Doctor Doom is the most famous villain in all of Marvel Comics, and with the film rights to The Fantastic Four being acquired by Disney in the purchase of 20th Century Fox, the question is not if Doctor Doom will join the MCU but when. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #5 back in 1962, Doctor Doom is the arch-enemy of The Fantastic Four. Born Victor Von Doom in the nation of Latveria, the character has become the ruler of the country and is a master of science and magic. His main conflict has been with The Fantastic Four, but he has come into conflict with every major superhero in the Marvel universe, including The Avengers, Spider-Man, Blade, Doctor Strange, and many more.
The cast of The Fantastic Four has recently been announced, with Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as The Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as the Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing. This means there is a good chance Doctor Doom will be joining the MCU soon. Doom is set to make his debut soon. Doctor Doom has the potential to be a major character in the MCU and could fill the void left following the development behind the character of Kang the Conqueror. After all, Doom was the central antagonist in 2015's Secret Wars, which is set to be adapted into Avengers: Secret Wars, the final film of Phase 6 and the Multiverse Saga.
The pressure to cast Doctor Doom is high, given the character's popularity and past film incarnations. While Doctor Doom is one of the most famous supervillains in all comics, his live-action appearances have been lacking for many, failing to capture the character. He first appeared in the 1994 Fantastic Four film by Roger Corman, which was never meant to be released, where he was played by Joseph Culp. Julian McMahon played the character in both 2005's Fantastic Four and 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, but both films make changes to the characters. The most recent was Toby Kebbell in 2015's Fantastic Four, which altered every aspect of the character to the point where he was almost unrecognizable. Marvel Studios now has to find the perfect Doctor Doom, which, as history has shown, is no easy task. Here are the best actors to bring Doctor Doom to life in the MCU.
Update February 16, 2024: This article has been updated with more casting picks to play Doctor Doom following the announcement of the cast for The Fantastic Four.
Henry Cavill
Despite much hype for his return in Black Adam, Henry Cavill is no longer Superman in the new plans for the DCU. While this is disappointing for fans who liked the actor as the iconic superhero, this might be the perfect chance for Marvel Studios to scoop the actor up. Cavill might be associated with the optimistic hero Superman, but Cavill's depiction was always on the darker side. The actor has shinned in more villainous roles, notably in Mission: Impossible - Fallout. The actor's schedule has freed up after departing The Witcher.
Why He Would Make a Great Doctor Doom
With his large imposing frame, deep voice, and sharp eyes, it might be Doctor Doom that Cavill was born to play. Cavill would go from being the most iconic superhero to one of the most iconic supervillains. Cavill's sharp looks could also factor into Doom's depiction as co-creator Jack Kirby's original intention for the character was that he wore this suit of armor to cover his face because of a small scare, showing that a man of his vanity even if he had a face like Henry Cavill would deem himself imperfect and needing to wear a mask would tell audiences a lot of what they need to know about Doom.
Jon Hamm
Standing at 6 ft 1 with broad shoulders and a recognizable voice, Jon Hamm seems perfect for Doctor Doom. The actor wowed audiences with his portrayal of Don Draper on Mad Men, where he played a smooth but morally compromised individual, elements that lend themselves well to Doom. Hamm has been seen in a wide variety of roles, from comedies like Bridesmaids to a tough military leader in Top Gun: Maverick. There really is no genre Hamm wouldn't excel in, so it's odd he has never been approached for a superhero project.
Why He Would Make a Great Doctor Doom
He can play a villain that is both charming but also incredibly dangerous (something also seen in Black Mirror). Another great villainous turn from Hamm was in Baby Driver, as audiences saw him transform from a loof cool guy into a cold-blooded monster motivated by revenge. The recent poster hints that the Fantastic Four might take place in the 1960s, and given Hamm's iconic role on Mad Men, he would fit right in with the time period. Hamm's voice, presence, and persona make him feel like a perfect fit for Doctor Doom.
Colin O'Donoghue
Most famous for playing Captain Hook on ABC's Once Upon a Time, Colin O'Donoghue has already shown a keen ability to play an iconic villain while also giving said villain a moral code. O'Donoghue has experience as a voice actor, having lent his voice to Trollhunters and the Apple TV+ film Luck. O'Donoghue is a very talented performer who never has really gotten a shot at a big movie but has more than enough talent for it, and while he could play a leading man hero, letting him step into an iconic villain like Doctor Doom is a more interesting angle.
Why He Would Make a Great Doctor Doom
He might not have the same booming voice that many of the performers on this list do, but this could work to his advantage to make the role his own. Instead of a Doctor Doom that goes the traditional way for an intermediating voice, the contrast of O'Donoghue's swagger and typical charm paired with the imposing suit of armor that Doom wears could make for a dynamic contrast that could enrich the character. This is a Doctor Doom that sounds like a gentleman but looks like a towering force and could easily over power his enemy.
