The Marvel Cinematic Universe has set up for a major change in the coming phases after letting go of Kang actor Jonathan Majors. Kang was set to be one of the biggest and baddest villains for the Marvel Cinematic Universe after that of Thanos. The multiverse level threat was supposed to last until the end of phase six, but the new change has led to the introduction of new villain after phase five and six. Earlier this year, one of the beloved comic book villains was confirmed to make his onscreen debut in coming years. Fans weren’t just excited about the confirmation of Dr Doom but also for the fact that Robert Downey Jr is set to return to play that role.
Kang’s story had been set up very well with the help of the TV shows as well including Loki. Introduced as He Who Remains in the finale of Loki’s first season, he was also set up as the main villain for Ant Man’s final solo film. However, the later did not work well on the big screen and the influence of Kang as a villain was already dying down. Kang and his variants were expected to return with more vicious plans for the multiverse, but it seems like Dr Doom is about to change them all.
Fans have been asking for a comics-accurate Doom for decades. This will not mark his first appearance on screen as Dr Doom was first seen played by Joseph Culp in an unreleased 1994 Fantastic Four movie by Roger Corman. Julian McMahon played Doctor Doom in 2005 Fantastic Four, then Toby Kebbell played the character in 2015 Fantastic Four. But his most memorable role as been in the 2007 release Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. The film showed Doom making a deal with the American military after he left injured by Surfer’s cosmic energy blast.
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Marvel Studios decided to drop the Kang storyline because there was not a lot of hype surrounding the character
•So they went with Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom to get people more excited for the upcoming ‘AVENGERS’ films
(Source:@DanielRPK) pic.twitter.com/aKltMNyvB1
— Marvel Updates (@Marvel_Updates_) October 8, 2024
Let’s take a MINUTE please!
Yes, it seems the MCU is doing away with the Kang storyline, BUT NOT the Multiverse storyline!!!!
(AKA the TVA and Loki)Dr. Doom is likely just Kang’s replacement, as he’s the biggest multiversal threat besides Kang in the comics…
(1/8) #Loki pic.twitter.com/AVnVhPnRv7
— Ella the Hiddlestoner (@Laufeyson4eva) July 28, 2024
Doctor Doom’s role in the #MCU will be far bigger than what was initially planned for Kang
(Source:@AlexFromCC) pic.twitter.com/RIQTCkeIhR
— Marvel Updates (@Marvel_Updates_) August 7, 2024
However, the Dr Doom we are about to see in the MCU is expected to be very different hat the one in past films. Replacing Thanos and Kang he is expected to have world-destroying status at his introduction. The franchise also had plenty of time to develop this Victor Von Doom which is expected to be closer to the comics. After failed attempts with Kang, it also gives more time for the studio to work on this new villain for the MCU.
With The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Doom will be reintroduced on the big screen. The film will not only plant seeds about who Doom is but also set up the world-building for Avengers: Doomsday in 2026 and its 2027 follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars. There are plenty of releases in the middle to set up what’s to come with mid and post credit cameos hinting at where the story is going.
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Cover artwork by Patrick Gawande/Mashable India