The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of the team, but I’m convinced that Avengers: Doomsday could see the return of the original Fantastic Four movie cast after a 2025 MCU movie moment. It might have taken me some time to get on board with all the choices Marvel made, but I can now confidently say that I’m a fan of The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ cast. With every new bit of footage from the upcoming MCU movie that is released, I feel more certain that Marvel made the right choice with the actors.

That said, the cast of the 2000s Fantastic Four movies directed by Tim Story was pitch-perfect. Recently, Chris Evans once again showed that when he came back as Johnny Storm — not the MCU’s Captain America — in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine. His return led to many questions about what had happened to the original movie iteration of the Fantastic Four, and it seems like the MCU might have a way of answering that, as a new Avengers: Doomsday theory claims that one of Marvel’s 2025 movies could have silently set up the return of Evans and the original Fantastic Four movie cast.

The Fantastic Four’s Spaceship Arrived In The MCU In Thunderbolts*

The MCU’s Second And Third 2025 Movies Are Connected

While The Fantastic Four: First Steps brings Marvel’s First Family to the MCU in July, it seems like the superhero team has already found a way into the franchise. Thunderbolts* was a major turning point for the MCU in a lot of ways. I was expecting the тιтle’s asterisk to have something to do with the Avengers, but the reveal that the Thunderbolts are now the MCU’s New Avengers still managed to catch me off-guard. That said, there was another reveal in the movie that I felt was more surprising, and it happened in Thunderbolts*‘s post-credits scene.

A little over a year after they established themselves as the MCU’s New Avengers, the team was in its headquarters, the redesigned Avengers Tower, when the characters discovered a space anomaly. It turned out to be the Fantastic Four’s spaceship, with the moment made whole by the addition of the team’s new theme from The Fantastic Four: First Steps. While, at face value, it seemed like Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards and the rest of the MCU’s Fantastic Four had arrived, a new Marvel update made it seem like there could be more to the story.

Kevin Feige Teased The Spaceship Is Not The One From The Fantastic Four: First Steps

After Thunderbolts* was released, Marvel stars and executives started to address the movie’s biggest events and what they meant for the future of the franchise. Speaking with Empire Magazine, Marvel Studios’ President, Kevin Feige, addressed Thunderbolts*‘s post-credits scene. Feige revealed that the name of the Fantastic Four’s ship is the Excelsior and acknowledged that a Fantastic Four spaceship was seen entering the MCU’s main universe in the tag scene. However, that does not necessarily mean that both ships are one and the same, with Feige teasing there is something at play, saying, “But I’m not sure they’re the same ship.”

I don’t think Feige would word his comments the way he did if they were not to mean that someone other than the MCU’s Fantastic Four was inside the ship seen in the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene. Notably, there is one big difference between the spaceship seen in the 2025 MCU movie and the one from The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ trailers. In Thunderbolts*, the Fantastic Four’s ship has four legs, which makes sense for the team. However, in the footage from the Fantastic Four film, it only has three legs, suggesting they are different ships, like Feige teased.

The Original Fantastic Four Movie Cast Would Be Perfect For The Surprise Reveal

One Key Member Of The Team Has Already Returned

If Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards and the MCU’s Fantastic Four are not the ones inside the ship seen in Thunderbolts*, then I’m convinced another version of the Fantastic Four could be. That is what a new Avengers: Doomsday theory states. With the MCU’s Multiverse Saga nearing its final few projects, the chance to bring back the original movie iteration of the Fantastic Four is now. ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine showed that there is still a demand for those versions of the characters, as Chris Evans’ Human Torch was one of the film’s biggest talking points.

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While Evans’ Johnny Storm was brutally murdered by Cᴀssandra Nova in the 2024 MCU movie, he does not necessarily have to be the same Human Torch seen in the 2000s Fantastic Four movies. Multiverse variants of characters could have just slight changes, being played by the same actors. As such, Evans could return as his original version of Johnny Storm alongside Ioan Gruffudd’s Reed Richards and the rest of the original Fantastic Four movie cast just fine in Avengers: Doomsday. It would be a neat twist to have a Fantastic Four team be in Thunderbolts*‘s ship, just not the MCU’s.

That is exactly the kind of multiverse switch-up I could see Marvel going for in the Multiverse Saga. After all, Avengers: Doomsday is bringing back Fox’s original X-Men cast, so nostalgia will be high. As for why the ship looks like the retro-futuristic tone of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, there are a few options. One possibility is that the original Fantastic Four will be variants of the MCU’s Fantastic Four, living in a similar reality. Another path is that they tracked the MCU heroes, perhaps to stop Galactus, since they had experience, and used one of their ships.

Who Else Could Be Inside The Fantastic Four’s Spaceship

Doctor Doom’s MCU Story Should Be Tied To The Marvel Team

There are other possible answers to who is in the Fantastic Four’s ship if it is not the MCU’s version of the team or Chris Evans’ Fantastic Four. One of the most popular theories about Thunderbolts*‘s post-credits scene is that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom could be the one on the ship. That would mean he hails from the same universe as the MCU’s Fantastic Four, and he could possibly be after revenge if the heroes fail to stop Galactus from consuming their Earth. I think that is a strong theory.

Alternatively, other versions of the Fantastic Four could be on the ship. That said, I feel like Chris Evans’ Fantastic Four and Downey’s Doctor Doom make the most sense for Thunderbolts*‘s big reveal. In any case, the answer to that question should not take long. Either it will be revealed in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which will reportedly feature the debut of Downey’s Doctor Doom in a post-credits scene, or it will be left for Avengers: Doomsday to explain early on.