When the Fox/Marvel deal was announced, it meant that mainstay heroes like the X-Men and the Fantastic Four would finally be able to become a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But many fans are more excited about seeing the bad guys coming to the silver screen than their heroic counterparts. While it will certainly be good for the MCU to have access to Magneto and Galactus, there is perhaps no other villain more significant than Doctor Doom.
After two recent lackluster attempts to bring Doom to life, the MCU finally has a chance to do this titan of pop culture justice. Here’s how the new movies can do right by a character who does so much wrong.
Get His Character Right
A superhero character is defined by having a strong personality, and in the case of Doctor Doom, getting his personality right could not be more important. While previous film incarnations have gotten aspects of Doom’s portrayal correct, they often miss the boat. Yes, Doctor Doom is arrogant, but apparently, that is the only thing that seems to come across in his portrayal in cinema, as evidenced by Julian McMahon’s time as Doom in the two Fantastic Four films of the early 2000s. He’s also not just a societal misanthrope, like in the disastrous 2015 movie. A character who’s only attribute is pride typically just comes across as a massive jerk, and that alone does not make for a compelling villain. Doom is prideful, sure, but he is also benevolent to those he deems worthy. He’s a ruler and a conqueror, one who sees himself above the rules not just because he is prideful but because it is often actually true. He also cares deeply for the lives of his people and those close to him, as evidenced by his struggles to set his mother’s soul free from hell or how he fiercely defends his nation of Latveria. With a mixture of good and bad qualities, he deserves a well-rounded character portrayal.
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Get His Motivations Right
Just like Thanos in the MCU, Doom has a code of honor, a value system that may be cruel and selfish, but one that makes a certain amount of logical sense. He is motivated by his morals to do what he does because he believes that he is doing the right thing. As many stories in the comics have explored, Doom’s quest for power often has the goal of making the world a better, even perfect place. His motivations in the films thus far have been rather petty or spiteful. In the early Fantastic Four films, he’s just a power-hungry bully who seeks out revenge against Reed for getting the girl, and the most recent entry has him attempting to wreck the world after becoming a mutated monster. But the Doctor Doom of the comics often wants things that heroes themselves want: peace and a world free of poverty, oppression, and disease. It is the Machiavellian means to his end that heroes typically oppose, and this kind of portrayal would make for compelling cinema.
Get His Mysteriousness Right
It might be a minor point, but Doctor Doom is meant to be a mysterious figure, one that keeps the audience guessing as to his true nature and origins. Like many a masked villain, the early comic book portrayals avoided showing his face, even when he was unmasked. Doom is meant to have an air of mystique about him, but in the film portrayals, they've shown his entire origin story. Seeing just some average businessman or computer nerd becoming the most feared supervillain of Marvel has only led to disappointment, so it is about time to try a different approach. Instead of rushing to show Doom’s origins, he should be something like the Mandarin (the real one we’re going to see in Shang-Chi, not the ones in Iron Man 3) was ultimately revealed to be in the MCU: behind the scenes the whole time, only to be revealed later.
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Get His Abilities Right
One of the most misunderstood and misrepresented aspects of Doctor Doom is the nature of his powers. As a technological super genius, Doom wears a suit of armor that is toe-to-toe with Iron Man’s -- in fact, some versions are even superior. He’s also supported by a myriad of gadgets and inventions, from lasers to biological weapons. But in addition to being scientifically adept, Doom is also a master of the mystic arts, being able to throw down with the likes of Doctor Strange. So far in the movies, however, Doom has been given weird powers like electrical control or some kind of telekinesis. Doom’s powers should be the result of long study, not innate like he’s some mutant. Hopefully, the MCU can approach Doom like it does the Asgardians, where Thor mentions that to his people, magic and science are the same.
Get His Casting Right
Doctor Doom is a villain with a powerful presence, commanding the fear and respect of everyone in the room. Although fan casting is often not an indicator of what would actually work in reality, it’s pretty obvious to see that the past approaches of casting slick-looking guys or scrawny kids are not the way to go. Since he’s a character who spends a great deal of time behind a mask, Doom should be played by someone who conveys menace and majesty non-verbally. Perhaps even more importantly, Doom’s voice needs to be something epic, something that conveys his noble heritage, his intelligence, and his awe-inspiring power. So far, the voices of doom have been quiet and far too subdued. Doom should also not be a one-off villain, only featuring in one film. He should be like Loki, always finding a way to survive his setbacks and menace the heroes of Marvel.
If one good thing can be said of Doctor Doom’s portrayals in past films, it’s that they have been so lackluster that it won’t take much to improve dramatically upon what has come before. Hopefully, the MCU can finally find a way to bring one of the most compelling and awe-inspiring comic book characters to life.