As one of Marvel’s most notable and powerful supervillains, Doctor Doom’s debut in the MCU is very exciting, and there has been a huge amount of speculation about when this could happen. While some believe The Fantastic Four: First Steps would be a great place to introduce Doctor Doom, it seems Marvel Television’s Agatha All Along series could also bring the villain into live-action. By introducing the ancestor of one of Agatha All Along’s formidable witches, Marvel Studios may be presented with the perfect opportunity to tease Doctor Doom much sooner than anyone expected.
Lilia Calderu Is A Descendant Of Cagliostro In Marvel Comics
Patti LuPone Portrays Sicilian Witch Lilia Calderu In Agatha All Along
Surprisingly, Doctor Doom could be established as having a connection to Lilia Calderu, who made her MCU debut in Agatha All Along. Played by Patti LuPone, Lilia Calderu was introduced in Agatha All Along as a 450-year-old Sicilian witch who specializes in divination. She is a valuable member of Agatha Harkness’ coven, and had a pivotal role in the protection of Billy Maximoff, having placed the sigil on him while he was still William Kaplan, though her true relevance and power is still yet to be seen.
Patti LuPone’s Lilia Calderu is loosely adapted from the Marvel Comics character of the same name, also known as the Witch-Queen of the Gypsies. Marvel Comics’ Lilia Calderu was the descendant of Cagliostro, an incredibly powerful sorcerer who was said to have ruled over a kingdom in India in the 11th Century. Cagliostro, otherwise known as O’Bengh, not only wrote the famed Book of Cagliostro, but also has a strong connection to Doctor Doom, so exploring Lilia’s backstory and bringing Cagliostro into the MCU could explain the Latverian supervillain’s debut.
Cagliostro Trained A Time-Traveling Doctor Doom In The Mystic Arts
Doctor Doom Is Connected To Cagliostro In Marvel Comics
In Marvel Comics, Cagliostro was a formidable sorcerer who achieved immortality through his use of the Darkhold, which he claimed after he killed the immortal Egyptian wizard Al-Tothas and usurped his form. Cagliostro took the form of an Italian occultist, Giuseppe Balsamo, in the 1700s, continuing his hunt for vampire blood, which would gift him immortality. Over the years, Cagliostro became involved with Voodoo queen Marie Leveau and fought Doctor Strange, while also becoming the magical mentor to none other than Doctor Doom.
Giuseppe Balsamo was a real-world Italian occultist known by the alias Count Alessandro di Cagliostro who was an adventurer and self-made magician who lived in the 1700s. He formed the inspiration for Marvel Comics’ Cagliostro.
Doctor Doom crossed paths with Cagliostro after time traveling to India in 1000 A.D. while searching for a suitable teacher in the arcane arts. Then known as O’Bengh, Cagliostro earned the respect of Doctor Doom, and set about teaching the villain his magical secrets. Doctor Doom helped O’Bengh begin his quest for immortality in return, eventually leaving his teacher with new magical powers instilled in him. This connection would be great to examine in the MCU, and could make Doctor Doom even more terrifying.
Doctor Doom Could Be A Powerful Sorcerer In The MCU
Agatha All Along May Have Laid The Foundations For Doctor Doom’s MCU Debut
Doctor Doom famously spent years in Marvel Comics learning the ways of the Mystic Arts, which eventually culminated in him becoming one of Marvel’s most powerful sorcerers, and even recently becoming the Sorcerer Supreme in 2024’s Blood Hunt event. This side of Doctor Doom’s personality has never been seen in live-action before, so it would be great to showcase his magical prowess in the MCU. Agatha All Along’s focus on the Darkhold, exploration of witchcraft and sorcery, and introduction of Lilia Calderu may have perfectly set up Doctor Doom’s debut.
Doctor Doom Live-Action Actor
Debut Movie
Year
Joseph Culp
The Fantastic Four
1994
Julian McMahon
Fantastic Four
Toby Kebbell
Fantastic Four
2015
Robert Downey Jr.
Avengers: Doomsday
2026
It would be a mistake for Marvel Studios to ignore Doctor Doom’s sorcery when bringing him into the MCU. A lot of attention has recently been put on the importance of magic in projects such as Doctor Strange, WandaVision, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Agatha All Along, among others. Debuting Doctor Doom as a magic-user would make him even more formidable heading into the MCU’s Phase 6, and by teasing Cagliostro and establishing the Darkhold, the foundations have already been laid.
Marvel Studios Already Introduced A Version Of Cagliostro
Cagliostro Could Easily Make An Appearance In The MCU
Cagliostro has been a known name in the MCU since 2016’s Doctor Strange, as he was mentioned as the author of the Book of Cagliostro. This book contained the spells that allowed Kaecilius to commune with Dormammu in the Dark Dimension, and allowed Doctor Strange to learn how to use the Time Stone, suggesting Cagliostro was, at one time, the most knowledgeable and powerful sorcerer in existence. This was glimpsed in What If…? season 1, as a variant of Doctor Strange sought out Cagliostro in the hopes of breaking an Absolute Point.
Voiced by Ike Amadi, Cagliostro, referred to as O’Bengh, appeared in What If…? season 1, episode 4, “What If… Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?” He refused to be named Cagliostro, but was the guardian of the Lost Library of Cagliostro who helped Doctor Strange learn how to absorb power from other magical beings, eventually transforming him into a monster. O’Bengh’s appearance in What If…? teased Cagliostro’s debut in the MCU, and his connection to Lilia Calderu means this could happen in Agatha All Along, and Marvel Studios has the chance to introduce Doctor Doom alongside him.
