Ben Mendelsohn is known for playing the perpetual bad guy in blockbuster films. He has played variations of the role in films such as Ready Player One, The Dark Knight Rises, and more. The actor also played the role of Orson Krennic, the antagonist in the Star Wars spinoff film Rogue One.
Though Ben Mendelsohn has already been a part of the MCU as Talos, the Skrull warrior, he recently mentioned to GQ that he would love to be a part of the MCU again as Doctor Doom. The infamous villain has been rumored to be the next main antagonist of the MCU after Jonathan Majors’ Kang was initially positioned as the villain.
However, Marvel fans seem tired of Ben Mendelsohn’s portrayal of antagonists and are not on board with the actor’s wishes to play Doctor Doom. With that in mind, here are three actors who could pull off the famed villain in the MCU.
Cillian Murphy Has Been Eyed For Doctor Doom
The Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Cillian Murphy is at the peak of his career after starring in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. The actor has been campaigned by fans to be the perfect choice to play the role of Doctor Doom. Murphy has previously played Jonathan Crane a.k.a Scarecrow in Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy and has experience playing antagonists in comic book films.
When asked if he was interested in playing the character, Cillian Murphy said in the Happy, Sad, and Confused podcast that it depended on the script. He 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.”
If Cillian Murphy wins the Oscar for Oppenheimer, he would be a top choice for Marvel to cast him as the genius villain.
Christoph Waltz Would Be A Great Choice To Play The Antagonist
Christoph Waltz has played many villains in the past, winning two Oscars for his role in Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained. The Austrian actor can bring in the royal nature of Doctor Doom, who rules his home nation of Latveria. Waltz has experience in being a formidable foe in a blockbuster as well, as he played the role of Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond films Spectre and No Time To Die.
Though like Ben Mendelsohn, Christoph Waltz has played many antagonistic characters, he can bring in new dimensions to every character he plays. With wit, charm, and menacing looks, Waltz is a great choice to play the arch-enemy of Reed Richards.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Is A Fan-Favorite To Play The MCU Villain
Game of Thrones’ Jaimie Lannister was portrayed with all his villainy and complexities brilliantly by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Doctor Doom in the comics was not a one-dimensional villain, but a monarch who has a specific code of conduct. Coster-Waldau has the ability to bring in royalty, arrogance, and vulnerability to Doctor Doom.
The actor was nominated twice for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Game of Thrones. While the actor had a small cameo in The Flash, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has yet to play a role that is as high-profile since the end of Game of Thrones and the MCU is the perfect place to go, much like his co-stars Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke.
