Throwback: When Robert Downey Jr Was Almost FINALISED As Doctor Doom In 2005 Fantastic Four

Robert Downey Jr. is set to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this time as Doctor Doom. The actor, who previously played Iron Man, will portray Dr. Doom in the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday.

The announcement was made by Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige and Downey Jr. at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. During the event, RDJ made a special appearance in Hall H, debuting his role as the villainous Doctor Doom from the Fantastic Four universe.

When Robert Downey Jr Was Almost FINALISED As Doctor Doom In 2005

In 2005, Robert Downey Jr. was considered for the role of Doctor Doom in the movie Fantastic Four. While he would have been a strong choice for the character, his presence alone might not have been enough to improve Tim Story’s superhero film.

The cast of Fantastic Four included Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Jessica Alba as Susan Storm/The Invisible Woman, Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm/The Thing, and Chris Evans as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch. Julian McMahon ultimately played Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom, the role Downey Jr. did not take.

All these actors reprised their roles for the 2007 sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

In the book The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making Of The Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jon Favreau, director of Iron Man, revealed that Marvel had previously considered Robert Downey Jr. for the part of Doctor Doom.

This interesting casting detail surfaced years after the film was made, before Marvel Studios started the blockbuster series known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At the time, several Marvel properties, including X-Men and Daredevil, were owned by Fox, which produced superhero movies with varying degrees of success.

Fox hoped Fantastic Four would achieve the same success as Bryan Singer’s X-Men and X2: X-Men United. The film’s cast was intriguing, especially with Chris Evans before his time as Captain America. However, casting Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom would have been a significant achievement.

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Robert Downey Jr’s Legal Troubles

At the time, Robert Downey Jr. was infamous for his legal issues, though his acting talent was widely acknowledged. Jon Favreau, the director of Iron Man, was instrumental in casting Downey as Tony Stark, a decision that had a transformative impact on Hollywood as Downey became the central figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s tremendous success.

It remains uncertain whether Downey declined the role of Doctor Doom or if Fox chose Julian McMahon, known for his work on FX’s Nip/Tuck, possibly due to concerns about Downey’s past. Nonetheless, it’s unlikely that even Downey’s talent could have salvaged Fantastic Four.

In Fantastic Four, Victor Von Doom was reinterpreted; instead of being the despotic ruler of the fictional Latveria as in the comics, he was portrayed as the CEO of a global corporation.

The character’s downfall, after losing control of his company, echoes Norman Osborn’s (Willem Dafoe) storyline in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man. Additionally, Von Doom’s previous romantic relationship with Susan Storm, who eventually chooses Reed Richards, contributes to his transformation into the metallic villain, Doctor Doom.

Certain elements of Victor Von Doom’s character in Fantastic Four parallel Tony Stark’s traits in Iron Man, suggesting that Robert Downey Jr. could have added more complexity to the role. Downey, now a major movie star and one of Hollywood’s most skilled actors, proved his prowess by becoming Tony Stark in Iron Man, which led to him becoming one of the highest-paid actors, with roles in franchises like Sherlock Holmes.

While Julian McMahon did a commendable job with the material he was given, Downey’s exceptional talent could have brought a more engaging performance to the character of Doctor Doom, adding a level of entertainment that the film otherwise lacked.

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