The upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps movie is generating massive buzz, and rightly so. As the launchpad for Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the highly anticipated debut of Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards alongside Marvel’s first family, this film carries significant weight. The recently dropped teaser trailer offers a tantalizing glimpse into this new iteration of the Fantastic Four, showcasing Galactus and other intriguing elements. However, for many, one question looms largest: where is Doctor Doom in all of this, and what does it mean for the wider MCU, especially given the casting rumors surrounding Robert Downey Jr. as Victor Von Doom? Let’s delve into the trailer’s hints and analyze the potential role of Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four: First Steps and beyond.
Doctor Doom’s Absence in the Fantastic Four: First Steps Trailer – A Calculated Move?
Last year’s San Diego Comic-Con sent shockwaves through the fandom with the announcement that Avengers 5 had been retitled Avengers: Doomsday, and that the iconic villain Doctor Doom would be portrayed by none other than Robert Downey Jr. This casting choice, considering the deep-rooted history between Doctor Doom and Iron Man in Marvel Comics, was both electrifying and perplexing. Fans immediately began speculating how the Fantastic Four movie would lay the groundwork for Doom’s emergence as a major Avengers-level threat.
Marvel Studios is notoriously secretive, and the First Steps teaser trailer offers little in the way of explicit Doctor Doom teases. In fact, it seems to deliberately emphasize a different direction for this Fantastic Four film. Past Fantastic Four movies have prominently featured Doom, with Julian McMahon’s portrayal in the 2005 and 2007 films, and Toby Kebbell’s reimagining in the 2015 reboot. This time around, the focus appears to be squarely on Galactus, the Silver Surfer, and the enigmatic character played by John Malkovich.
However, it’s highly unlikely that Doctor Doom is entirely absent from Marvel’s plans for First Steps. He is, after all, intrinsically linked to the Fantastic Four mythology. Moreover, Fantastic Four: First Steps is positioned as a crucial MCU installment leading up to Avengers: Doomsday in May 2026. It’s reasonable to expect some setup for the overarching villain of Avengers: Doomsday within this film, and Doctor Doom fits that bill perfectly.
The central question surrounding Doctor Doom’s potential introduction revolves around his origins. The casting of Robert Downey Jr. strongly suggests that this Doom is not the Earth-616 version we know. Is this Doctor Doom from the same universe as the Fantastic Four: First Steps? Could this be a reality where Tony Stark’s path took a drastically darker turn, leading him to become Doctor Doom? Or is he a multiversal variant from an entirely different reality? Even a post-credits scene cameo could serve to establish this new Doctor Doom and his motivations for targeting the MCU’s Avengers.
Regardless of the extent of Doom’s presence in First Steps, the trailer indicates that he will not be the primary antagonist in this film. The Fantastic Four are facing a threat of cosmic proportions that demands their immediate attention.
Galactus: The Devourer of Worlds Takes Center Stage
The First Steps trailer clearly establishes Galactus as the primary antagonist for the Fantastic Four in this movie. Voiced by Ralph Ineson, Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, is poised to be a formidable challenge for the team.
Galactus, a creation of the legendary Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, first appeared in Fantastic Four #48 in 1966, commencing the iconic “Galactus Trilogy.” This storyline saw Galactus and his herald, the Silver Surfer, arrive on Earth with the intent to consume the planet, forcing the Fantastic Four to take desperate measures to protect their home.
Over time, Marvel Comics has expanded on Galactus’s backstory and his role in the cosmic order. Once a mortal named Galan from the planet Taa in a previous universe, he merged with the Sentience of the Universe after the Big Bang to become Galactus. Driven by an insatiable hunger, he traverses the cosmos, consuming planets to sustain himself.
Galactus is not simply a villain but a force of cosmic necessity. His world-devouring actions are part of the universe’s cycle of death and rebirth. However, this cosmic role offers little comfort to those whose worlds are targeted by Galactus.
Galactus looming over cityImage of Galactus towering over a cityscape, hinting at the immense scale of the threat the Fantastic Four faces in First Steps.
First Steps seems heavily influenced by the classic “Galactus Trilogy.” The film portrays a well-established Fantastic Four, beloved by the public, now confronted with their greatest challenge – a cosmic entity intent on devouring their world.
A key question is how far Reed Richards and the team will go to save Earth. In the comics, Reed famously wields the Ultimate Nullifier, a weapon capable of destroying and recreating the multiverse, as a deterrent against Galactus. Will the Ultimate Nullifier appear in the movie, and could it tie into the larger Multiverse Saga and the Incursions?
The trailer suggests a more comic-accurate Galactus than the cloud-like entity seen in Rise of the Silver Surfer. Here, Galactus is depicted in a humanoid form, dwarfing the Statue of Liberty. This indicates a more character-driven portrayal of Galactus, justifying the casting of Ralph Ineson.
