The MCU has long been celebrated for its interwoven storylines and expansive character arcs. Yet, even the most iconic entries like ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ have their shortcomings, particularly the exclusion of key character moments due to time and budget constraints.
One of the biggest missed opportunities in ‘Infinity War’ was the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’s connection to the Power Stone and the devastating attack on Xandar by Thanos, which was mentioned but never shown on-screen. Now, Marvel Studios seems to be correcting that mistake with ‘Avengers: Doomsday’.
‘The Fantastic Four’ Will Get The Screen Time The Guardians Didn’t In ‘Infinity War’
In many ways, ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ feels like Marvel’s successor to ‘Infinity War’, just with a multiversal twist. Where Thanos once loomed as the inevitable cosmic threat, Doctor Doom now rises as a force. However, this time the stakes are the destabilization of realities. And as Thanos had deep ties to the Guardians, Doom’s shadow looms largest over the Fantastic Four.
In fact, Marvel seems to be structuring ‘Doomsday’ much like ‘Infinity War’, positioning the Fantastic Four as a key team in the early fight against this new villain. Their placement mirrors that of the Guardians, outsiders from beyond Earth, but essential to bringing the Earth-based Avengers up to speed. Only this time, Marvel doesn’t intend to cut corners.
Instead of a vague throwaway line about events that happened off-screen (as we got with Xandar’s destruction in Infinity War), ‘Doomsday’ is set to explore the Fantastic Four’s universe fully. This also includes its key location, the Baxter Building. Kevin Feige himself confirmed in a recent interview that ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ will feature extended sequences in the Baxter Building. This sequence will include multiple heroes from various teams converging there.
That’s already a major step up from the Guardians’ off-screen losses. The storytelling implications are massive. It confirms that Earth-828 isn’t just a quick stop; it’s an integral battleground. And unlike the Guardians, the Fantastic Four will be seen reacting directly to Doom’s growing power. It’s a far more immersive setup that gives weight to their involvement. It also enhances Doom’s threat.
The Fantastic Four’s Earth-828 Will Be Front And Center In ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
Back in ‘Infinity War’, one of the most glaring narrative absences was the omission of Thanos attacking Xandar to claim the Power Stone. Fans were eager to see that moment, not only for its action potential but for its emotional impact on the Guardians. However, instead of a major sequence, we got a single line of dialogue from Thor explaining that Xandar had already been destroyed, no Nova Corps, no visuals, Nothing.
In case you missed it: Reed Richards Replaces Sam Wilson As Avengers Leader In ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
Marvel had filmed the scene, reportedly 45 minutes long, but cut it due to runtime and budget constraints. Understandable, perhaps, but still disappointing. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ has a chance to right that wrong by ensuring the Fantastic Four don’t suffer the same fate. And from all signs, Marvel is doing just that. ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ ended with a chilling post-credits scene.
In the scene, Doctor Doom appears in the Baxter Building and locks eyes with young Franklin Richards, clearly setting the stage for the next confrontation. One might have feared that ‘Doomsday’ would do what ‘Infinity War’ did and skip ahead and focus on the aftermath. However, Kevin Feige’s comments put that fear to rest. He confirmed that the Baxter Building is filled with characters from different corners of the multiverse. So, ‘Doomsday’ will likely pick up directly where ‘First Steps‘ left off.
