The Multiverse Saga has introduced some interesting ideas to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and it could suggest that the fate of Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps is sealed. The idea of the multiverse did not come into play until the Infinity Saga was concluded in 2019. In fact, it was Avengers: Endgame itself that introduced the idea that fragmenting timelines can lead to new realities, as explained by the Ancient One to Smart Hulk. But this idea isn’t seen explored more deeply until Spider-Man No Way Home, when Doctor Strange’s spell for Peter causes people from other realities to come crashing into Earth-616.

Since then, the multiverse has begun to unravel more and more, with some details about this concept being expanded upon, but much of it remains shrouded in mystery. For instance, the idea of Anchor beings was introduced in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, indicating that there is some kind of destiny tied between individuals and their realities. But this idea could also extend to the fate of individual characters, such as Mister Fantastic, which could play a role in the upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Mister Fantastic Dies In Doctor Strange 2 (& His Fate In ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine Looks Like It’s Just As Bad)

Reed Richards Has Had A Tough Time Breaking Into The MCU

Looking back over some other Multiverse Saga movies, there have already been appearances from Mister Fantastic in the MCU. The first encounter comes in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness when Stephen Strange meets the Illuminati. Among the team, John Krasinski was cast to play Reed Richards, a popular fancasting at that point, and he had an exciting cameo in the film. However, his time in the movie was short, after Wanda Maximoff arrived and unraveled his body.

Another less obvious mention of the character comes in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, where Chris Evans returns as Johnny Storm. Johnny mentions Reed having theories about the void, which suggests he also wound up there, or found a way to study it from the outside. Either way, Johnny was working with a new team of outcasts in the Void, which suggests that Reed was no longer in the picture. And perhaps it wasn’t a coincidence that both of these versions of the character died.

Mister Fantastic’s MCU Track Record Suggests Why We’ve Not Seen A Mister Fantastic Survive A Whole Movie Yet

Mister Fantastic Could Be Doomed In The MCU

The MCU has set up several rules about the Multiverse to date. With Anchor beings, Nexus beings, and Incursions, there are a lot of moving parts in play. But despite the references to these rules around the multiverse, only a handful of movies have explored the multiverse more closely. One incident that appears to highlight how the multiverse can operate is Wanda Maximoff, who, on Earth-616, created two children with her magic, only to discover that in almost all other realities, she really was a mother to these two boys.

This sort of consistency, with one anomaly, suggests there is a close relationship between the realities, despite differences like pizza being served in ball form. And it could extend to a character like Mister Fantastic being fated to die when encountering the multiverse. There is already a trend with both of these versions of Reed Richards, and now a third entering the MCU could potentially confirm this pattern.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Galactus Attack Could Make More Sense If Mister Fantastic’s MCU Fate Is Usually The Same

Galactus Could Be An Agent Of Destiny In The Multiverse Saga

If this is indeed something that is fated across the multiverse, then the arrival of Galactus in Reed Richard’s reality could spell disaster. However, Reed fleeing his reality and entering the Earth-616 reality may be the way he avoids his destiny. If Reed is doomed to die, then Galactus could be the means to bring about his end.

However, with the aid of the heroes from Earth-616, and the lineup already present in Avengers: Doomsday, which consists of X-Men, two Avengers teams, and The Fantastic Four themselves, Reed may just about survive his fate. Of course, whether this is tied to Reed’s destiny may be revealed in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, or another film down the line in the MCU.