Marvel Studios’ live-action Doctor Doom would benefit from copying a crucial MCU villain. Though audiences have anticipated his arrival for over a decade now, the MCU’s Doctor Doom is still yet to be introduced, despite being previously adapted into live-action twice in 20th Century Fox’s Fantastic Four movies. However, the MCU’s upcoming movie lineup has made it more likely than ever that Victor Von Doom will grace the franchise soon.

While Doom’s late appearance in the MCU timeline is partially due to the primary heroes he faces also arriving later in it, his delayed introduction is potentially also affected by him being a more complicated figure to depict effectively. Doctor Doom has faced off against the likes of Doctor Strange, Iron Man, Spider-Man, and the Avengers collectively, and is one of Marvel’s longest-running villains, meaning handling him correctly is vital. Helpfully, one other powerful villain could be a perfect template for Doctor Doom’s potential MCU evolution.

Doctor Doom Could Be Appearing In The MCU Soon

Doctor Doom Could Be The Perfect Kang The Conqueror Replacement

Speculation has been rising that Doctor Doom could soon be making his debut in the MCU. While Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror and his villainous variants were initially being set up as the primary antagonists of the Multiverse Saga, Majors’ 2023 reckless assault conviction and firing from Marvel Studios prompted theories that he could be replaced. Doctor Doom emerged as a potential replacement, especially due to his proximity to the Fantastic Four, who will appear in the MCU’s Phase 6, and his role in Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars storyline.

Previous theories suggested that Doctor Doom could have appeared during 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but this didn’t come to pass. There was also speculation that Doom’s Kingdom of Latveria may have been seen during Moon Knight’s premiere episode in 2022, but the series provided no information confirming this idea. While Galactus has been reported to be the primary villain of the MCU’s upcoming The Fantastic Four reboot, Doctor Doom could also be introduced in the Phase 6 movie.

Doctor Doom & Loki Have Both Been Villains & Heroes

Loki Transformed From A Villain In Phase 1 To A Hero In Phase 5

When bringing Doctor Doom into the MCU, Marvel Studios could look back on the development of Tom Hiddleston’s Loki as a template. First introduced as a villain in 2011’s Thor, Loki went on to oppose the Avengers in their first battle as a team. Over the years, however, Loki transformed from an outright antagonist to something of an antihero, and has more recently been depicted as a bona fide superhero. He isn’t the only Marvel villain to embark on this evolution, as Guardians of the Galaxy’s Nebula underwent the same transformation, and Doctor Doom could be next.

Doctor Doom has been viewed as an antihero on several occasions throughout his Marvel Comics history. This usually only occurs when his nefarious goals align with those of Marvel’s heroes, such as when he helped the Fantastic Four take down Galactus, when he became Iron Man in the wake of Tony Stark’s death, and when he took on Onslaught with the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men. Using the likes of Loki and Nebula as a benchmark for Doctor Doom in the MCU means the villain could become one of the franchise’s most complex new characters.

Loki Was Developed Gradually Over Several Years In The MCU, Doctor Doom Should Do The Same

Doctor Doom Deserves A Long Career In The MCU

Exploring a similar development to Loki with Doctor Doom means the upcoming MCU villain could be set up for a long-running journey. Loki’s transformation took place over many years, with him being a villain in Phase 1, an antihero throughout Phases 2 and 3, and a hero in Phases 4 and 5. This allowed audiences to really get to know Loki, better understand his motivations, feel an emotional punch upon his Infinity War death, and root for him during his Multiverse Saga series.

Doctor Doom deserves this same level of care and respect, as he is not a straightforward villain carrying out purely evil acts in Marvel Comics, but is far more complicated. The Fantastic Four is likely to introduce the team’s infamous adversary, but Avengers: Secret Wars and other upcoming projects can expand on his persona and intentions. While no actor has yet been cast as Doctor Doom, whoever takes on the role will be set up for a huge future in the MCU, which could see him have as much of an impact as Loki.