Fantastic Four Debuts Franklin Richards, Doctor Doom in MCU

The new Marvel Cinematic Universe film, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," introduces Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm as they face the cosmic threat of Galactus, who seeks their newborn son Franklin for his immense Power Cosmic. Despite efforts to teleport Earth away from danger, the Fantastic Four set a trap for Galactus, culminating in Sue sacrificing herself to push him into a wormhole, only for baby Franklin to miraculously resurrect her using his cosmic abilities. The film, set on Earth-828, hints at the Fantastic Four's eventual integration into the main Marvel universe and teases the arrival of Doctor Doom in the post-credits scenes. Director Matt Shakman revealed that Franklin's birth scene was moved to the midpoint of the film to better showcase the family's preparation and that Franklin's cosmic powers and destiny will have significant ramifications in upcoming films like "Avengers: Doomsday" and "Avengers: Secret Wars." The story explores Reed Richards' internal struggles and sets up his complex multiverse connections as seen in the comics, emphasizing Franklin's role as a powerful reality warper who could reshape the Marvel universe's future. This fresh take on the Fantastic Four balances character development with high-stakes cosmic drama, setting the stage for future MCU storylines.