What the ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ post-credit scenes mean for the MCU going forward
The retro-futurist caper featured two post-credit scenes: one about the future of the MCU, and the other for fun
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This story contains spoilers for ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘.
ALMOST A YEAR AGO to the day, Robert Downey Jr. stepped onto the San Diego Comic-Con stage in a green hooded suit and sinister metallic mask, unmasking himself as the new Dr. Doom, the new prime antagonist in the MCU going forward. When exactly the character was going to make his on-screen debut during Marvel’s Phase Six was an obvious one: in Fantastic Four: First Steps. Of course, Dr. Doom wouldn’t have a starring, credited role; such a major addition warrants the post-credit scene treatment.
How many post-credit scenes are in Fantastic Four?
If you’re Googling this while you’re still in your seat, stay until the lights turn back on!
There are two post-credit scenes after Fantastic Four: the first being the very important one after the main credits, and the second after the production credits, which is more of a fun treat.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps post-credit scene, explained
The first post-credit scene takes place four years after the Fantastic Four sent Galactus into deep space. The family have returned to their regular scheduling of being the protectors of New York City in Earth-828. Reed and Sue’s son, Franklin, is now a walking and talking toddler with long curly blonde hair, taking very much after his mother’s not-of-the-period beach-y waves. In the family’s living room, Sue just finished reading a children’s book to Franklin, when the restless tot immediately requests she read him another.
Sue heads to the kitchen, asking her robot-cum-nanny Herbie where Franklin’s other favourite books are. As she heads back, something’s not feeling quite right, she activates her powers when she sees a green-cloaked figure crouching down to Franklin, holding a metal mask in their hand. The figure is unmasked, and the tot is curious as he reaches to touch his face. Dr. Doom is back.
Earlier in the film, during the rushed exposition that dives into the family’s public life, Sue is giving a speech to the United Nations. The camera pans across the diplomats, until lingering on an empty seat with the table card reading “Latveria”, the home of Dr. Victor von Doom. The faceless cameo makes it unlikely that RDJ was on set for the post-credit scene, having made the announcement last year during the film’s production. (Avengers: Doomsday is currently in production, the actor cheekily shared his on-set ritual to get hyped up. He needs it after being dragged out for yet another Marvel movie.)
The Fantastic Four will return in Avengers: Doomsday
The post-credit scene will now bring the Fantastic Four into a crossover with the rest of Marvel’s heroes in Avengers: Doomsday. It’s to be seen what the interaction between Dr. Doom, Franklin, and Sue was, but the villain might’ve kidnapped the tot and jumped to another multiverse with the family in pursuit.
And Franklin’s powers could also be a factor. Attracting Galactus himself, maybe Doom has also realised the potential of the tot, wanting to harness Franklin’s seemingly godlike abilities. The only glimpse we got of his powers in the movie was when he brought his mother back from the brink of death after their battle with Galactus.
Related: See the whole cast of Avengers: Doomsday
What are Franklin’s powers?
In the comics, Franklin can warp reality and create dimensions. During incursion events, he could even rebuild alternate realities and piece multiverses back together. His powers will bring him on everyone’s radar from Scarlet Witch to Doom, perhaps wanting to use his powers to retrieve lost loved ones. That, or multiversal domination.
Pedro Pascal is the new face of the MCU going forward
The Avengers, and the MCU more broadly, are going to need a leading man. Given how entrenched the Fantastic Four’s beef with the antagonist goes back to their first comic in 1961, it stands to reason that Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic will lead Earth’s mightiest heroes into battle in Doomsday.
In an interview with Variety, Fantastic Four director Matt Shakman stated how difficult it was to cast Reed Richards. He needed someone who “goes from being the nerdy scientist who’s locked away in the lab, to the husband and the father who’d do anything to protect his family, to the guy who’s leading the Avengers.”
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ is out in cinemas now.
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