Can Avengers: Doomsday Break the Big Screen Doctor Doom Curse?

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Can Avengers: Doomsday Break the Big Screen Doctor Doom Curse?

As a longtime Marvel fan who grew up watching the X-Men and Fantastic Four comic books, I must confess that the announcement of Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as Doctor Doom leaves me with a mix of anticipation and apprehension. Having witnessed the less-than-stellar adaptations of the character in the past, I can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu.

Since Disney’s purchase of 20th Century Fox made it likely that X-Men and Fantastic Four characters would eventually join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fans have been eagerly speculating about one topic: Who might portray Doctor Doom.

The weekend brought the long-awaited revelation that Robert Downey Jr. would take on the role of Latveria’s dictator, donning the metal mask. Since then, opinions have been split regarding his casting for multiple reasons. However, what bothers me most is the concern that this will be another portrayal of Doctor Doom without fully capturing the essence of the character. Considering the less-than-satisfactory outcomes in the past, I’m not overly optimistic about breaking the ‘Doom curse’ on the big screen just yet.

As a gamer, I’ve got to admit, it’s disappointing to see Downey Jr. potentially cast as Doctor Doom through the Tony Stark variant. After all, we’ve been exploring the MCU’s multiverse since Endgame, hinting at multiple versions of our Big Bad. With Kang being introduced in an upcoming saga, it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary to see a strategic move like this – a (costly) tactic to generate excitement before we finally get a real taste of Victor von Doom. Or maybe even several versions of him!

Before Avengers: Doomsday, it’s been Doom & gloom

Despite how this character develops, the flamboyant film history remains a constant reminder. Critics might find numerous aspects to dislike about Tim Story’s Fantastic Four films, yet the portrayal of Doctor Doom was particularly disappointing. Actor Julian McMahon, who starred in Nip/Tuck, wasn’t inherently a bad choice for Doom due to his narcissistic character from that series. However, his effeminate performance made his eventual resurrection seem less magnificent than the character warranted. This was especially true in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, where McMahon seemed even less fitting for Doom and appeared secondary to the main storylines involving Galactus and Silver Surfer.

In Josh Trank’s 2015 reboot of Fantastic Four, there are initial signs of potential success, but according to the director himself, it essentially becomes two distinct movies. Regrettably, the decline in quality corresponds with the introduction of Doctor Doom, portrayed by Toby Kebbell in this film. The casting choice for Doom seems off-base, as Kebbell lacks the characteristics traditionally associated with Victor von Doom. To make matters worse, the confused narrative surrounding Doom’s development detracts from the story even further. Additionally, it doesn’t seem to help that the character design for Doctor Doom is subpar.

It’s undoubtedly easy for Robert Downey Jr. to excel in Avengers: Doomsday, but it’s disappointing that we haven’t yet seen the full menace of Doom on the big screen. We can’t fully appreciate him as a formidable villain until he dons the green and silver suit.

So far, no portrayals have managed to accurately capture the intense rivalry between Reed Richards and Victor von Doom. The depth of his hatred for Reed significantly fuels Von Doom’s arrogance and petty aggression, and what we’ve seen in movies has only scratched the surface.

There are interesting similarities between Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Victor von Doom’s beginnings and journeys, so here’s hoping that Downey Jr. captures this essence. This could mean that in Avengers: Doomsday, we will finally see Doctor Doom receive the cinematic portrayal he deserves.

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2024-07-31 00:40