Matt Shakman Reveals the Truth Behind ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Mid-Credits Scene — Is This the Doctor Doom We’ve Been Waiting For?

The new Marvel movie, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, brought the famous superhero family into the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time. This 2025 film, directed by Matt Shakman, shows the team battling a massive threat, the cosmic villain Galactus. Set in a cool, retro 1960s world, the movie stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, with a strong supporting cast including Julia Garner and Ralph Ineson as Galactus.

But what really caught fans’ attention was the mid-credits scene. It takes place four years after the main story, at the Richards family home. Sue is reading to her son Franklin when she leaves to grab another book. When she comes back, Franklin is with a mysterious man wearing a green cloak and holding a metal mask. That was undeniably Doctor Doom, one of Marvel’s most iconic villains.

Since the scene was released, fans have been guessing if it was really Robert Downey Jr. inside the Doctor Doom costume or if it was just a stand-in actor. There was a lot of curiosity about whether that costume was final or just a placeholder.

Recently, Matt Shakman, the director of Fantastic Four: First Steps, cleared things up during an interview with Brandon Davis. He confirmed that the mid-credits scene was actually filmed by the Russo Brothers. Shakman said it was definitely Robert Downey Jr. in the Doctor Doom suit.

This confirmation excites fans because it means that the scene sets up a big future for Doctor Doom in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The next big movie, Avengers: Doomsday, will show Doctor Doom fully in action for the first time. Plus, Franklin Richards is expected to play a key role in the upcoming story.

So, with RDJ’s first appearance as Doctor Doom confirmed, Marvel fans have even more reason to look forward to Avengers: Doomsday and the new adventures that await the Fantastic Four and their world.

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