Warning! This article contains major SPOILERS for Thunderbolts*<em>Thunderbolts*</em> has seemingly revealed significant plot developments that occur at the conclusion of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, two months prior to the release of the next MCU film. As one of the MCU’s most awaited films, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has generated substantial buzz, and the teasers and images have ignited a whirlwind of speculation leading up to its release in July. This anticipation places immense pressure on this latest endeavor to launch a live-action Fantastic Four franchise, especially considering that the First Family of Marvel are among the most cherished characters in the entire franchise.
Fortunately, excitement has surged recently as trailers, teasers, and exclusive images gradually reveal what audiences can expect. The aesthetic of the Fantastic Four draws inspiration from the classic comic book style, while the team prepares to confront one of their legendary adversaries: Galactus. However, a lingering question remains about how the Fantastic Four will integrate into the broader MCU narrative – and it seems that Marvel’s latest release, Thunderbolts*, provides crucial insights.
Discover How The Fantastic Four: First Steps Exists Outside the MCU Universe
Insights from Director Matt Shakman on the Movie’s Universe
It has now been officially confirmed that The Fantastic Four: First Steps will leverage the concept of the Multiverse Saga, taking place in a universe distinct from the MCU’s Earth-616. This confirmation aligns with the prevailing speculation that such a significant superhero team as the Fantastic Four could only have remained unnoticed within the MCU if they were situated in a different universe altogether. It raises questions about how this team could have remained uninvolved during pivotal events such as Thanos’ devastating arc in the Infinity Saga, only to join the battle years later.
Marvel Studios faced challenges in creating Fantastic Four films within the MCU due to Fox owning the distribution rights to these characters until Disney’s acquisition in 2019.
Kevin Feige, who has expressed his immense enthusiasm for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, first hinted at the film’s alternate universe setting during The Official Marvel Podcast in June 2024. In response to early reactions regarding the Fantastic Four’s retro-futuristic visual style, Feige acknowledged the astute observations about its alternate universe setting, stating, “those are smart observations, I’ll say.“
“A lot of smart people have noticed that the cityscape doesn’t resemble the New York we know, or even the New York of the ’60s in our world. Those observations are indeed insightful.”
For many, this served as a confirmation, leading to widespread acceptance that The Fantastic Four: First Steps would unfold in a different universe. Furthermore, in an April 2025 interview with Empire, director Matt Shakman elaborated that the film is set in an alternate universe where the Fantastic Four are the only significant superheroes, emphasizing that creating the movie in its own universe felt “liberating.” His full statement was:
“We are in our own universe, which is wonderful and liberating. There are really no superheroes here. No Easter eggs. They are the only heroes in this universe. While I appreciate the interconnected Marvel Universe, we have the opportunity to explore something fresh and distinctly different. Eventually, this world will intersect with others — but for now, this is our own unique corner.”
Related
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Alternative MCU Universe Features a Hidden Easter Egg
The second trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps includes a subtle nod to real-life pop culture figures that only a select few may recognize.
Shakman’s remarks highlight a crucial aspect of what makes The Fantastic Four: First Steps particularly captivating: it is not bound by the expansive narrative constraints of the MCU. While the prospect of a standalone film is thrilling, the possibility of the Fantastic Four eventually interacting with other iconic Marvel heroes is equally exhilarating. Thankfully, the trailers hint that this interaction may occur by the film’s conclusion.
The Leading Theory Suggests The Fantastic Four Will Integrate Into the MCU By Film’s End
The Necessity for the Fantastic Four to Connect with the MCU
Having the Fantastic Four engage with other legendary Marvel heroes is arguably the primary reason for their inclusion in the MCU, which is why fans are speculating that they’ll bridge into the MCU by the movie’s conclusion. This anticipation is supported by compelling evidence from the trailers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, where Reed Richards is depicted working on a complex equation on a sizable chalkboard. Observant viewers have noted that these equations relate to multiversal travel, with one illustration indicating what seems to be a wormhole labeled “another universe.”
The details surrounding the family’s journey across different universes remain ambiguous.
Reed Richards possesses a profound understanding of the multiverse in Marvel Comics, so it is not surprising that he is delving into this subject in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. This takes on heightened significance within the context of the Multiverse Saga, especially since the Fantastic Four are currently detached from the main MCU’s Earth-616. Fans are eager for the team to eventually join the MCU, and this evidence indicates that Reed may attempt the jump by the end of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Related
Fantastic Four: First Steps – Release Date, Trailer, Cast, Story, & Everything We Know
The MCU is introducing a new version of the Fantastic Four as part of its Multiverse Saga, and here’s everything you need to know about this reboot.
The circumstances surrounding the family’s journey across different universes are still not entirely clear. The MCU has been highlighting incursions as the most significant threat facing all universes in the lead-up to Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, hinting that the Fantastic Four might be fleeing the destruction of their universe by seeking refuge in Earth-616. Alternatively, they could be escaping from Galactus after he devastates their Earth. Regardless, it appears that Thunderbolts* has confirmed that their attempt will ultimately succeed.
The Thunderbolts* Post-Credits Scene Confirms the Fantastic Four’s Arrival in the MCU
The Arrival of the Fantastic Four’s Spaceship in the Thunderbolts* Post-Credits Scene
Thunderbolts* primarily focused on terrestrial issues rather than the multiverse for most of its story. However, the film’s post-credits scene took a dramatic turn when the team embraced their new roles as the New Avengers operating from the old Avengers Tower. This scene depicted Yelena Belova using advanced technology to detect an extradimensional presence entering Earth, prompting the team to respond. As they investigated the anomaly, it was revealed to be the Fantastic Four’s spaceship.
The Thunderbolts* post-credits scene also indicates that the New Avengers are currently involved in a legal dispute with Sam Wilson’s Avengers.
This spacecraft has been previewed in trailers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but the distinctive number 4 marked on its hull confirms suspicions. This revelation suggests that the Fantastic Four will enter the MCU’s Earth-616 approximately 14 months after the events of Thunderbolts*, which occur right after Captain America: Brave New World in 2027. It can also be presumed that this marks the Fantastic Four’s first visit to Earth-616, providing further context for the narrative of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Implications for The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The Spaceship Could Serve as a Misdirection
The most straightforward assumption is that The Fantastic Four: First Steps will culminate with the team escaping their universe and entering Earth-616. If this holds true, Thunderbolts* may have inadvertently spoiled the movie’s ending, even if it merely confirmed prevailing theories about the film’s trajectory. This would align with a recent pattern in Marvel, where the survival of the Thunderbolts was hinted at by the announcement of their return for Avengers: Doomsday. However, Marvel Studios might also be setting up a twist.
It’s possible that the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene is a classic misdirection from Marvel. While it seems likely that the Fantastic Four will survive The Fantastic Four: First Steps (as the cast has been confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday), this does not necessarily mean they are the ones piloting the spaceship. Instead, it could be a lifeboat for potential victims of their universe’s incursion. Alternatively, the ship might be controlled by Avengers: Doomsday‘s arch-nemesis, Doctor Doom. Regardless, speculation will continue until July.
-
Related
Thunderbolts*
8/10
- Release Date
-
May 2, 2025
- Runtime
-
126 Minutes
- Director
-
Jake Schreier
- Writers
-
Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo
Related
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
-
July 25, 2025
- Director
-
Matt Shakman
- Producers
-
Jamie Christopher, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Tim Lewis
Exciting Upcoming MCU Movies to Look Forward To
Sources: The Official Marvel Podcast, Empire