Luke Kirby
Emmy winner Luke Kirby has wowed audiences with his role as real-life comedian Lenny Bruce on the hit series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Kirby may have the look more associated with Reed Richards, but his depiction of the famous bad boy comedian Lenny Bruce shows Kirby as a strong fit for Doctor Doom. Kirby would add a sense of allure to Doctor Doom. With Kirby under the signature armor, it would not be difficult to imagine him being able to convince a country to follow him.
Why He Would Make A Great Doctor Doom
As with Hamm, the rumored 1960s setting of The Fantastic Four is one that Kirby is already well experienced in, thanks to his work on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Luke Kirby also matches a lot of the criteria for the Fantastic Four cast. The leads of the movie are famous for roles in iconic television series The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal), The Crown (Venssa Kirby), Stranger Things (Joseph Quinn), and The Bear (Eben Ross-Baucharach), so Kirby is an Emmy winner for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel would match the high caliber talent that Marvel is going for to expand out the characters of The Fantastic Four.
Giancarlo Esposito
Giancarlo Esposito is now the quintessential villain actor of the moment. A long-working character actor who had appeared in a number of Spike Lee films like Do The Right Thing and Malcolm X while also appearing in films like The Usual Suspects and Ali, he broke out with audiences playing the villainous Gus Freeman on Breaking Bad and reprised his role in the spin-off series Better Call Saul. He has become associated with villains in series like Once Upon a Time, The Mandalorian, and The Boys.
Why He Would Make A Great Doctor Doom
Esposito has been rumored to be in talks with Marvel Studios about a role in an upcoming film, one that could be a minor supporting player like Glenn Close and John C. Reily in Guardians of the Galaxy (or perhaps as Professor X), it is entirely Esposito's being considered for Doctor Doom. The actor's chilling voice, paired with Doctor Doom's mask, would instantly convey to audiences that this is a villain not to be messed with.
Adam Driver
Adam Driver broke out with the hit HBO series Girls but became an international superstar thanks to playing the villain Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and its two follow-ups, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. Between those massive blockbusters, Driver found time to work with some of the best auteur filmmakers in the business, including Spike Lee on BlackKklansman, Stephen Soderberg on Logan Lucky, and Noah Baumbach on Marriage Story. He has refined his craft and is one of the best actors working today, so any project is lucky to have him, and it appears he is on Marvel's radar.
Why He Would Make a Great Doctor Doom
Adam Driver was once rumored to play the role of Reed Richards, but now, with Pascal in the part, the role of Doctor Doom might be a more fitting one. Nicholas Hoult recently tested for Superman in Superman: Legacy, but after David Corenswet got the role, Hoult was then chosen to play his arch-enemy, Lex Luthor. While it certainly is a bit uninspired for Driver to play Doctor Doom as a cloaked, masked villain, it is similar to another role Driver played, Kylo Ren. Doctor Doom might give Driver the chance to fix some mistakes in his previous role. Sometimes, the obvious choice is obvious for a reason.
Ethan Peck
Ethan Peck is the grandson of Gregory Peck, who played one of the most iconic heroic figures in film, Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. It would seem oddly fitting for Ethan Peck to step into the role of one of the most iconic villain characters. Peck plays Spock on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, a role he reprised from Star Trek: Discovery. Peck could move over from an iconic hero in his own right to an iconic villain, and Doctor Doom seems like the perfect fit for the up-and-coming talent.
Why He Would Make a Great Doctor Doom
At 6 ft 1, Peck could have the imposing element of Doom wearing the suit. He has the piercing eyes that he uses on Star Trek: Strange New World for the famous Vulcan that could be re-purposed for a villain glare. However, even if he were only to voice the character, Peck's distinctive baritone voice has a calculating and powerful ring that would sound unlike any of the previous Doctor Doom actors. It would also be oddly fitting since Reed Richards will be played by Pedro Pascal, famous for his role in a Star Wars series, to have his arch-enemy played by an actor associated with Star Trek.
Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy has emerged as a front-runner favorite among fans. The actor is famous for roles in films like 28 Days Later and his various collaborations with director Christopher Nolan, including playing Scarecrow in The Dark Knight trilogy and also the lead character of Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer, which Murphy is currently nominated for Best Actor at the 96th Academy Awards. While it would seem out of the realm of possibility that Murphy would play Doctor Doom, particularly after he becomes an Academy Award-winning actor, the actor has
Why He Would Make A Great Doctor Doom
Murphy already played Scarecrow in Batman Begins and had brief cameos in The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. That was another supervillain that required a full body mask, and Nolan had cast Murphy for the part due to his piercing blue eyes. Murphy originally tested for Batman, but it is hard to argue the actor has an intensity that is perfect for villains. Having an actor of Murphy's caliber stepping behind the mask for Doctor Doom would make audiences take notice of the character, as Marvel Studios will be going after one of the best actors working today to bring to life one of their most famous villains. It is hard to imagine anyone being upset with this casting.
Meet the cast of Marvel's Fantastic Four in our video below.