Although The Fantastic Four: First Steps didn’t tease their arrival in the main universe, Shakman did hint at where the MCU is taking the superheroes next. In an end-credits scene, Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom shows up and engages with Franklin Richards, the son of Sue Storm (Kirby) and Reed Richards (Pascal).

First Steps opening this weekend on July 26, 2025, let’s make sense of this super family for newcomers heading to the theater—it's a fun way to get ready for the adventure!

After a number of false starts, the Fantastic Four have another feature adaptation in the retro-pastiche Fantastic Four: First Steps. This isn’t the first time Mr. Fantastic and co. have appeared onscreen; They were last seen in Josh Trank’s Fantastic 4 (stylized as Fant4stic) and Tim Story’s Fantastic Four films for Fox.

For viewers whose curiosity was sparked by The Fantastic Four: First Steps ’ deep dive into Marvel mythology, the good news is that these stories have been explored in even greater detail across thousands of comics.

Natasha Lyonne's character in Fantastic Four may not be lifted straight from the comics, but her name is a wholesome tribute to someone very close to a Marvel Comics legend.

While cinema-goers have responded enthusiastically to many films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the history of the Fantastic Four is less heralded.

The Fantastic Four was Marvel Comics first superhero team and their villains stretch back decades, but here are the most powerful.

While the current super-quartet of of Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bacharach were present and accounted for, an earlier version of the FF also walked the blue carpet. Thanks to First Steps director Matt Shakman, the lead performers from legendary producer Roger Corman 's ill-fated 1994 adaptation were on the guest list.