This article includes MAJOR spoilers from The Fantastic Four: First Steps.Despite the setup for Marvel’s First Family in the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene, Matt Shakman explains why The Fantastic Four: First Steps post-credits scene didn’t connect with Jake Schreier’s Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. As Phase 5 concluded with the Thunderbolts* movie, a different team got to launch Phase 6, with The Fantastic Four finally getting their due in the MCU franchise.

At the end of the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene, the New Avengers were witnessing The Fantastic Four’s Excelsior ship in space, which was only fitting since The Fantastic Four: First Steps was set to release after the Phase 5 finale. However, The Fantastic Four: First Steps ending didn’t tie in with the tease at the end of Thunderbolts*.

In a new interview with CinemaBlend, Shakman was asked if he could address the lack of connectivity between the Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps post-credit scenes, as many had ᴀssumed that The New Avengers’ final 2025 scene would have been tied into Phase 6’s first movie. However, Shakman made it clear that he never knew Thunderbolts* was doing that setup, as he shared the following:

No, no, no, because the Thunderbolts end credit scene was also created, you know, relatively late in my process too, so that was not something that I was familiar with because it hadn’t been created at the time that I was working on my script, you know?… I often use the metaphor of it’s, you know, like a relay race, right? You pᴀss the baton, you run your section of it as hard and fast as you can, do the best you can with your version of Fantastic Four – Earth 828, this world – and then you pᴀss the baton, in this case to the Russo brothers.

The Thunderbolts* post-credits scene was directed by the Russo brothers, who also helmed The Fantastic Four: First Steps post-credits scene with Doctor Doom. Both the leading heroes in The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Thunderbolts* will be back for Avengers: Doomsday, which is currently in production and being directed by Anthony and Joe Russo.

What Matt Shakman’s Fantastic Four & Thunderbolts* Post-Credits Scene Comments Mean

Thunderbolts* & Fantastic Four Were Delayed Several Times

With the mᴀssive production timelines for Marvel Studios’ many movies and TV shows, crucial elements like post-credits scenes sometimes don’t come together until very late in the making. That is why it wasn’t surprising that Shakman didn’t have The Fantastic Four: First Steps ending be tied to Thunderbolts*, since the moment with the Excelsior ship wasn’t even a thing that existed creatively.

However, Shakman’s comments may serve as a lesson for future Marvel Studios movies and TV shows, as Kevin Feige can make sure there is more correspondence between creative teams about how they will approach post-credits scenes in future phases of the MCU timeline.

Our Take On Matt Shakman’s Fantastic Four & Thunderbolts* Post-Credits Scene Comments

Avengers: Doomsday Will Give The Thunderbolts* Post-Credits Scene A Proper Payoff

Shakman’s clarification on The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Thunderbolts* post-credits scenes puts an end to one mystery, as it was odd that his movie didn’t connect with what Schreier’s film did. It wouldn’t be shocking if Avengers: Doomsday, early in the first act, is where the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene comes into play, while serving as the moment where The Fantastic Four finally arrive on Earth-616.

Even if audiences have to wait for that payoff until 2027, Avengers: Doomsday can bridge the aftermath of The Fantastic Four: First Steps with Thunderbolts*’s post-credits scene. But until then, the world can catch The Fantastic Four: First Steps in theaters and Thunderbolts* through home media release and streaming.

Source: CinemaBlend