Marvel Studios is bringing the Fantastic Four back with a fresh cast. There’s one lingering question fans can’t shake: is something — or someone — being left out of the picture?

If you’ve been following Marvel long enough, you know that “no” rarely means “no.” It usually means “not yet,” or “he’s in the post-credits scene, duh.”  In an interview with Empire, director Matt Shakman was asked point-blank if Victor Von Doom, the iconic Latverian ruler and all-around bad guy, would appear in the Fantastic Four reboot. And the answer, according to director Matt Shakman, is a resounding “Nope!” Or at least, that’s what we’re supposed to believe.

According to rumors swirling around test screenings, Doom might appear in a post-credits scene. Allegedly, Sue Storm (played by Vanessa Kirby) walks into a room to find Doom sitting beside her son, Franklin Richards, holding his mask ominously in his hands. It’s the kind of teaser that Marvel loves to use to plant seeds for future films — and if true, it would mean that Shakman’s comments are technically accurate. After all, a post-credits scene isn’t really part of the movie, is it? This rumor aligns with Marvel’s strategy of slow-burning major villain reveals.

Doom sitting out the main storyline is probably for the best. Fans of the Fantastic Four have been burned before — twice, actually. The villain was front and center in both the 2005 and 2015 adaptations, and neither version did him justice. Whether it was Julian McMahon’s oddly suave interpretation or Toby Kebbell’s cringe-worthy “hacker Doom,” the character’s cinematic legacy has been, well, less than fantastic.

By sidelining Doom, Marvel is avoiding the trap of rehashing old ground. Instead, The Fantastic Four: First Steps will focus on a fresh set of cosmic stakes, with Galactus as the primary antagonist and the Silver Surfer playing a pivotal role. It’s a smart move. Galactus is a larger-than-life villain (literally—he eats planets, after all), and his inclusion gives the Fantastic Four a chance to shine without being overshadowed by Doom’s towering legacy.

If you’re going to reboot the Fantastic Four, you need a cast that can bring Marvel’s First Family to life in a way we’ve never seen before. And Marvel isn’t holding back. Pedro Pascal, fresh off his star turns in The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, will play Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic. His casting brings a level of gravitas and charisma to the role of the team’s stretchy, science-loving leader. Vanessa Kirby (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning) is stepping into the role of Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, while Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things) will light up the screen as Johnny Storm, the Human Torch. Completing the core team is Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear) as Ben Grimm, aka The Thing, who is sure to bring both humor and heart to the group.

We know Robert Downey Jr. will officially return to the MCU next year, in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday, but is there a chance he could be back in the Marvel multiverse as soon as this summer? That’s what fans are hoping for, as surely The Fantastic Four: First Steps can’t come and go without at least a post-credits scene cameo from Downey’s Doctor Doom… Right?

With so much about Marvel’s reboot of the First Family still buried beneath the top-secret security of the Baxter Building, there’s no way the studio is about to announce something this juicy just yet. And yet we know all too well that MCU actors have much looser lips than Kevin Feige and oftentimes they say things they shouldn’t – that’s how we already know a fair chunk of the cast of Doomsday, after all.

The Bear‘s Ebon Moss-Bachrach showed up on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday night, and obviously the conversation turned towards The Fantastic Four. As a master of conversational manipulation, Kimmel tried to trick the actor into revealing something big, but to Cousin’s credit, he managed to slip through the ordeal unscathed. Or did he…?

The Fantastic Four‘s Thing actor addresses rumors Robert Downey Jr. will cameo

“Is it true that you and Robert Downey Jr. really hit it off and became good friends on the set?” Kimmel quizzed, matter-of-factly, causing a severely flustered Moss-Bachrach to stumble over his words. “Yeah, we live together now,” he ultimately replied, to laughs from the audience. “He asked me to move in with him.”

When Kimmel changed track and straight-up asked if the star “spent time” with Downey on the film, Moss-Bachrach itted, “It’s not gonna happen. I’ve been through rigorous media training.” Kimmel should’ve known better than to try and trip the actor up, as this is not Ebon’s first Marvel rodeo. He’s been part of the spoiler-phobic franchise before, having played Micro in Netflix’s The Punisher series last decade.

