The MCU Might Need to go Back to Basics to Introduce the Highly Anticipated Fantastic 4
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has established itself as one of the most popular franchises in the world with some of the highest-grossing movies as a part of it. Started in 2008 with Robert Downey Jr.’s blockbuster superhero movie Iron Man, the franchise has had its ups and downs in the past fifteen years of its existence but still continues to be one of the most successful franchises.
It is no secret that the MCU makes films and series based on characters that appear in books published by Marvel Comics. The material is vast so there is obviously no shortage of content for the franchise. This, however, often means that it has trouble dealing with all the characters and keeping the record straight. Resorting to its old ways might help the franchise in introducing the Fantastic Four.
Marvel’s Fantastic Four Does Not Need An Origin Story to Begin its MCU Journey
Although the MCU has already undertaken Deadpool 3 and features X-Men characters in cameos every once in a while (the most recent cameo being in the mid-credits scene of Brie Larson’s The Marvels), Fantastic Four is yet to become a part of the franchise exclusively.
Introducing ‘Marvel’s First Family’ the Fantastic Four in the MCU is expected to need an origin story. However, there is a way to do it without the hassle of the origin story. With the franchise’s currently ongoing narrative of the Multiverse, it will be easier for them to just use the oldest reality-hopping story about the superhero team.
Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #161, written by Roy Thomas, with art by Rich Buckler, released in 1975 was a follow-up to an issue released a decade earlier. The latter had seen Human Torch in a parallel dimension so the former notched up the story by putting this parallel dimension under attack by an Earth from an alternate timeline.
This story could be used to the MCU’s advantage by using it to introduce Fantastic Four as fully-realized heroes into the franchise which would save the franchise the trouble of coming up with an origin story.
Everything Known About the Upcoming Fantastic Four Movie
For the longest time, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, who is an ardent fan of Marvel Comics, was unhappy about the fact that Marvel Studios had little to negligible control over the comic book characters that were owned by other studios. This included the film rights to Fantastic Four, X-Men, and Deadpool, all of which were owned by 21st Century Fox until Disney acquired it.
Read More: Marvel’s Fantastic Four Reportedly Have a Major Captain America Connection
Fantastic Four is getting another chance at redeeming itself through an eponymous movie slated for release in 2025 as a part of MCU’s Phase 6. Reportedly, Game of Thrones star Pedro Pascal is going to appear as Reed Richards (via Deadline). Additionally, Vanessa Kirby is reported to play the role of Sue Storm and Joseph Quinn is allegedly the front-runner for Johnny Storm.
After Jon Watts temporarily stepped away from his duties as the director of superhero films after he was done directing MCU’s Spider-Man trilogy, he was replaced by Matt Shakman as announced during the 2022 D23 event. The SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes greatly affected the development of this film, but hopefully, it has gotten back on track now that the strikes are over.
