A wild new main cast for The Fantastic Four: First Steps on 2024's Valentine's Day in a poster that seemed to imply a 1960s setting for the highly anticipated MCU reboot. Both 2005's and 2015's Fantastic Four movies modernized Marvel's First Family, but The Fantastic Four: First Steps will take the titular team back to their roots while fitting perfectly in the MCU's Multiverse Saga.
Despite being deep within the Multiverse Saga now, only a handful of recent 2025's The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and the reboot's alternate reality setting has now been explained in a brilliant MCU theory.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Will Debut A New Universe In The MCU
The Fantastic Four: First Steps' 1960s-Inspired Retro-Futuristic Universe Has Been Confirmed
The Fantastic Four: First Steps' first MCU poster featured Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach's Fantastic Four in a 1960s-inspired room and sporting retro superhero costumes. Moss-Bachrach's Ben Grimm was teased to be an Apollo astronaut, while he read a particular issue of TIME Magazine that seemed to confirm a 1960s setting. Theories emerged suggesting the The Fantastic Four: First Steps would be set in an alternate 1960s-inspired universe, explaining the team's absence from the MCU, and this was soon confirmed by Marvel Studios.
MCU Fantastic Four Member |
Actor |
|---|---|
Reed Richards' Mister Fantastic |
Pedro Pascal |
Sue Storm's Invisible Woman |
Vanessa Kirby |
Johnny Storm's Human Torch |
Joseph Quinn |
Ben Grimm's Thing |
Ebon Moss-Bachrach |
On the very first episode of The Official Marvel Podcast, Kevin Feige noted that the skyline of New York in a poster featuring Joseph Quinn's Human Torch was unrecognizable from anything on the MCU's version of Earth. This all but confirmed The Fantastic Four: First Steps' alternate universe setting, and this was reiterated by director Matt Shakman during Marvel's presentation at 2024's SDCC in July. Shakman confirmed the movie's "retro-future '60s" setting (via Entertainment Weekly), raising anticipation for the Multiverse Saga extravaganza.
Marvel Studios' Spider-Man franchise director Jon Watts was originally attached to direct the Fantastic Four's MCU reboot, but dropped out in April 2022. He was replaced by WandaVision director Matt Shakman that September.
While previous MCU projects have briefly explored alternate universes, The Fantastic Four: First Steps will mark the second time a Marvel Studios movie has been set almost-entirely in a parallel world to Earth-616. Deadpool & Wolverine is set primarily in the Void and Earth-10005, with only one scene taking place in the MCU's Sacred Timeline. Audiences have already seen branching timelines created because of variants in the MCU, dating as far back as 2019's Avengers: Endgame, and this informs a wild new theory explaining The Fantastic Four: First Steps' alternate universe.
The Fantastic Four Are In A World Created By Steve Rogers: MCU Theory Explained
Steve Rogers Created A New Branched Timeline At The End Of Avengers: Endgame
Of course, it's very possible that the alternate universe of The Fantastic Four: First Steps could simply have been there all along, much like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' Earth-838, Deadpool & Wolverine's Earth-10005 or The Marvels' alternate X-Men-inhabited reality. However, a new theory posed by Captain America's Avengers: Endgame ending may have been the perfect catalyst for the creation of a new universe.
Following the Battle of Earth, Thanos' defeat and Tony Stark's emotional demise, Chris Evans' Steve Rogers elected to head out on a mission to return the claimed Infinity Stones from their respective timelines. After this mission, however, instead of returning abruptly, Rogers chose to retire as Captain America and remain in an alternate 1950s with Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter, finally getting his dance. This seemed like the end for Rogers, but in the face of wrongdoing and danger, it's unlikely he would have been able to stop himself from helping even in his new world.
How Did Old Captain America Return To The Main MCU Timeline?
Avengers: Endgame concluded Steve Rogers' story in the MCU and showed him ing on the Captain America shield but left one major mystery.
WillemDaFriends points out that implanting Captain America in the 1950s would have major repercussions for the entire world, which could easily have contributed to the retro-futuristic 1960s-inspired world featured in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. It's hard to imagine Steve Rogers sitting back while HYDRA infiltrates SHIELD, doing nothing while Bucky Barnes continues being brainwashed, or not warning the world of Thanos' existence and possible danger. Changing these events would have a huge impact on the world, and we might soon see exactly how far-reaching this could be.
Captain America Theory Perfectly Connects The Fantastic Four To The Wider MCU
The Fantastic Four Will Be ing The MCU's Heroes In Phase 6
The biggest risk that faces The Fantastic Four: First Steps because of its alternate universe setting is that connections to the wider world of the MCU may be scarce. This problem could have befallen Deadpool & Wolverine, too, but an appearance by Jon Favreau's Happy Hogan, the Void setting and its focus on pre-established X-Men characters assuaged these concerns. The Fantastic Four: First Steps may not be able to fall back on these crutches, but revealing that Steve Rogers' Captain America contributed to the development of the reboot's retro-futuristic world would create a strong connection.
The elderly Steve Rogers revealed nothing about his life when he returned at the end of Avengers: Endgame to the Captain America shield and mantle onto Sam Wilson, which leaves the door open for Marvel Studios to reveal exactly what came of Rogers' new reality.
Kevin Feige has confirmed at SDCC 2024 that the main cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be returning in 2026's Avengers: Doomsday, which will presumably see them team up with notable MCU heroes in the fight against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. This means that, sooner or later, the Fantastic Four will establish clear connections to the MCU, but one huge one can be confirmed in their debut movie. This could create the opportunity for a Steve Rogers cameo in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and would give his Avengers: Endgame an even deeper meaning for the MCU.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
- July 25, 2025
- Director
- Matt Shakman
- Writers
- Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson, Stan Lee
- Producers
- Jamie Christopher, Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Tim Lewis
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
Cast
Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic
Vanessa KirbySue Storm / The Invisible Woman
Johnny Storm / Human Torch
Ebon Moss-BachrachBen Grimm / The Thing
The Fantastic Four: First Steps depicts Marvel's First Family navigating their roles as heroes amidst a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. As they defend Earth from Galactus and the enigmatic Silver Surfer, they must also uphold the strength of their family bond.
- Studio(s)
- Marvel Studios
