The Fantastic Four is officially coming to the MCU and with it, the evil Doctor Doom should be played by none other than Christoph Waltz. The actor is a mainstay in Hollywood who has collaborated with many cinematic giants, from working with Quentin Tarantino to starring in Spectre as the iconic James Bond villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld. While some MCU viewers suggest that Mads Mikkelsen is also a perfect pick for Doctor Doom, the actor is sadly already part of an MCU project as Kaecilius in Doctor Strange.

By contrast, Waltz has yet to make his MCU debut. The Austrian-German actor is the perfect pick for Doctor Doom, and he could absolutely work as an overarching villain that spans several films, much like Thanos. It would be a shame to waste an actor of Waltz's talents and a character as iconic as Doom on just one film, after all. Doctor Doom is traditionally a Fantastic Four villain, though he regularly clashes with both the Avengers and the X-Men in the comics. It's therefore likely that he could appear in Jon Watts' Fantastic Four remake, but don't rule out seeing him fight Thor, Spider-Man, and the other Avengers in the future.

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Christoph Waltz's heritage as an Austrian-German citizen also makes him a great contender for the Latverian Doctor Doom, simply on the basis of authenticity. Of course, Latveria isn't a real place, but having a European actor portray the character would give Doom the necessary cultural difference to the primarily American Avengers and Fantastic Four that is an important part of his identity. Previous Marvel films' decision to cast British and American actors as Doom further diluted his character: being Latverian is a major element of Doom's identity that Waltz could authentically bring to his performance.

What Makes a Good (Or Bad) Doctor Doom?

Doctor Doom about to use his powers in the comics

It's no secret that Doctor Doom hasn't been well represented in Marvel movies thus far, but Christoph Waltz could absolutely be the actor to change that. Julian McMahon is a serviceable antagonist in 2005's Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. However, he lacks the necessary menace and sense of gravitas that is vital to the character. Victor von Doom is a genius, but he's also terrifyingly arrogant, to the point where he makes Tony Stark seem positively humble. McMahon is a fine choice for a campy and silly take on Fantastic Four, but he is never menacing in the role.

Unsurprisingly, Josh Trank's much-maligned 2015 remake simply titled Fantastic Four also features a pretty poor attempt at the Doctor Doom character. This time, the character is portrayed by Toby Kebbell, who also fails to bring the entitled sense of menace that the Doctor Doom of both the comics and some key animated appearances nail. Furthermore, both cinematic versions fail to create authentic portrayals of Doom, in terms of his cultural background, costume, and abilities. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has a habit of fixing formerly poorly handled characters, so it's imperative that its Doctor Doom can blend magic and science: a key element that makes him so threatening in other media. He must also be the ruler of the fictional country Latveria. His status as its Supreme Leader is a component of his character that is either broadly overlooked or completely ignored in his current cinematic appearances.

Christoph Waltz is an Expert at Playing Villains

Col Hans Landa making threats in Inglourious Basterds.

Waltz has practically made a career out of playing compelling villains, from Benjamin Chudnofsky in The Green Hornet to Léon Rom in The Legend of Tarzan. Though he has also played his fair share of heroes, such as Dr. King Shultz in Django Unchained, he's arguably more famous for his villainous turns. Waltz's most iconic villain is Hans Landa, the main antagonist of Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds. Waltz portrays the character with a sadistic and arrogant demeanor that is appropriate for an officer of the Nazi party. He's genuinely threatening, and his performance in the film's opening scene is one of its most memorable and barbaric moments. Crucially, the sense of entitlement he feels towards those he views as lesser than him and his role within an oppressive dictatorship are both applicable to the character of Doctor Doom.

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If there's one character that Waltz is more synonymous with than Landa, it's the iconic James Bond villain, Blofeld. Though some feel that Spectre does the character a disservice with its sloppy script that retroactively made Blofeld a brother of sorts to Bond, Waltz's performance is consistently praised. The actor manages to convey the same pantomimic sense of fun that earlier versions of the character exude, whilst still being genuinely menacing. His brutal torture of Daniel Craig's James Bond remains almost as difficult to watch as the attack carried out by Mads Mikkelsen's Le Chiffre in Casino Royale. Waltz's role as the head of a major crime syndicate and a maniacal sadist demonstrates that he can not only play the more subtle villain, but also a campier, traditional one. The blend of Waltz' Landa and Blofeld is thus the perfect combination for an MCU version of Doctor Doom.

Waltz Could Make Doctor Doom The MCU’s Scariest Villain

Blofeld James Bond Christoph Waltz

Bringing together all the elements of Waltz's characters with a comic accurate Doctor Doom costume would be a dream come true for viewers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actor is a fantastic choice thanks to his ability to play truly frightening antagonists whose arrogance and capacity for the suffering of others seemingly know no bounds. With this mode of acting, Waltz could produce a Doctor Doom that is genuinely frightening. Though Thanos is generally regarded as a great character and a serious threat, he isn't exactly scary. Waltz in an authentic Doctor Doom suit could be something truly unsettling, especially if he's given long scenes brimming with tension like those in Inglourious Basterds. Waltz's Doctor Doom would feel like a genuine threat to Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four, both due to his capacity for cruelty and his intelligence. Where previous versions feel like a standard antagonist without stakes, this Doom would truly menace the Marvel Cinematic Universe in horrific-yet-brilliant ways.

Christoph Waltz is the perfect pick for the MCU's Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four. He's the ideal actor to bring a comic-accurate version of the beloved villain to life thanks to his European heritage, capacity for portraying arrogant, sinister characters, and the fact that he has yet to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. When Marvel's first family finally joins the MCU, they should be battling against Christoph Waltz as Victor von Doom, the ruler of Latveria and a magic wielder so powerful, his abilities even rival Doctor Strange's.

Next: The MCU's Magic Can Fix A Repeated Doctor Doom Mistake

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