Doctor Doom is one of Marvel’s most iconic villains, and one actor’s effusive take on the character now makes me kind of wish he were the one to score the role in the MCU. I’m not saying that Robert Downey Jr. is a substandard casting – he has, after all, recently earned a well-deserved Academy Award for his supporting role in 2023’s Oppenheimer. At the same time, it isn’t as if his casting was uncontroversial. Detractors believe, for instance, that his casting as Doom is Marvel’s attempt to re-capitalize on his unᴀssailable popularity following his tenure as Tony Stark.

It’s also unclear whether RDJ’s Doom will be a variant of Earth-616’s Tony Stark, thus diminishing the villain’s distinctiveness. Turning a villain as universally beloved as Doom into a Tony Stark variant would, to many, be too egregious a violation of comic book precedent and his origins to accept. I can see how this might work in the context of the Multiverse Saga, but there’s no doubt that Marvel is making a particularly risky play.

It might have been safer for the studio to cast an actor who isn’t so closely ᴀssociated with the franchise in the role. Even actors who have already embodied smaller roles in the MCU have topped lists of Doctor Doom fan casts, with Mads Mikkelson being one of the most popular suggestions. Now, I wonder if another actor who played a comparatively smaller role in the MCU might have also been a perfect choice for Doom, especially after hearing his pᴀssionate speech adulating the iconic Marvel villain.

Robert Downey Jr’s Version Of Doctor Doom Is Interesting, But Ben Mendelsohn’s Comments About Doctor Doom Mean I’m Fascinated About What His Take Would Look Like

Ben Mendelsohn Is A Huge Doctor Doom Fan

Ben Mendelsohn portrayed the Skrull Talos in Captain Marvel, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Secret Invasion. It was while promoting the much-maligned MCU series Secret Invasion that Mendelsohn laid bare his love for the Marvel IP and Doctor Doom in particular in an interview with The Wrap, lavishing the villain with praise when asked who he would shapeshift into, real or fictional, if granted the abilities of a Skrull. The clip was recently reposted to X by user @TheSomethingFan with the comment “…best thing to come out of Secret Invasion bar NONE,” and can be viewed below:

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Like the original poster, I am also struck by Mendelsohn’s pᴀssion for the character. Mendelsohn would compound his comments in an interview with GQ in February of last year, where he stated he would almost give his “eyes and teeth” to portray the villain in live-action. Just five months later, it was revealed that Robert Downey Jr had scored the role instead.

Many of the MCU’s best characters are portrayed by actors who are genuine fans of the original IP, with Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel, Ryan Reynolds’ ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool, and Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi being prime examples. With that in mind, I can’t help but wonder what Doctor Doom super-fan Ben Mendelsohn would bring to the character. While his tenure as Talos is more extensive than, for example, Mads Mikkelsen’s Kaecilius, it’s easier to envision him joining the ranks of actors who have played multiple MCU characters than Robert Downey Jr..

Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom Casting Risks Repeating An MCU Issue

Iron Man Is Always The Center Of Attention

It is hard to imagine how Marvel will navigate Robert Downey Jr. being the MCU’s Doctor Doom without addressing the fact that he looks identical to Tony Stark. Marvel Studios is in a difficult position, as the Multiverse Saga necessitates linking him to Stark in some way (whether through being a variant, or being recognized by Stark’s ex-comrades) and risks devaluing Doom as a standalone figure, or skirting over RDJ’s re-casting entirely and belittling the point of the Multiverse Saga. I presume Marvel will opt for the former.

If so, then despite moving on from the Infinity Saga, for which Tony Stark was arguably the protagonist, the MCU will once again center everything on Tony Stark. Although RDJ was a largely celebrated and integral facet of the MCU during his tenure, there was some backlash to making him the center of attention in all things, including having Spider-Man become his protégé. Centering him once more in the Multiverse Saga, a Saga from which he has been completely absent, simply continues this habit.

Ben Mendelsohn Could Still Become An MCU Doctor Doom Casting

He Could Play A Doom Variant

The chances may be slim, but now is probably the most opportune moment to grant Mendelsohn his wish. The variants of the MCU’s multiverse can bear innumerable faces, and we are all gearing up to see Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars awash with variants from across the multiverse designed to tribute Marvel’s most celebrated characters. Given Mendelsohn’s pᴀssion for the character, there’s always a chance Marvel might permit Mendelsohn a Doom cameo.

Alternatively, though less likely, Ben Mendelsohn could become the MCU’s Doctor Doom following the rumored soft reboot of the MCU. It is difficult to know what Marvel Studios’ plan for the MCU will be post-Avengers: Endgame, and whether Doctor Doom will play any role in the following sagas whatsoever. Either way, I hope Marvel finds some way of allowing Mendelsohn to embody the role after seeing how much he loves the character.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

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Kevin Feige

First Film

Iron Man

Upcoming Films

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, Blade (2025), The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Avengers: Doomsday (2026), Avengers: Secret Wars

First TV Show

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Upcoming TV Shows

Agatha: Coven of Chaos, Ironheart, Daredevil: Born Again, Wakanda, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Marvel Zombies, Wonder Man, Vision Quest

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Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Edward Norton, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Brie Larson, Chadwick Boseman, Sebastian Stan, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, Clark Gregg, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Simu Liu, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Angelina Jolie, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, Richard Madden, Barry Keoghan, Gemma Chan, Ma Dong-seok, Brian Tyree Henry, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Lia McHugh, Jonathan Majors

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  Thunderbolts*

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  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  May 1, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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Sources: @TheSomethingFan/X, GQ