It appears that director Josh Trank and his 20th Century Fox studio partners on the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot are getting close to finalizing one of the movie’s key roles, the villainous Victor Von Doom, better known as the metal-mask-wearing megalomaniac, Doctor Doom. Sam Riley (On the Road), Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables), Toby Kebbell (Wrath of the Titans), and Domhnall Gleeson (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) are all reportedly being considered for the role, according to TheWrap. Jack Huston was also said to be up for the role at one point, but it’s not clear if he’s still being considered.
Confirmation of Doctor Doom casting would round out the key roles in Trank’s Fantastic Four. The titular super-team is already set, or close to being set, as we recently heard that Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, and Jamie Bell are signed on or close to signing deals to play Mr. Fantastic, Human Torch, Invisible Woman, and The Thing, respectively.
In the comics, Doctor Doom is the long-time nemesis of Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic. There have been various takes on the villain’s origin in comics and other popular fiction, but they all generally establish a competitive relationship between schoolmates/associates that transforms into something much darker and more sinister. Trank’s film is a reboot, one that many suspect will re-tell the origin of the super-team (and, most likely, its most dangerous enemy) given the age of the stars. The Doom shortlist definitely supports that belief, and further suggests the type of actor that will land in the role even if no one in this foursome works out.
