Galactus, Doom Rumors for MCU Fantastic Four

'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' will officially introduce the superhero team into the MCU with a retrofuturistic 1960s setting and a well-known cast, focusing on themes of family and heroism. Director Matt Shakman has confirmed that Galactus, not Doctor Doom, will be the main villain, though rumors persist of a post-credits scene—possibly directed by the Russo brothers—teasing Doctor Doom's involvement, with speculation that Robert Downey Jr. could play the role. Fan theories link Doctor Strange's actions in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' to Doctor Doom's potential rise as a multiversal threat in next year's 'Avengers: Doomsday.' In current comics, Doctor Doom is depicted leading Earth's heroes against Dormammu, fueling further interest in his cinematic return. The upcoming X-Men reboot is rumored to feature Mister Sinister, Senator Kelly, and Bolivar Trask as primary villains, moving away from Magneto, with no official casting yet. These developments highlight Marvel Studios' evolving strategy of leveraging legacy characters and major crossovers for its next phase.