Ever since Marvel revealed its new Fantastic Four dream team — Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach — the internet has been in full meltdown mode over one theory: will Robert Downey Jr. appear as Victor von Doom? Scoop accounts swore he had already filmed a secret cameo. Fans were all but drawing moustaches on posters.
And yet, director Matt Shakman just dropped a Galactus-sized truth bomb in Empire Magazine:
"Doom is not a part of my film, and therefore not a part of my purview."
Ouch. That’s about as subtle as a supernova.
The beloved villain has haunted Fantastic Four films since the ill-fated 1994 Roger Corman version, through to the underwhelming 2015 reboot. With Ralph Ineson cast as Galactus, many hoped Doom would slink in as a post-credits tease.
But according to Shakman, fans can exhale — for now. Whether this is misdirection or genuine clarity remains to be seen. After all, this is Marvel, and Doom’s day may still come.
For now, consider the iron mask officially off the table.