Of course, the fact that Moss-Bachrach had to try so hard to avoid putting his foot in it may lead some to speculate that he actually has something to hide in the first place. In all honesty, it would be bizarre if Victor Von Doom didn’t make his MCU debut alongside his quartet of nemeses, so the real question is whether he’ll be granted a fair amount of screentime or the briefest of cameos. Going by how the foursome already have Ralph Ineson’s Galactus, Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer, and John Malkovich’s mystery man to contend with, the likelihood is a classic MCU post-credits appearance.

With First Steps scheduled to sail into cinemas on July 25, we really should be getting a proper trailer — following a Comic Con/D23 sneak peek that leaked online last summer — in the coming weeks. Until then, congrats to Downey and Cousin on becoming roomies. Maybe Moss-Bachrach is being so cagey because he doesn’t want to ruin the surprise buddy-cop road movie spinoff Marvel has in store — Doom and the Thing’s Excellent Adventure.

To quote Robin Williams in Jumani, what year is it? It’s 2024 (we think), and yet Hugh Jackman just played Wolverine on the big screen — appearing opposite Wesley Snipes’ Blade, Jennifer Garner’s Elektra, and Chris Evans’ Human Torch, no less. What’s more, Robert Downey Jr. is back in the MCU for two new Avengers movies directed by the Russos brothers. Someone call the TVA, the timeline is officially tangled!

Downey’s big debut as Doctor Doom (no, he’s not playing Iron Man anymore, keep up) won’t happen until Avengers: Doomsday gets here in 2026. And yet, while filming is still a long ways off, the Endgame icon is already starting as he means to continue. Downey caught up with another Marvel legacy legend in NYC recently, giving us a taste of a team-up (or maybe face-off) that we would love to see become a reality in either Doomsday or 2027’s Secret Wars.

Jessica Alba, the erstwhile Invisible Woman herself, blew fans’ minds when she took to Instagram to share a bunch of selfies with Downey, after she caught up with him when catching his new play, McNeal, on Broadway. In her caption, Alba gushed over her famous friend’s talents: “@robertdowneyjr – I could watch you read the dictionary – you are so brilliant + talented. Until next time.”

Unsurprisingly, the comments are full of those losing it over this unlikely Marvel crossover. “MY IRONMAN AND SUSAN STORM HEART,” wrote someone in danger of needing some defibrillating. Some were more worried about what Alba’s on-screen husband would say at her buddying up with his enemy. “What’s Sue Storm doing with Dr Doom"> function myFunc(currentPage, tableId) { let loading = true; let data = { action: 'azp_product_table__pagination_ajax', route: 'get_formated_products', currentPage: currentPage, tableID: tableId, } let loader = '

2019 was arguably the last time there was any consensus within the Marvel fanbase. Avengers: Endgame was the best way to send off some of its flagship characters.

Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. said goodbye to Steve Rogers and Tony Stark respectively, who had been founding of The Avengers ensemble team. Steve has a poignant goodbye as he elects to return to the past and reunite with his true love, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). This send-off was emotional, but the most heartwrenching of these farewells belonged to Tony. In the interim years following The Snap, Tony created a family with Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow), an event that made him luckier than most. But in the final battle against Thanos (Josh Brolin), Tony makes the ultimate sacrifice. Knowing that it will kill him, Tony dons the Infinity Gauntlet, uttering his iconic catchphrase.

Endgame was the best conclusion for the character, and it seemed nothing would drag Downey Jr. back into the MCU fold. Nothing short of a salary was increase, at least. But during the complicated aftermath of the Kang saga, Downey Jr. is in fact returning as an iconic figure.

Every Robert Downey Jr. Marvel project

During San Diego Comic-Con, Downey Jr. surprised everyone by revealing he would be taking on the mantle of Dr. Victor von Doom, the classic adversary to the Fantastic Four. With the addition of Marvel’s Multiverse, playing these two characters is easily explainable. And though there is some controversy with the Doctor Doom casting, it isn’t hard to see how Marvel executives came to this conclusion. After building up an entire arc around Kang the Conqueror only for it to go up in flames with Jonathan Majors’ arrest, the MCU needed a selling point that would bring fans to theaters. Downey Jr. is certainly capable of playing the villain, and it would be a change of pace for the charismatic performer.

