San Diego Comic-Con has served up some major news about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and fans are buzzing with excitement and a bit of concern. Here’s the lowdown:
New Developments:
- Fantastic Four: The upcoming film will be titled The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Fans got their first look at Ralph Ineson as Galactus, which has certainly stirred up some anticipation.
- Avengers 5: The next Avengers movie will be called Avengers: Doomsday, with Doctor Doom set to be the main antagonist.
- Casting Shock: The biggest reveal is that Robert Downey Jr., who famously played Tony Stark/Iron Man for 11 years, will be taking on the role of Doctor Doom.
Fan Concerns:
There’s a lot of chatter about whether Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will be a multiversal variant of Tony Stark rather than the traditional Victor Von Doom. Given that Downey Jr. has a storied history with Stark, fans are wondering if he’ll be playing a version of Doom with Stark’s personality.
Comic Book Inspiration:
Here’s where things get interesting: Marvel’s What If…? comics explore alternate realities where key moments in Marvel history unfold differently. One such story is What If? Iron Man: Demon in an Armor from 2010, where Tony Stark becomes Doctor Doom in an alternate universe (Earth-11029).
The Plot Twist:
In this story, Stark and Doom were college roommates who didn’t get along. Doom, angry about his scholarship being cut, tricks Stark into switching bodies. Doom ends up living as Stark, enjoying the wealth and success, while Stark, now in Doom’s body, struggles with addiction. Eventually, Stark overcomes his issues and creates Doom Industries, leading to a dramatic showdown between the two in their new bodies.
Implications for the MCU:
If Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom comes from a universe where Doom and Stark swapped bodies, it means he could be playing a version of Stark with Doom’s mind and personality. Given the MCU’s multiverse storyline, this idea isn’t out of the realm of possibility. It could add a unique twist to his portrayal of Doom and make for some very intriguing storytelling.
In summary, while fans are excited about Downey Jr. stepping into the role of Doctor Doom, the idea of him playing a multiversal twist on the character adds another layer of curiosity and anticipation.
