Disney/Fox Merger Hasn’t Stopped The ‘Doctor Doom’ Movie

One of the more curious announcements to emerge from last year’s San Diego Comic Con was the news that Fox was working on a “Doctor Doom” movie, with Noah Hawley writing the script. Just over two years have passed since the studio’s utterly disastrous attempt to reboot “Fantastic Four,” and everyone is still smarting from the sting. So, it seemed a canny yet also strange move to make a film focused on the villain; it certainly takes the pressure of reintroducing the famous four all over again. However, just like every project currently on the Fox lot, the Disney merger raises questions about whether or not it will continue. For now, though, “Doctor Doom” is just fine.

At Television Critics Association winter press tour, Rotten Tomatoes caught up with Noah Hawley, who is currently busy with “Legion” and a new season of “Fargo.” As far as he’s concerned, “Doctor Doom” is still very much active.

“I haven’t had a phone call, and I’m just operating under the assumption that it’s business as usual,” Hawley said. “Obviously, the merger, should it go through, will take a year at least. Certainly no one’s reached out to me from Marvel or Fox to say, ‘Well, you know, maybe we should take a beat or maybe we should rush.’ I’m working on the script, and we’ll see what the landscape is when I deliver it.”

So, it sounds like at the very least, “Doctor Doom” will get a script. Whether or not it survives the merger, and more importantly, if it fits into the plans Kevin Feige has for the Marvel brand with the influx of character returning from Fox, that remains to be seen.