Given that he is the Fantastic Four’s foremost rival, I’m convinced that Robert Downey Jr. will appear as the MCU’s Doctor Doom in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, despite what the movie’s director has to say. Marvel’s official line is that Doctor Doom will make his MCU debut in Avengers: Doomsday, following the bombshell revelation that Robert Downey Jr. would be playing the role at San Diego Comic Con 2024. Although specific story details are still forthcoming, RDJ will presumably reprise the role in 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars.

His arch-rival, Reed Richards, will meanwhile make his MCU debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps​​​. It was revealed relatively early on that the main villain in the Fantastic Four’s MCU debut would be Galactus, portrayed by Ralph Ineson. Teasers and trailer footage have already given some exciting insight into how the gargantuan cosmic enтιтy will factor into the movie, and it’s safe to say that scale and design are promisingly comic-accurate. Still, if comic accuracy is of particular importance to The Fantastic Four: First Steps, then I’m convinced that Doctor Doom will appear despite Matt Shakman’s claims.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Director Addressed Whether Doctor Doom Appears

Matt Shakman Casts Doubt On Doom’s Debut

While on the media circuit promoting The Fantastic Four: First Steps, director Matt Shakman spoke to Empire Magazine. In the interview, a snippet of which was posted to ComicBookMovie, Shakman addressed the prevailing theories that Doctor Doom will make his MCU debut at some juncture in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, with the post-credits scene being most likely. His response seems to put the issue to bed entirely, as he resolutely stated:

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

Shakman’s comments raise some important questions. Presuming he is not saying this to misdirect audiences (a tactic that is not beyond Marvel Studios, it should be stated), then we are forced to wonder if the Fantastic Four have even encountered Doom at this point in their careers. With the character being so inexorably tied to the тιтular team, this would be a risky move from Marvel Studios, to say the least. Alternatively, I believe Shakman’s short comment suggests that while Doom isn’t part of his purview, he could still appear in his movie.

Why I’m Convinced Doctor Doom Could Still Appear In The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The Post-Credits Scene Might Not Technically Be A Part Of Shakman’s Film

I think Thunderbolts* shows us how Doctor Doom can fall outside Matt Shakman’s purview but still be a part of the movie in another way. While Thunderbolts* was largely self-contained, to the extent that New York’s many superheroes did not respond to the looming threat of the Void in the streets of Manhattan, the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene connected it directly to Avengers: Doomsday as the Fantastic Four’s spaceship was seen entering Earth’s orbit from another universe. The scene looked decidedly different from the rest of the movie because it was directed by the Russo brothers.

The Russo brothers were revealed to be directing Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars at the same time as the Avengers: Doomsday тιтle and Robert Downey Jr.’s return were announced. Given that Thunderbolts* was directed by Jake Schreier, the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene isn’t technically part of his film, and I think the same could be said for Matt Shakman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. If Doctor Doom were to appear in another post-credits scene directed by the Russos, then Shakman is still correct in stating that Doom is not part of his purview.

Why Doctor Doom Needs To Appear In The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The MCU Is Running Out Of Time To Debut The Multiverse Saga’s Arch-Villain

The necessity of Doctor Doom’s debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps extends beyond the fact that he is Reed Richards’ nemesis. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the penultimate movie before Avengers: Doomsday, and audiences haven’t heard so much as a peep from the Multiverse Saga’s arch-villain until now. By contrast, at the parallel point in the Infinity Saga, Thanos appeared three times, mostly in MCU post-credits scenes, but also as a secondary villain in the main bulk of the movie in Guardians of the Galaxy.

While The Marvels and Thunderbolts* directly connected to Avengers: Doomsday with their post-credits scenes, the arch-villain was notably absent. While it could be argued that incursions, which are brought about through multiversal meddling, are perhaps a bigger threat than Doom, the more tangible villain would be severely underserved if not teased in either The Fantastic Four: First Steps or Spider-Man: Brand New Day, or both. I’m hopeful, as filming for Avengers: Doomsday is well underway, which makes filming a Doom-led post-credits scene for The Fantastic Four: First Steps entirely feasible.

Upcoming MCU Movies

• 
  

  

  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  

  

  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  

  

  Avengers: Doomsday

  Release Date

  
  December 18, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  

  

  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

  Release Date

  
  July 31, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  

  

  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  December 17, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

Sources: Empire Magazine/ComicBookMovie