Kevin Feige Pushes Back at Criticisms That Dr. Doom Hasn’t Had Thanos-Level Buildup
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has defended the buildup given to Doctor Doom ahead of Avengers: Doomsday, after fans criticised the villain's introduction as lacking the depth Thanos received before Avengers: Infinity War. Speaking after Marvel's Comic Con Hall H panel, Feige argued that Thanos's reputation as a well-built villain is largely retrospective, noting that at the time his brief post-credits appearances were widely mocked online rather than praised. The comments matter because Doomsday is being positioned as the next major turning point for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Feige is keen to reassure audiences that Victor Von Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr, will receive a proper introduction rather than relying on prior goodwill.
Feige explained that Doomsday itself is intended to function as Doom's true introduction to audiences, mirroring how Infinity War fully established Thanos, with further character detail expected to unfold gradually across future films. Other news from the panel included confirmation that David Jonsson will star in Black Panther III and that Ryan Gosling has been cast in a new Ghost Rider film, though no major additional MCU announcements were made. Attention now turns to Spider-Man: Brand New Day, released later this month, and Disney's D23 event in August, which could reveal further details of Marvel's upcoming slate.
- Feige defends Doctor Doom's buildup ahead of Avengers: Doomsday
- Says Thanos's strong reputation only built up after the fact
- Comic Con also revealed Black Panther III and Ghost Rider casting