FANTASTIC FOUR (2005) Concept Art Reveals A Body Horror Take On Doctor Doom Played By Nic Cage

FANTASTIC FOUR (2005) Concept Art Reveals A Body Horror Take On Doctor Doom Played By Nic Cage

New concept art from 2005's Fantastic Four film has revealed that Nicolas Cage was once considered for the role of Doctor Doom, a villain once destined to be taken down the body horror route by Fox!

By Nighthawk01 - Oct 12, 2020 05:10 AM EST
Filed Under: Fantastic Four

2005's Fantastic Four film was a disappointment, but a big enough success that 20th Century Fox moved forward with a sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, two years later. 

Doctor Doom played a prominent role in both instalments, with Julian McMahon taking on the role of the team's greatest foe. However, concept art shared by Ryan Unicomb reveals that an early idea was to head down the body horror route with the character rather than using the classic armor.

"Back before Julian McMahon took over the role, Nicholas Cage had been cast as Doctor Doom for 2005's Fantastic Four," the artist explains. "The production team decided to approach Cage after a concept artist used the likeness of singer Marilyn Manson for some of their pieces. At the time, the project was considerably darker & Doom’s look was definitely walking a line between PG13 & R."

This design is a huge departure from the comics, and one that would have probably fit in well in the 2005 film. Director Tim Story would eventually decide to stick a little closer to the villain's classic look, but Doom's portrayal was one that disappointed fans for a whole host of different reasons. 

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SnideCut
SnideCut - 10/12/2020, 5:19 AM
yeesh
mastakilla39
mastakilla39 - 10/12/2020, 9:43 AM
@SnideCut - Damn nicolas cage has been up for everything. superman, dr doom, lord of the rings, etc.

Great actor, not dissing.
Jarvisjackrabbit
Jarvisjackrabbit - 10/12/2020, 5:21 AM
We had no idea Victor was so self conscious about his biceps.
heyy1
heyy1 - 10/12/2020, 5:32 AM
@Jarvisjackrabbit - harhar
pclark
pclark - 10/12/2020, 5:25 AM
It would have been an interesting idea but I much prefer the John Byrne tweak to the story where Doom is so supremely arrogant that his scarring he wanted to hide under the armor was just a scratch, but it marred his perfection so he did not see further burns from the hot armor being applied to his face as an issue. He was no longer perfect so he may as well forever hide his imperfection under the mask.
Nemesis17then
Nemesis17then - 10/12/2020, 5:27 AM
No report of this here? It's gonna make for a peacefull comment section.
https://www.ign.com/articles/watchmens-alan-moore-superhero-movies-have-blighted-cinema
AbidNaga
AbidNaga - 10/12/2020, 5:29 AM
@Nemesis17then - Just some better perspective from his daughter, Leah Moore:

https://twitter.com/leahmoore/status/1315235909923532801
Superspecialawesomeguy
Superspecialawesomeguy - 10/12/2020, 5:30 AM
@Nemesis17then - I think he already said that a while back.
Nemesis17then
Nemesis17then - 10/12/2020, 5:34 AM
@Superspecialawesomeguy - He sadi that during an interview for his new movie at least this is what the ign article says. But yeah he has made similar comments in the past
Nemesis17then
Nemesis17then - 10/12/2020, 5:36 AM
@AbidNaga - She has a point but we also have to accept that he is a mad man. He says comicbookmovies are infantilizing the population but he is the one that believes in magic and also practises it
soberchimera
soberchimera - 10/12/2020, 6:05 AM
@Nemesis17then - What's the news here? He's been shitting on superhero movies for years.
GwenLantern
GwenLantern - 10/12/2020, 6:20 AM
@AbidNaga - In the same interview, he said he hasn't seen a comic book movie since 1989's Batman. So how can he specualte that they're infantilising us?

Sounds like classic superhero prejudice. Same old Moore.
SnideCut
SnideCut - 10/12/2020, 6:25 AM
@Nemesis17then - Eh. Coming from Moore, it's not surprising. Dude hasn't ever enjoyed superhero movies.
Blergh
Blergh - 10/12/2020, 5:41 AM
Don't hate me but IMO the original cast was fine. Ioan Gruffud, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis did their best with what they got and Jessica Alba truly rose above her usual acting style and delivered a solid performance.
Julian McMahon was pretty damn great IMO
AC1
AC1 - 10/12/2020, 5:44 AM
Kind of an interesting take, exaggerates the comics (where he wore the mask partially in order to cover a tiny scar from what I'm aware) but makes the whole suit some kind of cover/life support for full body scarring.

Having said that, by exaggerating it to the point where he isn't overreacting by covering up a small facial scar you lose a very important detail of Dr Doom's character, because it's no longer about his vanity which is a defining trait in the source material.

The Fantastic Four are the property I've wanted Marvel to reacquire for the longest time now (even more than Spider-Man and the X-Men) and I really can't wait to see what they do with the team and Doom in the MCU. I really wanna see the best parts of the comics brought to life, because in a lot of ways the F4 ARE Marvel.
1AboveAll
1AboveAll - 10/12/2020, 11:05 AM
@AC1 - We need Doom, build to Secret Wars and have him be MCU big bad for a phase. property cast he can carry it easy!
Origame
Origame - 10/12/2020, 5:57 AM
So Doom's plan was to swap faces with John Travolta so he could steal the Declaration of Independence from the bees?
Origame
Origame - 10/12/2020, 5:58 AM
@Origame - Also he'd have left in 60 second.
Matador
Matador - 10/12/2020, 6:04 AM
@Origame - To hide at Ridgemont High
Origame
Origame - 10/12/2020, 6:06 AM
@Matador - Then to steal diapers for a baby he kidnapped.
Chuck420Taylor
Chuck420Taylor - 10/12/2020, 9:15 AM
@Origame - prior to him sneaking into alcatraz with the og playboy spy
Origame
Origame - 10/12/2020, 10:08 AM
@Chuck420Taylor - Oh but we can't forget the part where he fights Alfred Molina in a wizarding duel.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 10/12/2020, 6:00 AM
What were they thinking?
soberchimera
soberchimera - 10/12/2020, 6:07 AM
RIIIIIICHAAAAAAARRRRRRDSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!
SnideCut
SnideCut - 10/12/2020, 6:27 AM
The '05 and '07 F4 movies are the definition of guilty pleasure for me. Also, I think The Silver Surfer was executed very well in the second one honestly. Galactus less so, but best not to talk about that.
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