Rogue One star Ben Mendelsohn really, really wants to play Fantastic Four supervillain Doctor Doom in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
"I would almost give my eyes and teeth to play Doctor Doom," Mendelsohn told GQ. "I think Doctor Doom is the great unread Marvel character that could and should be done. But it is what it is.”
Doctor Doom, the famous Fantastic Four supervillain first appeared in the Fantastic Four #5 back in 1962. He's a dictator, a scientist, a powerful wizard – and a fan-favorite Marvel villain. The big bad was played by Julian McMahon in the 2005 movie starring Jessica Alba and Chris Evans and its 2007 sequel. Toby Kebbell took on the role in the 2015 reboot.
- The Doctor Doom actor from 2005's Fantastic Four thinks Robert Downey Jr.'s take on the role in the next Avengers movies will be "pretty extraordinary": "I love watching his work"
- Avengers: Doomsday directors say there's "nobody else in the world" who could play Doctor Doom like Robert Downey Jr. in "the way he's about to"
Mendelsohn is no stranger to playing villains, as he originated the role of Director Orson Krennic in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The actor also plays Talos, a Skrull who ends up working with Nick Fury, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After appearing in Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far From Home, he played Talos as a lead role in the Disney Plus series Secret Invasion.
Though Marvel has announced who will play the Fantastic Four, villains have yet to be announced – though Doctor Doom does seem like the obvious choice. Over the years, fans have cast everyone from Jon Hamm to Giancarlo Esposito and even Keanu Reeves. Only time will tell.
The Fantastic Four is set for a July 25, 2025 release date, pushed from its prior May 2, 2025 and February 14, 2025 release dates. For more, check out our guide to all of the upcoming Marvel movies and shows on the way, as well as how to watch the Marvel movies in order.
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