Kevin Feige Reveals Why Doctor Doom Doesn’t Need a Thanos-Style MCU Build-Up

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige revealed that Doctor Doom‘s character will be fully established through Avengers: Doomsday, just as Thanos was in Avengers: Infinity War. Even though the first trailer for Doomsday was released, there is still nothing the fans know about who Doom is, what he is planning, or what his motive is. Comparing this with the Avengers: Infinity War trailer, Thanos’ plan with the Infinity Stones was revealed, and we learned more about his character’s motive.

Speaking to ComicBook’s Brandon Davis following the Marvel Studios panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Feige said Thanos didn’t have much on-screen buildup before Avengers: Infinity War. Feige recalled that Thanos mostly appeared sitting on a chair, briefly confronting Ronan, and promising, “I’ll do it myself.” According to Feige, Avengers: Infinity War was designed to properly introduce Thanos as the MCU’s main villain.

Feige says Marvel Studios is taking the same approach with Doctor Doom. He confirmed that Avengers: Doomsday will serve as Doctor Doom’s true introduction and origin story in the MCU.

Feige said, “The Thanos buildup has built up in people’s heads over the years. He sat on a chair at the end. He pulled a gauntlet out and said, ‘I’ll do it myself.’ And he yelled at Ronan on a video screen briefly — that was kind of it.

I remember the memes making fun of Thanos for just sitting on a chair… With ‘Infinity War’ we said, ‘This is really the introduction of Thanos to people.’ That’s how that movie was built. That’s what we’re doing with Doctor Doom. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is the introduction and the story of Doom.”

Here’s the official description of Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday:

“The fearsome Victor Von Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) is the mysterious and enigmatic monarch of Latveria. Behind his impenetrable mask, he is a master of both sorcery and technology.”

At the Marvel Studios panel at SDCC, Feige opened up about casting Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday.

“He’s a scientist, he’s a technologist, he’s a sorcerer and a ruler, and to embody that complexity, that tragedy, that charisma of the character, you need the greatest actor in the world.”

Avengers: Doomsday Ending Will Surprise Fans and Set Up Secret Wars

When speaking to TheMovieReport.com, Feige said fans will be “incredibly satisfied” with how Avengers: Doomsday concludes. He added that the film’s ending will also surprise fans while setting up Avengers: Secret Wars.

“I don’t want to spoil anything, but I think [fans] will be incredibly satisfied & yet incredibly surprised by where it’s headed & then we’ll have a hard time waiting a year for [Secret Wars].”

 

1 of 8

– +

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and written by Stephen McFeely, Avengers: Doomsday stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Wyatt Russell, Channing Tatum, Simu Liu, Ian McKellen, Tom Hiddleston, James Marsden, Patrick Stewart, Joseph Quinn, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Letitia Wright, Lewis Pullman, Kelsey Grammer, Danny Ramirez, Winston Duke, Alan Cumming, Wesley Holloway, Hannah John-Kamen, Rebecca Romijn, Alex Livinalli, and Mabel Cadena, with Tenoch Huerta Mejía.

In Avengers: Doomsday, beloved heroes from three distinct universes are set on a deadly collision course, facing an existential threat unlike anything they have ever encountered.

The film is produced by Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, and Jonathan Schwartz, with Callum McDougall serving as executive producer.

Avengers: Doomsday will be released in theaters across the United States on December 18, 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars is scheduled for release on December 17, 2027.