While we glimpse Galactus in the trailer, his herald, the Silver Surfer, is less prominent. Julia Garner is cast as Silver Surfer, who also debuted in Fantastic Four #48 as Galactus’s scout for suitable planets. In the comics, Silver Surfer develops empathy for Earth and joins the Fantastic Four in opposing Galactus, eventually becoming a hero in his own right.
First Steps presents a gender-swapped Silver Surfer, but the core elements of her story are likely to remain. She will begin as Galactus’s herald, but her encounter with Earth will awaken memories of her past life on Zenn-La, leading her to rebel against her master, mirroring the arc of Laurence Fishburne’s Silver Surfer in the 2007 film.
John Malkovich’s Mystery Role: Red Ghost or Mole Man?
While Galactus and Silver Surfer appear to be the primary antagonists, they are unlikely to be the only villains in First Steps. The trailer features a brief shot of John Malkovich with a beard, sparking speculation about his character.
One prominent rumor suggests Malkovich is playing Ivan Kragoff, also known as the Red Ghost. In comics, Kragoff is a Soviet scientist who replicated the Fantastic Four’s fateful spaceflight, but with a crew of apes: Mikhlo the gorilla, Igor the baboon, and Peotr the orangutan. Gaining powers, Kragoff and his apes became Red Ghost and the Super-Apes. A product of the 1960s comics era, this campy villain could offer a lighter, early-film challenge for the Fantastic Four.
Given Malkovich’s history of portraying Russian characters, Red Ghost is a plausible theory. The question is whether the film will embrace the character’s more outlandish aspects, including the super-powered apes.
John Malkovich mysterious character
Image of John Malkovich in the trailer, prompting speculation about whether he is playing Red Ghost or Mole Man in Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Another possibility is Harvey Elder, the Mole Man, another classic Fantastic Four villain rumored to appear. Ostracized for his appearance and personality, Mole Man rules the subterranean Moloid race and seeks to conquer the surface world. Malkovich’s appearance in the trailer, seemingly in a cave-like setting, lends credence to this theory.
Regardless of the specific character, Malkovich is likely playing a secondary villain who will clash with the Fantastic Four early in the film. The trailer suggests the team is already established, implying they have a history of dealing with various threats and villains.
Malkovich is not the only actor whose role is yet to be confirmed. Natasha Lyonne, Sarah Niles, and Paul Walter Houser are also part of the cast in undisclosed roles, further fueling fan theories and anticipation.
The Fantastic Four: Family First, Superheroes Second
While the trailer provides glimpses of Galactus and the potential secondary villains, it primarily focuses on the Fantastic Four themselves: Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Susan Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bacharach as Ben Grimm. We even see a brief appearance of H.E.R.B.I.E., the family’s robot helper.
The emphasis is clearly on “family.” The trailer highlights the Fantastic Four’s dynamic as both a superhero team and a family unit, with all the associated love and dysfunction. The film appears to delve into Ben Grimm’s struggle with his transformation into the Thing and Reed’s guilt over his role in the accident.
The trailer suggests the film is set after the Fantastic Four are already established heroes, unlike the origin stories presented in the 2005 and 2015 films. However, flashback shots hint at the team’s origins, featuring a pre-Thing Ben Grimm in news footage and glimpses of the accident that granted them their powers. Therefore, while not an origin story, First Steps will likely incorporate flashbacks to the Fantastic Four’s beginnings.
The Fantastic Four teamImage showcasing the Fantastic Four team in their new blue and white costumes, emphasizing their family dynamic and functional, scientific suits.
The costumes in First Steps are a departure from previous Fantastic Four movies, featuring a blue and white color scheme reminiscent of John Byrne’s classic 1980s Fantastic Four comics. The suits are designed to reflect their roles as scientists and adventurers rather than traditional superheroes, emphasizing functionality over typical superhero aesthetics.
Marvel’s marketing for the film has also highlighted the Future Foundation, an organization founded by Reed Richards in the comics to nurture young geniuses. This raises the possibility of younger heroes appearing in the film, potentially including Reed and Sue’s children, Franklin and Valeria. The “First Steps” title itself hints at themes of parenthood and raising children.
Franklin Richards, one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe, is likely to appear in the film. His presence raises questions about his potential connection to Galactus’s targeting of Earth. Could Franklin’s immense power be the reason Galactus is drawn to Earth?
We’ll have to wait until Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25, 2025, to uncover the answers. Whether Doctor Doom makes an appearance, and the full extent of his role in the MCU’s future, remains a tantalizing mystery. The trailer has set the stage for an exciting new chapter for Marvel’s first family, promising a blend of cosmic threats, family drama, and the enduring question of Doctor Doom’s ultimate plan.
