An exciting theory for Fantastic Four: First Steps suggests that the upcoming MCU movie will set up the best ending for Avengers: Secret Wars and a bold new era following the Multiverse Saga. Debuting for the first time in the MCU, The Fantastic Four will initially be introduced in an alternate retro-futuristic ’60s timeline. However, it doesn’t seem like there will be four members of Marvel’s First Family for long.

In Fantastic Four: First Steps, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm will already be operating as a team of heroes, protectors of their reality and contending with the coming of the cosmic World Devourer known as Galactus. However, new reveals have confirmed that The Fantastic Four will fight alongside heroes from the main MCU timeline in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday and presumably in Avengers: Secret Wars, closing out the Multiverse Saga. However, another key reveal supports the theory that Fantastic Four: First Steps will kickstart the perfect means to set up the MCU’s future after Secret Wars.

The MCU’s Sue Storm Will Be Pregnant In Fantastic Four: First Steps

Most Likely Giving Birth To Franklin Richards

It has long been theorized that the First Steps subтιтle wouldn’t just reference space exploration. Case in point, it’s recently been confirmed that Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm will indeed be pregnant in the new MCU movie. This is very exciting, but not only because the MCU will uniquely feature superheroes who are also expecting.

The potential prospects of what Sue Storm’s pregnancy in Fantastic Four could mean for the entire MCU multiverse are mᴀssive when considering who Reed Richards and Sue Storm’s first child is in the original Marvel Comics. Born in the pages of 1968’s Fantastic Four Annual #6, Franklin Richards debuted in the Marvel Universe, inheriting powers thanks to both of his parents’ unique genes that had been charged with cosmic rays. To that end, it’s notable that Franklin is one of the Marvel Universe’s most powerful characters of all time.

Franklin Richards’ Powers Could Be Very Important Following Avengers: Secret Wars Based On The Comics

The Power To Rewrite Entire Realities

ᴀssuming the MCU’s Franklin has the same powers, he could become a major player in Avengers: Secret Wars. Even as a child, Franklin quickly developed the power to rewrite reality and create worlds at will. Keeping that in mind, it wouldn’t be surprising if Galactus was drawn to The Fantastic Four’s world in First Steps due to Franklin’s power and imminent birth. After all, Franklin Richards could provide Galactus with an endless supply of worlds to consume.

More importantly, Franklin Richards was an incredibly important character in the aftermath of 2015’s Secret Wars event in the comics. After the collapse of the multiverse, Doctor Doom saves and merges fragments to forge a new plane of existence known as Battleworld, one where he rules as God Emperor. Once he’s defeated, Franklin plays a crucial role in remaking the multiverse alongside his father and Molecule Man, creating new worlds and restoring the multiverse (though not exactly the same as it was before). As such, perhaps Franklin could play a similar role in the MCU following 2027s Avengers: Secret Wars.

Through Franklin, Marvel Can Remake The MCU However They Want

Endless Possibilities Post-Secret Wars, Regardless Of The MCU’s Past

A prime example of how the Marvel multiverse was remade anew following the comics’ Secret Wars, there was no more Ultimate Universe. However, Miles Morales’ family and life were merged into the main 616 timeline, making it far easier for Peter Parker to become a key mentor in the younger Spider-Man’s life. In a similar vein, Franklin could play a huge part in effectively creating a new kind of MCU, giving Marvel Studios the perfect means to soft reboot the entire franchise in-universe however they wish.

Franklin’s power to reshape reality and potentially create a new MCU could certainly help Marvel Studios debut native MCU versions of the X-Men one day who aren’t from the old Fox universe. Realities can be merged, ᴅᴇᴀᴅ characters can be brought back, and recasts could happen with new actors. Essentially, the sky’s the limit for how Marvel could use Franklin Richards to canonically rewrite the MCU, giving them all kinds of freedom to continue the franchise well into the future once the Multivese Saga concludes (without starting from scratch).

Fantastic Four: First Steps releases in theaters July 25th, 2025 from Marvel Studios.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Captain America: Brave New World

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  February 14, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Thunderbolts*

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  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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  July 31, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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