s only option after dropping Kang the Conqueror, but what about the F4? Well, if Marvel Studios wants to make this work, then it’d be for the best if they let the Fantastic Four take the lead of their upcoming Avengers films.
Although the debut of the Fantastic Four marked the beginning of the Marvel Universe in the comics, 20th Century Fox owning the live-action rights prevented them from being part of the Infinity Saga. Now that the F4 are back with Marvel Studios, we’re getting not just a brand new take on Marvel’s First Family, but also the promise that they’ll be an integral part of the MCU going forward. Since Ralph Ineson’s Galactus is set to be the main villain of First Steps, we could see RDJ’s Doom debuting in a post-credits scene that leads into Avengers: Doomsday. All well and good, but there are some practical concerns that make us wonder just how exactly this is all going to work, especially in regards to Doom’s relationship with the Fantastic Four. The biggest one? RDJ’s Doctor Doom costs way too much money.
How Much Doctor Doom Does $80 Million-Plus Get You?
According to a report from Variety, RDJ is set to make more than $80 million for portraying Doom in the next two Avengers films. With such a hefty price tag, it’s likely that these will be the only two MCU films that prominently feature the character, barring a recast or reboot down the line. We’ve discussed previously on IGN why going with a voice actor for Doom in the MCU would’ve both honored the character and been a way to mitigate costs, but Marvel Studios clearly felt differently. It’s possible RDJ will mostly be doing a voice role and Doom will keep the mask on, but it’s likely that both Downey and Marvel will want the face time if they’re paying him that much for his performance. Yet the money situation also means that there’s probably limited time for Doom and his rivalry with the Fantastic Four, especially Reed Richards, to be adapted into the MCU.
Yes, Doom has run into pretty much every superhero in the Marvel Universe at some point or another, but his greatest enemy will always be Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic. The two genius scientists have been each other’s dark mirrors ever since their college days, and their dynamic is one of the most layered of all the hero-villain pairings in the Marvel pantheon. Pedro Pascal and Robert Downey, Jr. are both excellent actors, and there’s plenty of potential once they finally square off in the MCU. But that also means that if RDJ’s Doom is presumably only going to be in these two movies, then Marvel needs to take full advantage of that rivalry in the time they have. It’s also important to remember the 2015 Secret Wars storyline from the comics that the movie will most likely pull inspiration from (recall that Incursions, which are a key aspect of that saga, were already a plot point in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness) was more about Reed and Doom’s relationship than it was about tons of Marvel multiverse stuff, although that was part of it too.
What Avengers Anyway?
If Marvel plays their cards right, the MCU’s Fantastic Four will be our “in” to Doom and whatever the new Avengers line-up will be in Avengers: Doomsday. Speaking of which, that raises an important question: Who are the Avengers right now anyway? So many of their heavy-hitters are off the table; Tony is dead, Widow is dead, Steve is old, T’Challa is dead, Wanda is (maybe) dead.
The Multiverse Saga hasn’t answered the question of what’s going on with the Avengers roster. Has the organization disbanded? Who will make up the new team? We assume Sam Wilson as Captain America pretty much has to be on it, and hopefully Captain America: Brave New World sheds some light on that front. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is also a fairly safe bet unless Marvel and Sony stop getting along again. Yet other than Kamala Khan wanting to recruit Kate Bishop and other young heroes at the end of The Marvels, we have no clue as to which Phase 4 and 5 characters will actually play a part in the upcoming Avengers films.
This uncertainty is another reason why centering Doomsday and Secret Wars around the Fantastic Four is the best choice. Now, to clarify, we’re not saying the next two Avengers movies should be Fantastic Four films in everything but name. There are many characters and subplots that need to get their due. That said, since Infinity War and Endgame seemed to make everyone into Avengers anyway, the Fantastic Four being part of the roster and having the “lead” role, especially in Doomsday, would provide a solid structure to build the rest of the line-up around. Given how disparate the many characters introduced across Phases 4 and 5 in both movies and Disney+ shows have been, making the Fantastic Four the focal point will give everyone else, including the audience, a solid anchor to hold on to. And it will also mean we’re getting the most out of our new Fantastic Four cast and their enmity with Doctor Doom.
We’ll see if Marvel intends to follow this direction as we learn more about The Fantastic Four: First Steps and the upcoming Avengers films. If they do, they might finally provide the Multiverse Saga with the plan it needed from the beginning. Better late than never, right?
Carlos Morales writes novels, articles and Mass Effect essays. You can follow his fixations on Twitter.
