Robert Downey Jr nearly played Doctor Doom in a Fantastic Four movie
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Robert Downey Jr. is forever associated with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), thanks to his iconic portrayal of Iron Man over the span of more than a decade and nine action-packed films. But it turns out that Downey almost played another armored Marvel character—one who isn’t quite as heroic. The role of the villainous Doctor Doom nearly went to the actor instead.
According to The Direct, which sourced The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Downey met with Marvel Studios when 20th Century Fox was in the early stages of planning their Fantastic Four movie. Jon Favreau, who directed the first Iron Man film, revealed this nugget of information, saying that Marvel had previously considered Downey for the role of Doctor Doom.
Ultimately, the part went to Julian McMahon, known for his role on Nip/Tuck, who portrayed a reimagined version of Doctor Doom in the 2005 Fantastic Four film. In this version, Doom is a former ally of the team who gets transformed by cosmic rays into a metal form, an homage to the villain’s comic book armor. However, the portrayal didn’t sit well with fans, many of whom felt that McMahon’s Doom fell far short of the character’s grandeur in the comics. Doctor Doom is widely regarded as one of the greatest comic book villains, known for his complex personality, intelligence, and sense of tragedy—not just a guy in a metal suit.
There have been attempts to fix this on-screen portrayal over the years, but none have lived up to the expectations. For example, in the 2015 Fantastic Four reboot, Toby Kebbell took a shot at playing Doom. Unfortunately, the film was a critical failure, with a lifeless script and dull visuals that left this version of Doom destined for pop culture obscurity.
It’s fascinating to think about what might have been if Downey had stepped into the iconic role of Doctor Doom. While Iron Man became his defining legacy, the MCU might have been a lot different with Downey in the villainous role.
