Marvel Studios Introduces Franklin Richards in Fantastic Four: First Steps

Marvel Studios is introducing Franklin Richards, an Omega-level mutant with reality-warping abilities and son of Reed Richards and Sue Storm, in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, marking a new direction for the franchise as explained by Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige. The film, directed by Matt Shakman, eschews a traditional origin story in favor of focusing on family dynamics amid a cosmic threat from Galactus, who demands Sue Storm's child to spare Earth. The story is set on an alternate Earth blending 1960s retro-futurism with advanced technology, emphasizing emotional storytelling over superhero spectacle. Joe and Anthony Russo, directors of the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, closely collaborated by visiting the set and studying the characters to ensure continuity and care as the Fantastic Four transition into the larger MCU narrative. Avengers: Doomsday, currently in production, will revisit locations and characters introduced in First Steps, featuring a crossover of Avengers, New Avengers, and Fantastic Four, with the Baxter Building serving as a key setting. The film stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, with Ralph Ineson voicing Galactus and Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal, further cementing the Fantastic Four's place in the MCU's evolving storyline.