Fans agreed that another notable actor, who is known for his villainous roles, would have been better than Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom!

robert downey jr, doctor doom

The world rejoiced when Robert Downey Jr. removed his Doctor Doom mask at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024. It was finally time for Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU.

Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in Avengers: Infinity War | Marvel StudiosRobert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in Avengers: Infinity War | Credits: Marvel Studios

However, there was another, more capable actor who was in talks with Marvel Studios for the role of Doctor Doom. As per speculations, Marvel allegedly went ahead with the safer choice.

Marvel Allegedly Played It Safe With Robert Downey Jr.

In Hollywood, there are several actors who are meant to portray a villainous role. Be it Heath Ledger, Jared Leto, Joaquin Phoenix, or, Colin Farrell, these actors have a face that would suit a villain (not that they are villains in real life).

Robert Downey Jr. is now Doctor Doom [Credit: Comic Com | Marvel Entertainment/ YouTube]Robert Downey Jr. is now Doctor Doom | Credits: Marvel Entertainment via YouTube

One actor amongst them is so iconic that he replaced Johnny Depp in the Fantastic Beasts franchise during the infamous defamation trial. We are talking about Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen.

Known for portraying the role of a young Hannibal Lecter in the TV show Hannibal and Gellert Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, Mikkelsen is truly a fascinating villainous actor. As per a report, the actor was in talks with Marvel Studios for the role of Doctor Doom.

However, Marvel Studios allegedly decided to play it safe and hired (or rather re-hired) Downey Jr. for “New mask. Same task”. Sure enough, people were happy to see Downey Jr. return.

But, upon hearing that Mikkelsen was also considered for the role of Doctor Doom, the people had a different reaction as they took to their social media accounts to voice their opinions.

Fans Think Mads Mikkelsen Would Make A Great Villain!

Mikkelsen portrayed the role of Kaecilius in the 2016 film Doctor Strange and was much loved for his portrayal. Despite the actor already being a part of the MCU, fans stated that they had no problem with Mikkelsen portraying Doctor Doom.

Mads Mikkelsen as KaeciliusMads Mikkelsen as Kaecilius in Doctor Strange | Credits: Marvel Studios

Taking to their social media accounts on X, fans talked about how great Mads Mikkelsen would have been as Doctor Doom. Some even went as far as to claim that Mikkelsen would have been better than Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom!

Well, Marvel Studios surely must have their own sets of reasons for picking Robert Downey Jr. over Mads Mikkelsen. However, this is still a speculation as a confirmed report hasn’t been made available yet.

Downey Jr. is all set to portray the role of Doctor Doom in the upcoming MCU film Avengers: Doomsday. The film is currently set for a release date of 1 May 2026 in theaters across the world.