The Fantastic Four
First Steps
Film · 2025 · 115 minutes · Phase Six
Set in 1964 on a retro-futuristic alternate Earth (Earth-828), four years after a deep-space mission gave them their powers, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm are beloved public heroes and a close-knit family. Their world is upended when the herald Silver Surfer arrives to announce that the world-devouring cosmic entity Galactus has marked Earth for destruction. Galactus instead offers to spare the planet in exchange for Sue and Reed's unborn son Franklin, whose latent cosmic potential could sate his hunger — a bargain the family refuses, fleeing home with Sue giving birth mid-journey. Back on Earth, the Four face public backlash for gambling humanity's survival on one infant, and race to use Reed's technology to defend the planet. The film culminates in a confrontation with Galactus in the streets of Earth's cities, aided by a Silver Surfer who turns against her master. It is not an origin story — the team's cosmic-ray transformation is only shown in flashback — and ends with a mid-credits scene teasing the family's arrival in the mainline MCU ahead of Avengers: Doomsday.
Leads to
- Avengers: Doomsdaycrossover — The Earth-828 Fantastic Four cross into the mainline MCU, following First Steps' mid-credits tease of Doctor Doom.