The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Where Is Doctor Doom In the New Teaser Trailer?

2025 is a momentous year for Marvel, but no project looms larger than The Fantastic Four: First Steps. This Phase 6 MCU launch finally introduces Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards and his family. After decades of anticipation, a truly great Fantastic Four film might finally be here.

The recently released teaser trailer offers a closer look at the foursome and first glimpses of antagonists like Ralph Ineson's Galactus and John Malkovich's mysterious character. However, one question dominates fan discussions: where is Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom? Let's analyze the trailer's reveals and omissions.

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Where Is Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom?

Marvel's San Diego Comic-Con announcement that Avengers 5, retitled Avengers: Doomsday, would feature Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom surprised many. Despite the comics' rich Doom/Iron Man history, the casting was unexpected. Naturally, fans wonder how The Fantastic Four: First Steps sets up Doom as the next major Avengers threat.

Marvel is keeping details close to the vest. The teaser offers no overt hints of Doom's presence, emphasizing a different approach than previous Fantastic Four films. Julian McMahon's Doom was a key villain in 2005's Fantastic Four and 2007's Rise of the Silver Surfer, and Toby Kebbell's Doom was integral to the 2015 reboot. This time, Marvel downplays Doom, focusing on Galactus, Silver Surfer, and John Malkovich's enigmatic character.

First Steps will likely establish Doom's role; he's a primary Fantastic Four villain, and the film precedes Avengers: Doomsday (May 2026). Teasing the next major Avengers villain is crucial.

A key question is Doom's universe of origin. Given the casting, he's clearly not from Earth-616. Is he from The Fantastic Four: First Steps' universe? A world where Tony Stark's life took a darker turn? Or another world entirely? Even a post-credits appearance could establish his identity and motivations against the MCU Avengers. Regardless of his role—supporting villain or cameo—he won't be the film's star. The Fantastic Four face far greater, literal, problems.

The teaser highlights the Fantastic Four's primary antagonist: Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, voiced by Ralph Ineson (Game of Thrones).

Galactus, a classic Marvel character (Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, 1966's Fantastic Four #48), launched the "Galactus Trilogy." The storyline depicts Galactus and his herald, Silver Surfer, arriving to consume Earth, forcing the Fantastic Four to desperate measures.

Later stories expanded Galactus's backstory and cosmic role. Once Galan of Taa, a survivor of a pre-Big Bang universe, he bonded with the Sentience of the Universe, becoming Galactus. He travels the cosmos, seeking life-sustaining worlds.

Galactus isn't a typical supervillain; he's a cosmic entity fulfilling a necessary function—a cycle of death and rebirth. This is little comfort to those whose planets he targets.

First Steps draws inspiration from the Galactus Trilogy. The Fantastic Four are established heroes facing their greatest challenge—a cosmic devourer. The film explores the lengths Reed and his family will go to save Earth. The comics feature Reed threatening Galactus with the Ultimate Nullifier, a multiverse-altering weapon. Will this appear, and connect to the Multiverse Saga and Incursions?

First Steps' Galactus is more comic-book inspired than Rise of the Silver Surfer's hurricane-like depiction. Here, Galactus is humanoid, towering over the Statue of Liberty. Ineson's casting suggests a more developed character, not just a force of nature.

While the teaser shows Galactus, his herald is absent. Julia Garner plays Silver Surfer, introduced in Fantastic Four #48 as Galactus's scout. The story shows Silver Surfer's pity for Earth, leading him to defy Galactus and become a hero.

First Steps' gender-swapped Silver Surfer will likely follow a similar arc—starting as Galactus's herald, then rebelling after encountering Earth and awakening memories of her mortal life on Zenn-La. Expect a similar character arc to Laurence Fishburne's Silver Surfer in the 2007 film.

Galactus and Silver Surfer are the main antagonists, but likely not the only ones. The teaser briefly shows a bearded John Malkovich, raising the question of his character.

One rumor suggests Malkovich plays Ivan Kragoff (The Red Ghost). In the comics, Kragoff, a Soviet scientist, recreates the Fantastic Four's accident with three super-powered apes—Mikhlo, Igor, and Peotr (Red Ghost and the Super-Apes).

Given Malkovich's history playing Russian characters, this role isn't surprising. The question is how much the film will embrace the character's campy origins and the super-powered apes.

Another possibility is Mole Man, another iconic Fantastic Four villain rumored for First Steps. Shunned for his appearance and personality, Mole Man rules the Moloids underground and seeks to conquer the surface world. Malkovich's character's appearance suggests a cave-dwelling existence.

Malkovich likely plays a secondary villain clashing with the Fantastic Four early in the film. Their established status suggests a pre-existing rogues' gallery.

Several actors' roles remain unconfirmed, including Natasha Lyonne, Sarah Niles, and Paul Walter Hauser.

The teaser showcases the Fantastic Four: Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby's Susan Storm, Joseph Quinn's Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bacharach's Ben Grimm, along with H.E.R.B.I.E.

The teaser emphasizes the Fantastic Four as a family unit, with the love and dysfunction inherent in families. Ben's struggle with his monstrous form and Reed's guilt are likely key themes.

The film appears to depict the Fantastic Four as established celebrity heroes, not an origin story like the 2005 and 2015 films. However, flashbacks to Ben Grimm's pre-Thing days and the accident's aftermath are likely.

First Steps' costumes differ from previous films. The blue and white scheme pays homage to John Byrne's 1980s comics. The functional, space-age uniforms reflect the characters' scientist/adventurer identities, not traditional superhero spandex or armor.

Marvel's marketing emphasizes the Future Foundation, established by Reed to nurture future super-geniuses. This raises the possibility of younger heroes, including Reed and Sue's children, Franklin and Valeria. The "First Steps" title hints at parenthood and its challenges.

Young Franklin Richards' presence is likely, and his immense power raises questions about Galactus targeting Earth.

Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters July 25, 2025.

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