Disney reveals Matt Shakman's The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to introduce the MCU's Fantastic Four through a different timeline than Earth-616. While it's unknown whether the team's alternate universe also has its own version of the Avengers, it certainly has a Silver Surfer and a Galactus, who will also make their MCU debut in Phase 5.

Eight months ahead of The Fantastic Four: First Steps' release date, Disney unveils the official synopsis for the movie, which confirms that The Fantastic Four: First Steps' setting will be inspired by the 1960s, Galactus will be the main villain, and Silver Surfer will be Galactus' Herald. Read the full synopsis below:

Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.

What The Fantastic Four: First Steps Synopsis Means

Galactus And The Silver Surfer May Be ed By Another Villain

The Fantastic Four: First Steps' official synopsis reveals that the Fantastic Four's main villain will be Galactus, who will likely arrive to consume Earth, as he often attempts in the source material. While the synopsis also confirms that Julia Garner's Silver Surfer will serve as Galactus' Herald, it doesn't include any clues about the change of heart Norrin Radd usually experiences the first time he visits Earth. Since The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place in an alternate universe with a different Silver Surfer, it's possible that Galactus and Silver Surfer's goals will be slightly different this time.

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The final line in The Fantastic Four: First Steps' synopsis may drop a hint at a long-expected character introduction. The fact that the Fantastic Four's conflict "suddenly gets very personal" suggests that Galactus and Silver Surfer won't be the only threats to Earth. Usually, the Fantastic Four's most personal enemy is Doctor Doom, who holds a lifelong grudge against Reed Richards and his family. Hence, Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom could make his MCU debut as a secondary antagonist in The Fantastic Four: First Steps before his main villain role in Avengers: Doomsday.

Our Take On The Fantastic Four: First Steps Synopsis

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If Doctor Doom is the personal threat suggested in The Fantastic Four: First Steps' synopsis, then the Phase 5 movie might display strong similarities to all four previous live-action Fantastic Four movies. All Fantastic Four movies so far have featured the Fantastic Four facing Doctor Doom in their early days as a superhero team, and Fox's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer introduced Galactus and the Silver Surfer as a main villain and an antagonist-turned-hero, respectively. Apparently, these elements being repeated in the MCU may not seem like an obstacle for the MCU reboot.

Source: Disney