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Marvel Movies Fantastic Four: First Steps may have just introduced the key to defeating Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday Marvel Movies A reference to Doctor Doom is hiding in Fantastic Four's exceptional new marketing campaign – and I'm convinced we're getting a Robert Downey Jr. cameo soon Marvel Movies Robert Downey Jr. shares another Avengers: Doomsday behind the scenes picture – and he might be teasing a Galactus showdown Marvel Movies Fantastic Four director appears to rule out a Robert Downey Jr. Doctor Doom cameo before Avengers: Doomsday: "Doom is not part of my film" Marvel Movies The Fantastic Four: First Steps - How Reed and Sue's son Franklin Richards could reboot the MCU Entertainment Action Movies Marvel Movies Robert Downey, Jr. delivers a cryptic hint about Doctor Doom's role in Avengers: Doomsday, and it might be a huge spoiler about the future of Franklin Richards after The Fantastic Four: First Steps George Marston 25 July 2025 Is Robert Downey, Jr. teasing something about Doctor Doom's son? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Getty Images / Marvel Comics) With The Fantastic Four: First Steps now in theaters, Doctor Doom actor Robert Downey, Jr. is delivering some particularly cryptic hints about his place in Avengers: Doomsday, and it could mean big things for Franklin Richards, the son of Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman. Downey's Instagram post shows him listening to a song titled 'Change of Scenery' by his own son, Indio Downey, along with the comic West Coast Avengers #35. Taken together alongside the ending of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, these might actually be some seriously important clues about where the MCU is headed. You may like Fantastic Four: First Steps is hiding a musical Easter egg from Avengers: Doomsday Is Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom in The Fantastic Four: First Steps? Fantastic Four: First Steps may have just introduced the key to defeating Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday Here's the post: A post shared by Robert Downey Jr. (@robertdowneyjr) A photo posted by on We'll explain what it all might mean, but be warned, we're going to be discussing some spoilers about the ending of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Though we won't be spoiling anything essential to the plot, steer clear if you want to stay totally fresh. Last warning - spoilers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps ahead In the first of the Fantastic Four: First Steps post-credits scenes, Sue Storm walks into her living room to find four-year-old Franklin Richards being confronted by a man in a green cloak, holding a metal mask. We're left to presume this is indeed Robert Downey, Jr.'s Doctor Doom, and that he's got designs for Franklin and his hidden, godlike powers. Here's the thing: Downey's Instagram post may hint at exactly what Doom has in store for Franklin Richards. Not only is the song playing in it by Downey's own son, the comic he posted, West Coast Avengers #35, involves not Doctor Doom himself, but Doom's adopted son and heir as ruler of Latveria, Kristoff Vernard. (Image credit: Marvel Comics) In the comic, Kristoff impersonates Doom himself in order to trick the West Coast Avengers into doing his bidding. The song, 'Change of Scenery,' might itself be a hint about a move for one of the two current MCU Avengers team to the West Coast. And the cover itself could be Downey indicating that his MCU mask will be faithful to the comic. Still, the fact that there are multiple potential hints about Doom's son could be the bigger spoiler hiding in the post. With Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon to lead into the reality remaking Avengers: Secret Wars, it's entirely likely that Doom seeks to harness Franklin's Power Cosmic in order to save the Multiverse, the same way he uses the powers of the Molecule Man to do so in the 2015 Secret Wars comic. And considering The Fantastic Four: First Steps ends with Doom showing a direct interest in Franklin, it's got me wondering if his plan is not just to seize Franklin's powers, but to adopt him as his own son. There's some level of comic precedent, as Doom is actually the godfather and mentor of the Richards' second child Valeria, Franklin's younger sister who is named after Victor Von Doom's own mother. I'll say this; I've been incredibly skeptical since Downey was announced as Doom just about a year ago at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2024. I've been especially wary of there being some Tony Stark twist to Doom's MCU identity. But the stinger of Fantastic Four, coupled with the film's other Doom Easter eggs, has me more and more hopeful that Downey will be playing a fully realized, comic book faithful version of the character. And the possibility that Doom's interest in Franklin Richards will drive a major confrontation with his arch-enemies the Fantastic Four in Avengers: Doomsday is certainly getting me hyped that I'll finally get to see some much needed cinematic justice done for my favorite villain of all time. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now in theaters, kicking off Marvel Phase 6. Avengers: Doomsday will follow in 2026. For more, check out our guides to upcoming Marvel movies and shows and how to watch the Marvel movies in order. See more Movies News Marvel Comics Fantastic Four: First Steps Avengers: Doomsday George Marston Social Links Navigation I've been Newsarama's resident Marvel Comics expert and general comic book historian since 2011. I've also been the on-site reporter at most major comic conventions such as Comic-Con International: San Diego, New York Comic Con, and C2E2. Outside of comic journalism, I am the artist of many weird pictures, and the guitarist of many heavy riffs. (They/Them) You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. Fantastic Four: First Steps is hiding a musical Easter egg from Avengers: Doomsday Is Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom in The Fantastic Four: First Steps? Fantastic Four: First Steps may have just introduced the key to defeating Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday A reference to Doctor Doom is hiding in Fantastic Four's exceptional new marketing campaign – and I'm convinced we're getting a Robert Downey Jr. cameo soon Robert Downey Jr. shares another Avengers: Doomsday behind the scenes picture – and he might be teasing a Galactus showdown Fantastic Four director appears to rule out a Robert Downey Jr. Doctor Doom cameo before Avengers: Doomsday: "Doom is not part of my film" Latest in Marvel Movies I watched every Fantastic Four movie, including First Steps, and here's how I'd rank them all from worst to best After Fantastic Four, Marvel fans all have the same question: what's going on in the Thunderbolts post-credits? 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