Cillian Murphy, celebrated in the comic book community for his portrayal of Scarecrow in Batman Begins, has resurfaced in the spotlight thanks to his impressive performance in Oppenheimer.
This resurgence has fueled fervent fan desires to witness the actor assume a fresh persona, this time as Doctor Doom, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s upcoming Fantastic Four reboot. Murphy already played a brilliant scientist in Oppenheimer, so playing both a playing brilliant scientist and a sorcerer who rules the fictional nation of Latveria, wouldn’t be much of a stretch.
A new piece of concept art, courtesy of talented digital artist marvels.wolverine, imagines Murphy as Fantastic Four villain Doctor Doom, should the villain make an appearance in Avengers: Secret Wars.
Previously, when questioned about his potential return to the realm of superheroes, Murphy emphasized that his decision hinges entirely on the quality of the script at hand.
“Yeah, I mean, I’m always…it’s always about the script,” Murphy told the Happy Sad Confused podcast. “So, I’ll read…If someone sends a script, I’ll read it. And you never know what turns up.”
While Cillian Murphy’s compelling performance in Oppenheimer has undoubtedly fueled fan enthusiasm for his portrayal of Doctor Doom in a Fantastic Four film within the MCU, he faces competition from other actors. Adam Driver had long been rumored as a leading contender for the role, although recent reports suggest he may have declined the opportunity.
What we know about the Fantastic Four movie
The forthcoming Fantastic Four reboot promises an innovative approach to the beloved Marvel characters, complete with an entirely new ensemble. Matt Shakman is at the helm, directing the film based on a screenplay penned by Josh Friedman. Fans can mark their calendars for its anticipated release in 2025.
John Krasinski played the Earth-838 variant of Reed Richards in Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but his future as the character is currently in doubt. Krasinski’s wife Emily Blunt has said that she’s hopeful we’ll see the actor back as Richards for Fantastic Four.
Fantastic Four opens on February 14, 2025.