Disney-Fox Merger: What about the MCU’s next big villain?
By Mike McNulty
Credit: Jim Lee and Scott Williams (Marvel Comics); cover for Fantastic Four vol. 2 #5
2. Doctor Doom
Why Doctor Doom works as the next major MCU villain: Even though he started off as a Fantastic Four villain, Doctor Doom is arguably the main antagonist in the Marvel Comics universe. He’s also a character who has influenced countless bad guys across pop culture, including Darth Vader. Considering Loki is dead and probably won’t return, Doom would easily take his place and, potentially, be even better. There are so many ways the Monarch of Latveria would make for the next big bad of the MCU that the only limits are one’s imagination.
For starters, Doom’s rivalry with Reed Richard’s isn’t the only source of conflict. For one thing, Doom believes that the world would be better off under his rule, and he’s arguably not wrong. Like the graphic novel, Emperor Doom, a debate would arise about humanity sacrificing their free will in exchange for a global utopia without war, crime, disease, or poverty. Thus, would stopping Doom actually be the right thing? That kind of ambiguity makes for great drama, and further illustrate how superhero films can tackle deeper themes beyond explosions and fisticuffs.
Likewise, Doom is a formidable opponent, essentially combining Iron Man’s technology and Doctor Strange’s magic, and surpassing both. As the ruler of Latveria, he’d also be on equal footing with Black Panther. He’s also, in many ways, a sympathetic and tragic villain. The story of Victor von Doom, from Romani outcast to benevolent dictator, would make for a movie unto itself. Hence why Noah Hawley, the creator of FX’s Fargo and Legion, has already penned a Doctor Doom screenplay. With the deal brokered between Disney and Fox, it would make sense for Kevin Feige to at least take what Hawley had planned under consideration.
Moreover, save for Roger Corman’s unreleased Fantastic Four film, we’ve never had a faithful version of Doctor Doom on-screen. After three awful big budget FF movies, this is Marvel Studios’ chance for a fresh start to give fans a worthy interpretation of Doom.
Why Doctor Doom doesn’t work as the next major villain of the MCU: When I say that an MCU version of Doctor Doom could be the next Loki, consider Loki’s role in the MCU. Loki was someone who routinely switched allegiances when it suited his own agenda. Thus, over the course of several films, he’d side with Thor as much as he turned against him. Doom would also join forces with the heroes so long as he benefits. Granted, he’s not a follower, and he’d also be somewhat honest about his true intentions, but he’d still play a similar turncoat role as Loki in the MCU.
More than likely, Doom would be the villain who would side with the heroes against the big bad, if only to attempt stealing the big bad’s power for himself. Of course, he’d feel it was even worth his time, or if he saw helping the heroes as an opportunity for showing up Reed Richards. The question is which villain would be so great that the other heroes would have no choice but to turn to Doom for help. That would be another Fantastic Four villain…