The Sherlock Holmes actor has been confirmed for the aptly titled Avengers: Doomsday, but Marvel hasn’t stopped there. Once again putting all their eggs in the villain basket, Downey Jr. has many commitments for the brand coming up. ing forces once again with the Russo Brothers, Downey Jr. will reportedly portray Doom in the Secret Wars (via The Direct). The film is the highly anticipated adaptation of the famous Marvel comic, which was teased in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Downey Jr. is also reported to return to Tony Stark in the form of a Marvel theme park. The King Thanos Multiverse ride is coming to Disneyland, and will allegedly feature Tony Stark in a timeline in which Thanos never plagued Earth. This storyline would mean that Tony never died in one of the many realities that the ride visits. Officially titled Avengers Infinity Defense, Downey Jr. should be representing the Tony character for the ride.

Tony will also appear in another ride called Stark Flight Lab. Also at Disneyland, theme park goers will find themselves in a ride that resembles Tony’s lab testing station. Fans should be excited to experience Downey Jr. in his original role once again, but the big question is whether he will appear in the most anticipated Marvel project of 2026.

Finally, the MCU will be inducting the Fantastic Four into the canon, with filming underway. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) have all been cast in the film. Galactus seems to be the overarching villain, but many are wondering if their iconic villain, Doom, will make an appearance with Downey Jr. in the driver’s seat. There is no confirmation of this possibility at this point, but it would be a crying shame to have Fantastic Four: First Steps not involve the dictator of Latveria. Until confirmation arrives, viewers can catch Avengers: Doomsday when it arrives in 2026.

Marvel Studios has improved the diversity of its heroes and the representation in its universe exponentially since six white straight people first assembled in The Avengers, but there are still some major ways in which the MCU is lagging. Bringing back one of those aforementioned OG Avengers in a new role for the Multiverse Saga has only brought one such problem into laser focus.

One of the (surprisingly numerous) issues fans have with Robert Downey Jr. getting cast as Doctor Doom is that the villain is of a Romani background in the comics. This erasure of Victor Von Doom’s heritage is particularly galling given that the MCU has already done exactly the same thing to the Marvel universe’s other prominent Romani character — Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch.

In what couldn’t be better timed, then, Marvel has finally fixed Wanda’s depiction, in a way the MCU could really learn from.

Marvel restores Scarlet Witch’s Romani heritage, but the MCU still has a lot of work to do

Marvel’s second installment in its What If…? novel series is a must for Scarlet Witch warriors as it journeys to a unique universe, one where Wanda is twins with Spider-Man, not Quicksilver. You’d think this would remove the heroine even further from her comic book origins, but actually author Seanan McGuire does a commendable job of preserving what makes Wanda Wanda. Arguably even better than the MCU.

In What If… Wanda Maximoff and Peter Parker Were Siblings?, a major plot point concerns Aunt May — here, Wanda’s aunt as well as Peter’s — encouraging the young sorceress to reconnect with her heritage. In this universe, the Parkers adopted Wanda when she was abandoned as a baby in Latveria and raised her along with their son in Queens, NY. At May’s encouragement, Wanda helps out a local Romani restaurant and learns about the language and culture from its owners, who treat her like a member of the family.

There’s an interesting parallel to be drawn in the novel between the prejudices Wanda’s Romani friends face and those she faces herself as someone whose extreme power levels frighten others. In other words, not only is restoring Wanda’s Romani background important, but it also presents a whole new layer of drama and depth for the character. In contrast, the closest the MCU has gotten to referencing Wanda’s heritage is a line in WandaVision about how she dressed as a “Sokovian fortune teller” for Halloween — which seemed to be a thoughtless nod to age-old Romani stereotypes.

The good news is Marvel fans have a new Scarlet Witch story out there that re to fix something the MCU has gotten wrong for almost a full decade, since Wanda’s cinematic debut in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. Theoretically, there’s still time to address Doom’s own background through Downey’s portrayal in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, but that ship has likely already sailed. What if… Marvel actually had at least one Romani character in the MCU? How’s that for a question to ponder.

when Marvel Studios managed to upstage Deadpool & Wolverine, the biggest movie of the year, on its opening weekend by revealing that Robert Downey Jr. was coming back to the MCU to play Doctor Doom? Yeah, that was weird. Ironically, just like that Ryan Reynolds movie, while it got people talking, not everyone talking about it had nice things to say.

