Ever since Marvel Studios unveiled the principal cast for The Fantastic Four: First Steps—Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach—fans and internet scoopers have argued over one question: will Robert Downey Jr.’s Victor von Doom step onto the MCU as part of the movie. Despite several claims that Downey Jr. has filmed a secret cameo for the July release, director Matt Shakman has now set the record straight – possibly.

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Doctor Doom has appeared in every big-screen Fantastic Four adaptation to date, from the “lost” Roger Corman curio of 1994 to Fox’s 2005 and 2015 outings. When Marvel tapped Ralph Ineson as Galactus last year, many assumed Doom would at least lurk in the shadows of the new movie, setting up his Doomsday role. However, despite the constantly present claims that Doom will appear in the post-credits scene, Shakman disagrees. And he should know, right? Addressing the question in a recent Empire Magazine interview, Shakman’s blunt answer was:
“Doom is not a part of my film, and therefore not a part of my purview.”

How Doctor Doom Can Still Appear in ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’

Paramount Pictures/Marvel Comics

Saying Doom is “not a part of my film” leaves a multiverse of wiggle room for Robert Downey Jr. to still make that rumored post-post-credits appearance. How? Because there is nothing to stop the movie having a post-credits scene not directed by Shakman. Thunderbolts* was revealed to have had its major post-credits scene, which teased the New Avengers witnessing the Fantastic Four’s spaceship arriving in Earth 616’s atmosphere, directed by the Russo brothers, who will be helming both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. This means that they could have also done the same thing for Fantastic Four: First Steps, essentially making it possible for Shakman to say that “his” film does not have Doom as part of the story, but for Doom to still make a late appearance. It actually makes sense for The Fantastic Four: First Steps to feature some kind of Doom reference, otherwise it would probably mean that fans would be going into Avengers: Doomsday completely cold. In the same way Thor: Ragnarok ended on a stinger that directly led into Avengers: Infinity War, Fantastic Four: First Steps would be the most likely place for some kind of hint of Doom’s presence to be delivered. Obviously, Doom is not an integral part of Shakman’s movie, which was evident even before he made his most recent statement. With Galactus being the movie’s main antagonist, having Doom suddenly appear without any warning or preamble would most likely seem forced and take away from Galactus’ appearance. However, including him in the post-credits scene would be the most logical way to tease what is coming to the MCU, and mirror the kind of Thanos teases that were laid out in a few movies of Phase 2 and Phase 3 before his huge role in Infinity War. Source: Empire