The Marvel Cinematic Universe just pulled off one of its most surprising twists in recent years. This time, it’s not with a shock cameo or unexpected villain, but by not destroying a universe. ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ has officially debuted in theaters.
So, many fans walked in expecting the demise of yet another alternate Earth. However, they were instead treated to something refreshingly hopeful. Against all odds, the Fantastic Four saved their retro-futuristic world from Galactus, and that twist may be the smartest move the MCU has made heading into ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘.
Why Sparing The Fantastic Four’s Earth Changes Everything
Before ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ hit theaters, theories swirled that Ralph Ineson’s imposing Galactus would devour their Earth, setting up their arrival in the primary MCU universe. That would’ve made sense. After all, many Multiverse Saga stories have followed a similar playbook. They introduce alternate heroes, then collapse their reality. However, ‘First Steps’ took a different route.
Additionally, keeping the Fantastic Four’s universe intact may be the most exciting development yet for the franchise. In a franchise often criticized for taking predictable turns, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ broke the mold in the best possible way. While its sleek 1960s-inspired alternate Earth was ripe for sacrifice, the Fantastic Four defied the cosmic odds and Galactus to save it. With the help of Julia Garner’s incredible Silver Surfer, they pushed Galactus through a multiversal rift.
This protected their home and showed they’re not just victims of a collapsing timeline, they’re power players in the Multiverse. This move instantly redefines how fans should view the team. They aren’t simply wandering survivors, looking for a new home in the MCU like Doctor Strange or America Chavez. They’re protectors of their own domain. So, now, their world becomes one of the most crucial battlegrounds in the coming ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ event.
It’s also worth noting just how rare this decision is in the MCU’s current trajectory. So far, the Multiverse Saga has largely explored concepts of destruction, chaos, and universes folding in on themselves. From ‘Loki’s crumbling timelines to ‘What If…?’s fragmented worlds, the idea of stability has been almost nonexistent. So, by preserving the Fantastic Four’s Earth, the film offers a refreshing counterbalance.
Why This Makes ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Even More Epic
The ramifications of this decision hit their full stride when looking ahead to ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. We already know this crossover event is shaping up to be the largest multiversal story yet. There will be returning heroes, alternate timelines, and (confirmed by Kevin Feige himself) a significant chunk of the story taking place in the Fantastic Four’s universe. Feige even hinted that the Baxter Building kitchen set was reused because “there are a lot more people in that kitchen in Avengers.”
In case you missed it: ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Being Set In Another Timeline Exposes Marvel’s Biggest Mistake
So, yes, we’re going to see our core MCU heroes enter that 1960s-style world. The fact that this Earth still exists also allows for real stakes in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. Instead of just being a staging ground for doomed cameos or temporary battles, the Fantastic Four’s universe can now be something worth protecting. With Doctor Doom now threatening the multiverse, having entire intact worlds in danger raises the narrative tension significantly.
Plus, we’ve already seen hints of this crossover beginning. In the post-credits scene of ‘Thunderbolts*’, MCU heroes spot the Fantastic Four’s ship breaching the sky. This scene was possibly setting up the first true meeting between Earth-616’s heroes and Marvel’s First Family. Instead of it being a one-way migration, the interaction between these universes is likely to go both ways. This makes ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ less of a climactic battle and more of a multiversal epic in the truest sense.