On paper, bringing back the Iron Man icon as one of Marvel’s most legendary villains must’ve seemed like a win-win scenario, but Marvel may have underestimated the fandom’s ability to find fault with every storytelling decision made in the Multiverse Saga. Many view Downey’s (re)casting as a shameless attempt to recapture the franchise’s bygone glory days by throwing a unique and beloved character under the bus.

That viewpoint has only been cemented following Downey offering his first words since his Comic-Con unmasking about why he elected to make the surprise move back to the Marvel multiverse.

“[Feige said] how can we not go backwards, how do we not disappoint expectations, how we can continue to beat expectations,” Downey told The Hollywood Reporter when recalling the meeting with the studio president that convinced him to take the title role in Avengers: Doomsday. “Let’s get Victor Von Doom right.”

Unfortunately, Downey’s words are now being thrown back in his face over and over again online. Luckily, he’s got a metal mask to protect himself.

One big problem some fans have with the Downey-Doom debacle is that it keeps a fresh talent — possibly even an actor of Romani descent — from getting their spot in the limelight.

“This was the wrong choice,” boldly declared one reply. Premature? Maybe, but it’s how a lot of folks are feeling.

Others are theorizing that Downey’s meeting with Feige is just a big fat fib to cover up Kevin’s casting goof. What if… he meant to call Cillian Murphy instead but when RDJ answered he just rolled with it?

Officially, we won’t get to see Downey’s Victor Von Doom in the flesh metal until Doomsday comes on May 1, 2026. However, the odds are high that he may sneak himself into July 2025’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps somewhere. Maybe then everyone will get on board with the casting, but for the moment not all are convinced this Victor is a victory.

Victor Von Doom is one of the most iconic villains in Marvel history. He not only boasts an iconic design, with his mask and green cape, but he possesses a fierce intellect that few of his peers can match. There’s also his compelling backstory.

Victor Von Doom, aka Doctor Doom, has one of the most unique backstories in Marvel comics. It’s part of the reason fans want to see him done right on the big screen, and why previous depictions of him have been so disappointing. There’s a lot to work with.

As we eagerly await the MCU’s version of Von Doom, let’s delve into his ethnic background.

Was Doctor Doom born in a real country?

Victor Von Doom was born in Latveria. His father, Werner Von Doom was the leader of a Latverian tribe and a medicine man, while his mother, Cynthia Von Doom, was a witch who died shortly after Victor was born. It has been widely speculated as to where Latveria would be located if it were in fact a real place, and it’s widely agreed upon that the fictional country is in the Banat region of Eastern Europe.

According to the Marvel Database, Latveria is known as the “Jewel of the Balkans.” Victor Von Doom eventually led a revolt against the Baron, an unnamed nobleman who had his father executed, and became the monarch of Latveria. Due to the specifics of his upbringing, however, he has a particular affinity for the Romani people.

Von Doom was raised by a Romani tribe

Latveria may be a fictional place, but the Romani people that Victor Von Doom was raised by are very much real. The Romani are a group of Indo-Aryan origin scattered throughout Eastern Europe. They are widely known by English speakers as “Gypsies,” which the Romani consider to be a racial slur.

Victor Von Doom is ethnically Romani, and the disrespect his people have suffered throughout history fuels his desire to conquer the world. It also categorically defines Von Doom as being non-Anglo, which is a fact that’s been ignored by virtually every big-screen adaptation of the character.

There has been widespread debate as to whether Von Doom should be played by a Romani actor, but the MCU has chosen to forego this possibility by bringing back Robert Downey, Jr. Time will tell if this proves to be a wise decision.

The biggest casting announcement of the year was decided this July, when Robert Downey Jr. was confirmed to be making his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the one and only Doctor Doom, having previously pocketed over $400 million for his timeless portrayal of Tony Stark.

