The Fantastic Four: First Steps' story could hold a key spot for the couple's child.

The aforementioned "first steps" are likely related to the baby, which points to them having a special role in the Avengers: Doomsday's expansive cast. Marvel has already revealed that not only will they play a key role in that film, but the Fantastic Four will also return in Avengers: Secret Wars. With the team so intrinsically connected to the Avengers movies, I know how Reed and Sue's child can appear in Avengers: Doomsday.

The Fantastic Four’s World Does Not Seem Long For The MCU

The Marvel Movie Takes Place In A Different Universe

The MCU's Fantastic Four movie will be a special event in the Multiverse Saga, as it presumably takes place entirely in a separate universe. Instead of hailing from Earth-616 like the Avengers and other MCU heroes, the Fantastic Four's world has only a single superhero team, the Fantastic Four, who live in a retro-futuristic 1960s New York City. The team is beloved by their Earth's population; however, it seems like their planet will soon fall to Galactus. Marvel has released a new The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer with an ominous tone that seems to spell doom for the team.

The trailer shows Galactus walking on the Fantastic Four's Earth, with Julia Garner's Silver Surfer telling the heroes that their planet has been marked for destruction. Galactus is the Devourer of Worlds, so the writing seems to be on the wall for the Fantastic Four's Earth. There are many shots in the trailer of their Earth falling apart, including a scene from space where the world seems to be on fire. The Fantastic Four need to make their way to Earth-616 for the next Avengers movies, so Galactus destroying their world seems like an inevitable outcome.

MCU Theory: Franklin Richards Gets Separated And Is Aged Up

The Fantastic Four's Avengers Movie Future Connects To The Comics

Sue Storm and Reed Richards have two children in the comics, Franklin and Valeria. The former is the older child, which means that Franklin is the most likely character to be the baby Sue has been revealed to be pregnant with in the movie. That is very important for the future of the Avengers movies. The reason for that is that Franklin Richards plays a crucial role in the 2015 version of Marvel Comics' Secret Wars. With that film being the finale of the MCU's Multiverse Saga, I am convinced Franklin will be aged up.

The Fantastic Four have to get to Earth-616, and in the latest The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer, Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards comments on how he "stretched the bounds of space," which could eventually lead to how the team escapes their world as Galactus destroys it. As Reed finds another universe for them, there is the matter of the Fantastic Four's time period. The Fantastic Four's multiversal travel could stretch the bounds of space and time, with the team arriving in the MCU's present, while Franklin Richards arrives years before, allowing him to be older in Avengers: Doomsday.

Why An Older Franklin Richards Makes Sense For The MCU

The Hero Can Play A Key Role After The Multiverse Saga

There are a couple of reasons why I think it is in Marvel Studios' best interests to have an older Franklin Richards in the MCU. Firstly, there is the matter of Avengers: Secret Wars. In the comics, Franklin is one of the characters who restore the multiverse. He has reality-altering powers, effectively being one of Marvel's most powerful heroes. It would be hard for him to fulfill that role in the MCU if he were still a baby, like in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. With his franchise debut, I feel Marvel is going down that path with Franklin.

Marvel has an X-Men movie in development, and with Fox's X-Men returning in Avengers: Doomsday, Franklin could discover his mutant gene there.

The other reason why the MCU should age Franklin Richards up goes beyond the Multiverse Saga. In Marvel Comics, Franklin is one of the most powerful mutants, though a recent retcon disputed his mutant status. I think it would be great for the MCU to use the character to connect the Fantastic Four to the X-Men, as Franklin's mutant origin could be explored in relation to the MCU team after his The Fantastic Four First Steps debut. Marvel has an X-Men movie in development, and with Fox's X-Men returning in Avengers: Doomsday, Franklin could discover his mutant gene there.

All Announced MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  Avengers: Doomsday

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

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