Fantastic Four/X-Men: Shadow of Doctor Doom (2010)

Fantastic Four/X-Men: Shadow of Doctor Doom is a 2010 superhero based on the superhero teams based on the Marvel comic characters introduced in the 1960's, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The film is a sequel to both Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), and was directed by Matthew Vaughn. It features an ensembled cast including Hugh Jackman, Shawn Ashmore, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Rebecca Romain, Keanu Reeves, Kelsey Grammer, Chris Evans, Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd, and Michael Chiklis.

Brett Ratner, who directed X-Men: The Last Stand, was not asked to return, due to sexual assault allegations. Instead, Simon Kinsberg was offered to write the screenplay, with Matthew Vaughn taking up the role of director. John Ottman, who composed the previous X-Men movies, had left the film to work with Bryan Singer on Superman Returns. Filming too place between March to October of 2009, with editing taking up a remainder of the year. The film held its world premiere on May 11th at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, where the major cast and crew attended. The film was released internationally on May 17th.

 Plot 

A group of mutants have been apprehended outside of a large forest. The Sentinels have them surrounded, and are closing in for the kill. The lead Sentinel suddenly his its chest torn out, and the rest are quickly destroyed; Doombots arrive, promising the mutants safety, on the condition that they do not harm the residents of Latvaria. Failing to do so will result in severe punishments for all mutants.

Amongst the group is Moira McTaggert (Sigourney Weaver), who is looking to infiltrate Latvaria and liberate a powerful mutant who is of interest to the United States of America. The Doombots screen every mutant who comes into the capital, but Moira manages to evade them, and sneak inside to the refurbished hotel-turned-refugee site. There she gets in contact with the CIA to report what she has found so far.

Latvaria seems to be a place that prospers, though ruled with an iron fist, severely punishing anyone for the smallest of crimes.

In the X-Mansion, Storm, Beast, and Wolverine watch on the television as mutants across the world begin to show signs of regaining their powers. Their first priority is to track down Magneto, who has gone off the grid since the events of X-Men: The Last Stand. Unable to use Cerebro, they track down Mystique in prison to see if she might have any idea of where he could have gone. Mystique does not know, but tells them of three secretive contacts related to Magneto who might be able to help: a family living in Idaho who Magneto is the husband and father of.

Storm and Wolverine arrive at the residents of the Maximoffs, and are greeted by a woman who knew they would arrive eventually. She tells them that her son Pietro has been waiting for this day his entire lift, ever since Charles Xavier and his father created the School for Gifted Students. Storm admits that this isn't why they are here, and explains the real reason. After it's explained that Magneto discovered his partner was pregnant, he disappeared, hoping that his enemies would not lead back to her and his three children. Pietro requests to come with the X-Men, and they oblige. On the way back, Pietro mentions in passing how it was disappointing that there are no more powerful mutants, otherwise they might be able to track down his sister, Wanda.

Back in Latvaria, Magneto is called to Doctor Doom 's castle, where he is announced as the father to Wanda Maximoff. Magneto openly acknowledges this, and is asked if rescuing her from Latvaria was his intention, to which he does not deny that he had hoped to see her again. Doom welcomes him to visit her; she is in a large bedroom, cradling a baby, overjoyed at seeing her father. They embrace, but Magneto soon realizes that the baby and the lavish bedroom is an illusion created by her. Doom explains that she fell from the sky one night, and her powers are destabilising reality. If he had not acted quickly, by sending her into an induced coma projecting her sub-consciousness instead, she would be out of control. He fears that one day she will break free from the coma, and whether she means to or not, she could destroy the world.

Doctor Doom explains how he believes that with Magneto's presence might calm her recently unsettled sub-conscious, and Magneto agrees to stay, on the condition that he and the mutants who arrived with him are guaranteed protection. Doctor Doom agrees. Doom is curious about whether or not it would help if the rest of her family were here, and suggests to Magneto to bring Pietro and his sister known as Polaris. Magneto regretfully admits he has lost contact with Polaris a long time ago, but will search for Pietro, and it will not take long. Doctor Doom confesses he has already sent off several agents to collect him, with proof of Wanda's whereabouts.

At the X-Mansion, as Pietro settles in, Beast, Storm and Wolverine begin to plan where they will look next, as well as catching up with monitoring several other mutant and anti-mutant organisations. They are suddenly approached by a woman who calls herself Valeria Von Doom, claiming to be a representative of Victor Von Doom. She explains the situation, and is welcomed inside with some suspicion. When Pietro is approached, he agrees to go to see her, despite Beast taking him to one side and explaining that this could be a trap. Pietro ignores the warning, and goes with Valeria. Storm gathers the X-Men (Wolverine, Iceman, Colossus and herself) and they depart for New York City and the Fantastic Four.

Reed Richards and Susan Storm welcome Storm with open arms, quickly summing up their mutual respect for her and Charles Xavier. After a brief catchup, Storm explains that a mutant known as Pietro has gone to Latvaria to see his sister, Wanda. Reed does not understand the problem, regretfully admitting that whilst Doctor Doom is many things to many people, he is an adamant pro-mutant supporter, and does have the world's best interests. Wolverine bluntly asks whether the Fantastic Four will help, but Reed says that they and Doom have a truce: for saving Susan's daughter, Valeria, during labour, the Fantastic Four will not intervene in anything Doom does, unless it immediately threatens the world. Storm asks how old Valeria should be, and after given the answer, she explains how there was a young woman showcasing the same powers as their toddler. Reed and Susan are deeply concerned by this, and reluctantly agree to investigate.

In Latvaria, Wanda welcomes Pietro and their mother, expressing slight annoyance at her sister, Polaris' absence, claiming she was always "distant" and "uncaring" to her family. This brief emotion is enough to cause the positive illusions to break down into something nightmarish, whilst her family begin to grow weak. Magneto manages to change the situation, saying they are better off without her, and Wanda resumes her heavenly illusions with them and her son at her side. All the while, Doctor Doom watches from a secret surveillance room.

TBC