The audience at Comic-Con sang their approval quite loudly, whereas the wider circles of MCU enthusiasts have offered some hefty skepticism at the choice. Indeed, when read purely in the context of the state of the MCU, Downey Jr.’s casting quite resolutely reads as a desperate attempt to keep the franchise’s audience tied down with nostalgia and fan service.

Nevertheless, final judgement is reserved for when we actually see Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, and while there’s no telling where screenwriter Stephen McFeely might take this particular story, there does exist a Stark-Doom precedent to extrapolate from.

Has Tony Stark ever been Doctor Doom before in the comics?

The two characters have had their fair share of clashes in the comics, and Doom even s Iron Man as an ally in the aftermath of the 2015 Secret Wars event, going as far as donning Tony’s armor himself when the Stark Industries gaffer falls comatose. But it’s 2004’s Marvel Team-Up #3 and What If? Iron Man: Demon in an Armor #1 that create the most interesting nuances, as they’re both cases where it’s Tony Stark who slaps on the Doom armor (and is therefore the most akin to the real-life MCU implications).

In Marvel Team-Up, Tony Stark hails from Earth-5012 and becomes violent and cynical on of the universe’s dystopian, superhero-scarce state. Seeing Reed Richards as partly responsible for how awful things are, he dons a Doom-esque armor and becomes an enemy of the Fantastic Four. Demon in an Armor, meanwhile, follows a storyline where Tony Stark and Victor von Doom are college roommates, and swap bodies during an experimental mishap. resulting in Victor living his life as the privileged Tony, and Tony living his life as the disgraced Victor.

But again, we can’t reasonably predict much in the way of anything until Doomsday rolls up on us. That is, unless claims about an comic are to be believed.

No matter how many people might have a problem with it (probably far more than Marvel might’ve expected), Robert Downey Jr. is officially our Doctor Doom. Be it Iron Man loyalists, the Romani community, or Jonathan Majors, not everyone’s happy about RDJ’s incoming MCU return as Victor Von Doom, set to begin with 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday.

At least, that’s what we’ve been assuming. Foolishly, perhaps, as since when have MCU characters stayed within their own lanes? Downey himself proved major characters could crossover from one franchise to another in the franchise’s second-ever movie, thanks to Tony Stark’s cameo in The Incredible Hulk. Sure enough, it seems those reluctant to respect the Downaissance may need to get on board far sooner than expected, according to the latest rumored intel that may reveal Downey-Doom’s real first appearance.

Downey’s Doctor Doom is rumored to make a post-credits scene cameo in one of Marvel’s three 2025 movies

Don’t take this as read (or maybe green) just yet, but it’s being claimed that Doom could make his grand MCU debut, and Downey his grand MCU comeback, as soon as next year. Scooper Jeff “The InSneider” Sneider is claiming that the Latverian ruler will cameo in a certain post-credits scene in one of Marvel’s three 2025 films. See if you can guess which one.

Yes, it’s alleged that Downey will turn up in the tag scene of July’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps. While Galactus is the main villain of the foursome’s own first foray under Marvel Studios, it wouldn’t really be an FF film without a glimpse of Doctor Doom, so it’s only proper for Downey to drop by for an after-credits treat. Downey’s casting being revealed so far ahead of filming beginning on Doomsday — no other cast have been formally confirmed as yet — would also suddenly make a lot of sense. Maybe they had to lock him down now as Fantastic Four started shooting this week.

Teasing the big bad in post-credits scenes before they face the Avengers is also the MCU’s bread and butter — Thanos did it for years during the Infinity Saga, and Kang… Well, that was supposed to happen with Kang but, thanks to Majors’ firing, his appearances have been reduced to all plant, no payoff. Again, it’s just a Victor Von Rumor at present, but there might just be something to all this scuttlebutt.

Imagine it. The Fantastic Four credits are interrupted by a shot of a very familiar metal mask before a hand grabs it and fixes it to their face beneath a green cloak. “Fine,” says the voice of Robert Downey Jr. “I’ll do it myself.”

Imagine you completely missed the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con, wake up a few days later, and see that Robert Downey Jr. was cast as Doctor Victor von Doom. Surprised? Everyone was.

