When I sat down with Toby Kebbell for an interview on The Movie Dweeb, I didn’t expect the most polite man in Hollywood to take such a cheeky swipe at Robert Downey Jr. But when the subject turned to Doctor Doom, a character Toby portrayed in 2015’s Fantastic Four, he couldn’t resist a little self-deprecating humour. “Finally, they’ll get a good Doom,” he laughed. “That’s all there is to it.”
“Finally, They’ll Get A Good Doom”
Toby was clearly in high spirits as we discussed the news that Robert Downey Jr. will be donning the cape and metal mask of Victor Von Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. But he made it clear that the casting didn’t bruise his ego. Quite the opposite, in fact. “They needed a good Fantastic Four and a good Doctor Doom,” he said. “And that’s it. I’m happy.”
Despite his joke about being replaced, Toby actually had some lovely words about Downey. The two first met through Susan Downey, Robert’s wife and producer, who worked with Toby on RocknRolla. “Whenever I see her, she’s always very sweet and welcoming. She introduced me to Robert, and he was talking about my Black Mirror episode,” Toby told me. “He’d bought the rights to adapt it into a movie, and he said the original was so strong, everyone just wants to remake it as is. That was incredibly flattering.”
Toby ended the Doom chat on a gracious note, calling Downey “a tremendous human being.” He’s not wrong. But even with all the praise, it’s clear Toby knows exactly how iconic Doom should be, and he’s excited for the character to finally get the spotlight he deserves.
Revisiting Toby’s Doom in Fantastic Four (2015)
Of course, it wouldn’t be fair to talk about Doom without addressing Toby Kebbell’s own turn as the iconic Marvel villain. Back in 2015, he starred opposite Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell in Fantastic Four, a reboot that had all the right ingredients… But somehow still burnt the cake.
Toby’s performance as Victor von Doom, who becomes Doctor Doom, was one of the film’s darker, more intense highlights. While the film itself received lukewarm reviews and underperformed at the box office, many fans agreed that Toby brought genuine menace to the role.
Still, he’s well aware of the film’s reputation. He didn’t shy away from its flaws when we spoke, and there’s a quiet pride in how he reflects on the experience. It’s not easy stepping into one of Marvel’s most iconic roles, especially in a film that became a critical lightning rod, but Toby did it with style, nuance, and a surprisingly human edge.
Fantastic Four may not have been the home run fans hoped for, but Toby’s Doom laid the groundwork for what the character could be; chilling, tragic, and unpredictable.
What We Know About Avengers: Doomsday
Marvel fans were stunned when news dropped that Avengers: Doomsday would not only bring back Robert Downey Jr. to the MCU… But as Doctor Doom. After years as Iron Man, RDJ is making the jump from hero to villain, and honestly? It might be his most exciting move yet.
While plot details are locked tighter than a Stark Industries vault, we know the film will feature a multiverse-shattering crisis, and that Doom is set to be at the centre of it all. This is not the charming, snarky Tony Stark we’re used to. This is Doom. And according to insiders, he’s the most dangerous version yet.
The cast is already stacked. Alongside Downey, we’ll see returning Avengers, new multiversal variants, and, rumour has it, introductions to the X-Men proper. It’s the kind of event movie Marvel hasn’t done since Endgame, and expectations are towering.
For Toby Kebbell, there’s nothing but excitement. “That’s what they need,” he said. “A great Doom and a great Fantastic Four.” And if RDJ can bring that to the screen? Even Toby’s cheering him on.
Kebbell’s Knockout Comeback in Salvable
But enough about Dooms and multiverses. Toby was actually with The Movie Dweeb to promote his new film Salvable, in which he stars as Sal ‘The Bull,’ a washed-up boxer with more bruises than paydays. It’s gritty, grounded, and a far cry from the supervillain theatrics of Latveria.
He stars opposite Shia LaBeouf, and their chemistry crackles onscreen. “Shia’s a dear friend,” Toby told me. “He’s one of those people I might not see for six years and pick up right where I left off.” He described LaBeouf’s performance as full of energy and surprising humour, despite the heavy tone of the film, Shia’s mission on set was apparently to try and make Toby corpse.
And the film itself? Salvable is shaping up to be one of Toby’s most vulnerable and raw performances to date. It’s about second chances, quiet redemption, and what it takes to stay on your feet even when the world’s given up on you.
If Avengers: Doomsday is the popcorn epic of 2026, Salvable is its soulful, bruised-up older brother, and Toby Kebbell is right at the heart of both.