Marvel Studios’ ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ is ready to launch the beloved team into the heart of the MCU, and in doing so, it’s breaking one of the franchise’s longest-standing traditions, no Doctor Doom in the debut.
Instead, Ralph Ineson’s Galactus takes center stage as the first major villain. However, if a new 2025 theory holds any weight, Marvel may already be laying the groundwork for their next nemesis: Mephisto.
Mephisto Could Be The Fantastic Four’s Most Unique Movie Villain Yet
Mephisto, who finally entered the MCU in the final episode of ‘Ironheart’, is not just a minor supernatural threat. In the comics, he’s a recurring devilish figure who constantly meddles with some of Marvel’s most powerful heroes. This includes the Fantastic Four, the Silver Surfer, and Doctor Doom himself. And unlike Galactus, whose threat is cosmic and impersonal, Mephisto’s style of evil is deeply psychological and often deeply personal.
Related: How MCU Is Finally Doing Galactus Justice With ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’
He doesn’t want to eat planets. He wants to twist your soul. If Marvel Studios wants the sequel to First Steps to feel completely fresh while still honoring the source material, Mephisto is the perfect choice. His comic history with the Fantastic Four runs deep. He once kidnapped Franklin Richards in an effort to corrupt the boy’s soul and even managed to steal Reed Richards’ intellect.
He’s manipulated heroes, deceived gods, and outsmarted cosmic entities like the Living Tribunal. This is not a villain you punch your way through. By placing Mephisto in the sequel, Marvel Studios would be stepping away from the predictable path. We’ve seen Doom. We’ve seen Galactus. However, we haven’t seen the Fantastic Four go toe-to-toe with the very embodiment of evil. That alone makes Mephisto one of the most compelling choices for the team’s next adversary.
The Stage For Mephisto’s Arrival Is Already Set And Franklin Richards Could Be The Key
What’s most exciting is how ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ already lays down breadcrumbs for Mephisto’s rise and his potential fall. In the comics, Mephisto’s most shocking confrontation with the Fantastic Four came when he abducted Franklin Richards, the young son of Reed and Sue. Why? Because Franklin is no ordinary child. He’s a cosmic powerhouse who once erased Mephisto from existence with a blast from his eyes.
In case you missed it: ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Final Trailer Makes Galactus’ Presence Known
That very moment could become a central scene in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ sequel. Franklin Richards is introduced in First Steps as an infant, but given the MCU’s fondness for time jumps and multiversal anomalies, it’s not unthinkable that we’ll see an older version of him by the time the sequel arrives. Plus, let’s not forget that Mephisto already has ties to many of the key players in this storyline.
In the comics, he once claimed the soul of Cynthia von Doom, Doctor Doom’s mother, making him a sworn enemy of Doom as well. Considering Doom is expected to appear in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Secret Wars’, having Mephisto already active in the universe creates the perfect opportunity for overlapping arcs. This could lay the groundwork for a Mephisto saga.
Marvel fans have been waiting for Mephisto for years. Theories ran wild during ‘WandaVision’, ‘Loki’, ‘Multiverse of Madness’, and ‘Agatha All Along’. Now, he’s finally here, and Marvel Studios has the perfect opportunity to use him in the most impactful way. Turning Mephisto into the Fantastic Four’s next main villain wouldn’t just be a nod to the comics, it would raise the stakes of their journey in the MCU.