During the Hall H show on Friday, July 26, Marvel revealed the surprises it had been safeguarding up its sleeve. Kevin Feige not only confirmed that the two actual Marvel Jesuses, the Russo brothers, will be back to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars — and hopefully redeem the MCU — he also revealed the main villain of the MCU going forward would be Doctor Doom, played by no other than the true Marvel Cinematic Universe icon, Robert Downey Jr.

Naturally, one of the first things to come to mind is that Disney/Marvel must be truly desperate to save itself if it has to resort to such a bold move. Secondly, is Doom a variant of Iron Man? Well, let’s try to unpack that last one.

Has this ever happened in the comics?

Since the MCU movies and shows are based on comic books, let’s dive into said comics first. Was there ever an Iron Man variant that became Doctor Doom? Well, no.

There is a comic where Victor von Doom takes up the mantle of Iron Man, believe it or not, but not the other way around. In the 2016-2017 Marvel comic Infamous Iron Man, Doctor Doom becomes the man in shining (red) armor. At its beginning, Doom rescues Maria Hill and then visits Tony Stark’s lab without any obstacle, since Stark himself is presumed dead after the events of Civil War II. There, he takes up the mantle of Iron Man. Many unexpected events take place afterward, such as Victor’s Iron Man having a vision of elderly Stark, who’s now the Sorcerer Supreme. But let’s leave it at that for now.

The point is, there was never a variant of Tony Stark who later became Doctor Doom. But is there a chance of it happening in the MCU? Possibly.

Will Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom be a variant of Iron Man in the MCU?

Unfortunately, for now, we don’t know what will happen in the MCU, so that leaves plenty of room for speculation. We know that Marvel likes to sometimes take a shortcut, so it’s possible Doom could just be Iron Man-turned-evil from another timeline. However, with Victor being shaped as the main villain of the two Avengers features, Doomsday and Secret Wars, it seems unlikely they’ll use such cheap tricks to build the next big bad guy’s story.

Nevertheless, there are already many such theories. If Marvel wanted to head in such a direction, casting RDJ is a perfect choice. Still, it’s hard not to see it as a desperate move to save the MCU from its current crisis rather than a story-dependent decision. Because let’s face it: Downey’s return to the MCU after his heroic departure in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame is bound to attract millions of viewers to the theater. He’s basically a money printer at this point, and I don’t say that to criticize him, because I’m sure he’ll do a stellar job. I’m just stating facts.

With that in mind, at this point, it’s impossible to say for certain if Doom will be Iron Man’s variant in the MCU. He could be, or he could not. We will certainly be one step closer to finding out with next year’s release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Doctor Doom is the first family’s arch nemesis, who hates Reed Richards with all his heart and has a massive crush on Susan Storm, so while the movie is set to have Galactus as its main enemy, it’s not too far-fetched to assume we’ll get a cameo of Doom now that he’s a confirmed villain of the MCU.

In a move that has shaken the Marvel Cinematic Universe — and indeed the entire world of cinema — to its core, Marvel Studios has cast Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr. as the MCU’s new “big bad” Doctor Doom.

After playing the franchise’s flagship hero for 11 years, Downey Jr. will return to play its next primary antagonist, taking the place of Kang the Conqueror after Jonathan Majors was blacklisted from Hollywood for behavior in his personal life. While the reaction to Downey Jr.’s casting has been primarily positive, it’s fair to say that some people have not taken the news well.

While many fans are unsure of an MCU villain having Tony Stark’s face, another of the main reasons some people have reacted negatively to the casting is that they believe it’s an example of whitewashing, as Doctor Doom’s Romani heritage is a vital element of his backstory.

For anyone not already aware, whitewashing is the practice of casting white actors in non-white roles in the movie industry. Legitimate past examples include Mickey Rooney playing Mr. Yunioshi in 1961’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Alec Guinness playing Prince Faisal in 1962’s Lawrence of Arabia, and Scarlett Johansson playing Motoko Kusanagi in 2017’s Ghost in the Shell.

It’s also happened many times in other superhero movies. Examples include Kris Kristofferson playing Abraham Whister in 1998’s Blade, Liam Neeson playing Ra’s al Ghul in 2005’s Batman Begins, Tilda Swinton playing the Ancient One in 2016’s Doctor Strange, and Alice Braga playing Cecilia Reyes in 2020’s New Mutants.

