Director Christopher Nolan has always strived to give great antagonists in his films. The director is known for his blockbuster films which also have enough substance and craft to be considered to be seriously considered cinematic. His The Dark Knight gave the world one of the finest performances of all time in the form of Heath Ledger’s Joker and with Oppenheimer, he seems to have redeemed Robert Downey Jr.
However, one of the actors in The Dark Knight trilogy seems to have gone after Christopher Nolan’s star actor Cillian Murphy’s potential role. Ben Mendelsohn, who played John Daggett in The Dark Knight Rises and has played an antagonist in multiple films, mentioned that he would love to play the role of Doctor Doom in the MCU. Murphy has long been a fan favorite to take over the role.
Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Actor Wants To Play Doctor Doom
Actor Ben Mendelsohn has played antagonistic characters in many films over the years. The Australian actor has been active in the industry since 1985 and has worked with acclaimed directors. He played the role of the antagonist in films such as Rogue One, the Star Wars prequel where he played Orson Krennic, Ready Player One, and Captain Marvel.
Mendelsohn played the role of John Daggett, Bruce Wayne’s rival industrialist who funds Bane’s anarchist activities in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. The Australian actor has been a part of major franchises such as DC, Star Wars, and the MCU. However, he reportedly had one role that he was dying to play in the Marvel franchise.
In an interview with GQ, Ben Mendelsohn spoke about wanting to play the Marvel villain Doctor Doom in the films. The antagonist has been touted to be introduced in the upcoming Fantastic Four film. He said,
“I would almost give my eyes and teeth to play Doctor Doom. I think Doctor Doom is the great unread Marvel character that could and should be done. But it is what it is.”
The actor has already been featured in the MCU as Talos, the Skrull warrior in Captain Marvel and Secret Invasion. However, after his appearance in the latter Disney Plus series, there are chances that Mendelsohn may be able to return to the MCU in a new avatar.
Cillian Murphy Is A Fan Favorite To Play Doctor Doom
While Ben Mendelsohn eyed the role of Doctor Doom, another Christopher Nolan actor has long been a top contender for the role. Cillian Murphy, who recently headlined Nolan’s Oppenheimer, has been a fan favorite for Doctor Doom, with many fans even coming up with fan art to depict the 28 Days Later star in the role.
While no casting has been announced for the role, Cillian Murphy mentioned in an interview the potential of him donning the costume and playing the menacing monarch of Latveria. Talking about the prospect in the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Cillian Murphy said,
“It’s always about the script… You never know. This business is so unpredictable and wild… You never know what’s gonna turn up.”
Murphy has played a masked comic book villain before in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy. He played the role of Dr. Jonathan Crane a.k.a Scarecrow, the corrupt psychiatrist who feeds on people’s fears with his signature toxin. The Fantastic Four film is expected to release in 2025. However, no casting announcements have been made regarding any of the characters.
