Director Matt Shakman has officially confirmed that Doctor Doom will not appear in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, effectively addressing months of speculation following Robert Downey Jr.’s high-profile casting as the iconic villain.
Setting the Record Straight on Victor Von Doom
Since Robert Downey Jr.’s shocking San Diego Comic-Con announcement regarding his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom, fans have been hyper-focused on predicting his debut. Despite lingering rumors fueled by the Thunderbolts* post-credit scene, Shakman was blunt during an interview with Empire Magazine, stating, “Doom is not a part of my film, and therefore not a part of my purview.”
The “Plausible Deniability” Theory
While the director’s statement seems definitive, a vocal segment of the fanbase remains skeptical, interpreting his words as a calculated layer of plausible deniability. Skeptics point to the fragmented nature of Marvel’s production process as evidence that a character could appear without the primary director’s direct oversight.
This theory gained traction after Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier revealed that his film’s post-credit scene was shot mere weeks before the theatrical release by the Russo Brothers, rather than by the film’s own director. Fans argue that this workflow allows Marvel to include character teasers—like Doctor Doom—without the main film director being involved, keeping Shakman’s statement technically accurate while leaving the door open for a post-credit surprise.
Connecting the Dots: The Fantastic Four Ship
The speculation is largely rooted in the Thunderbolts* post-credit sequence, which featured the New Avengers receiving an alert about an unidentified craft entering Earth’s atmosphere, marked with the iconic “4” logo of the Fantastic Four. Given that Doctor Doom has a long history of hijacking the team’s vessels in the original comic books, enthusiasts remain convinced that a crossover is inevitable.
Ultimately, the validity of these fan theories will be put to the test when The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives in theaters on July 25.