But why are people calling Downey Jr.’s casting an example of whitewashing? Is the controversy justified?

Why are people mad about Downey Jr. being cast as Doom?

Defining the Romani people’s ethnicity is complicated. Linguistic and genetic evidence suggests they originated in the Indian subcontinent and they are deemed to be ethnic minorities in predominantly white countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.

However, the UK government website describes them as a white minority, and Friends, Families & Travellers, a website representing such minorities in the UK, points out that Romani will be represented on the UK Census from 2021 onward and “will appear under the White ethnic group category, following consultation with of the Roma community.”

The whole situation is, therefore, creating a sensitive grey area of controversy.

It’s not the first time Marvel Studios has faced such accusations about Romani characters. The castings of Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as twins Wanda and Pietro Maximoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe resulted in the same whitewashing assertions from some fans. However, earlier comic book incarnations of the characters were depicted as the possible children of the white American Whizzer, making the situation slightly different from Downey Jr.’s casting.

Whether or not Doctor Doom should be played by an actor from Central or Southeastern Europe is another matter entirely. That being said, he’s from a country that doesn’t really exist. Latveria is entirely fictional, so there aren’t any Latverians in the real world who might be offended by an American playing one of their own.

Of course, everyone is entitled to an opinion. If you find Downey Jr.’s casting as Doctor Doom offensive or poorly judged, that’s your right and we’re interested to hear arguments digging into the long comic-book history of the character.

Regardless, here’s hoping the Academy Award-winning star of Oppenheimer and Chaplin does Marvel’s most iconic villain justice.

Doctor Victor von Doom has now officially dethroned Kang the Conqueror as the main antagonist of the Avengers movies.

Kang all teed up to be a new big bad guy in the MCU following the conclusion of Phase 3. Loki teased Kang, or rather He Who Remains, and he made his debut in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania where he, uh, got beaten in a fistfight by Ant-Man.

Despite this anticlimactic defeat, at that point everything was going according to plan, with He Who Remains again being a looming threat in Loki season two. It was Kang’s actor, Jonathan Majors, who changed the MCU’s trajectory after being found guilty of domestic violence, which forced Disney to change its plans.

Instead of recasting Kang, they deleted the role altogether and made Doom the Avengers’ main villain going forward, with Robert Downey Jr playing the role. So, with that in mind, what’s the whole deal with Doctor Doom vs. Kang debate?

What is going on with Doom versus Kang beef?

Initially, the change in MCU’s direction sparked a debate among the MCU fans. Some would prefer Disney to change Kang’s actor and leave things as they were. Although, with Kevin Feige wanting to adapt Secret Wars in Avengers 6, it was tough to imagine doing so without Doom. Others are fine with the renowned villain finally making his way into the MCU. However, the whole thing was reignited when Jonathan Majors shared his opinion at the end of July.

“Heartbroken, come on, of course,” Majors said when asked by TMZ about how he feels. Majors was then asked if he felt it was unfair how he was treated when Robert Downey Jr himself has had his own legal troubles. The reporter also mentioned Ezra Miller, who got to play the Flash in the Warner Bros DC universe, despite facing allegations like harassment and grooming.

“I think it’s fair that Mr. Downey is being and has been greeted with patience and curiosity and love, and that Ezra Miller is given the same treatment,” Majors said, but then added, “I didn’t really get that.”

From 1996 to 2001, Downey was arrested for possession of drugs like heroin and cocaine numerous times. In that period, he attended rehab and faced criminal charges. In 2001, he started a full-blown recovery and returned to acting. Seven years later, he starred in the first MCU movie, where he proclaimed the famous words “I am Iron Man,” and the rest is history.

“Hell yeah, I love Kang,” Majors said when asked if he’d ever consider returning to the role if given the opportunity. But, it seems like this won’t come anytime soon, if ever.

In any event, with Avengers: The Kang Dynasty renamed Avengers: Doomsday, the next movie confirmed to adapt Secret Wars, and the Russo Brothers helmed to direct, all is now set in stone. Doctor Doom is officially the next major bad guy of the MCU, and there’s no changing that.

Unless, we guess, Downey Jr does something truly despicable.