The MCU’s Fantastic Four Don’t Need an Origin Story

Marvel’s first family, The Fantastic Four, will finally return to the big screen with 2025’s Fantastic Four. As the MCU expands its universe, there is more and more room to take beloved comic characters to a larger audience. Fans thought they had seen the last of this superhero family with the 2015 Fantastic 4 reboot, but with the Disney/ Fox merger, it was only a matter of time before another reboot was in the works.

While not much is known about Marvel’s upcoming reboot, wild casting rumors are getting fans excited before its release. One thing that’s certain from producer Kevin Feige is that this movie won’t be another origin story, which is a relief because this story has been told enough times. The success of 2005’s Fantastic Four ensured that at least the majority of audiences knew what happened to these four individuals. Focusing on them as an active team could better help Marvel move the Multiverse storyline along.

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The Fantastic Four’s Origin Story Has Already Been Told

The last three Fantastic Four movies feature this team’s origin story and how they got their powers. It would be a waste of screen time to tell that story again in the upcoming film directed by Matt Shakman, who walked away from Star Trek. Marvel fans already know how Reed Richards and his team become famous heroes. While reboots love to give their spin on a familiar origin story, it could do more harm than good trying to fix something that isn’t broken. Fox’s 2015 reboot, Fantastic 4, learned this the hard way.

2005’s Fantastic Four was a box office success, making $330 million on a $97 million budget at Fox. Starring Loan Gruffudd as Reed Richards, Jessica Alba as Sue Storm, Chris Evans as Johnny Storm, and Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm, the movie introduced fans to the lovable and relatable characters of Marvel’s first family. Fantastic Four explores the complicated team dynamic of these four individuals before and after their exposure to the cosmic storm that gives them their powers. Reed and Sue are romantically involved. Johnny is Sue’s younger brother, and Reed and Ben are childhood friends. In this adaptation, The Fantastic Four gains their powers when a scientific expedition goes wrong, leaving them forever changed. The team reprises their roles in the sequel, 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, whose biggest misstep makes sense in hindsight.

Unfortunately, 2015’s reboot of Fantastic Four didn’t have the same luck. It also features this team’s origin story, focusing on Doctor Doom’s villain origins. While they didn’t change much from the 2005 film, this was already a story fans knew in and out. The film has many issues, however, that could have affected its performance aside from the plot. The director and writer had different visions and even made separate cuts of the film during its post-production. Some actors complained of clashes with the director while on set, and the film’s marketing didn’t help matters either. While the Fantastic Four movie had issues, it’s not all bad. Despite tackling some issues well, the film was a box office flop, ending its domestic run with a meager $56 million, much less than 2005’s Fantastic Four garnered during its opening weekend. These numbers were enough to cancel any plans for a sequel. Another origin story of Fantastic Four would take up the movie’s run time instead of focusing on building their characters as part of the larger MCU storyline.

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Fantastic Four’s Appearance in Marvel Phase Six Doesn’t Need an Origin Story

The Multiverse saga continues in Marvel phase six with Fantastic Four, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Avengers: Secret Wars, and three unannounced films set for release between 2025 and 2027. While these release dates could change due to the SAG-AFRA strike, Fantastic Four is still the first movie in Marvel Phase Six. Disney intends to space out their Marvel projects to improve their quality; that’s likely why The Fantastic Four release date moved from November 2024 to May 2025.

During San Diego Comic-Con 2022, Feige revealed that Fantastic Four would not be another origin story, meaning the movie could introduce this iconic team as fully functioning heroes ready to save the day. While it could be a little too late for such an iconic family to make their Marvel debut, Feige hinted that this team’s storyline could help set up Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. What’s certain is that Phase Six will end the Multiverse Saga, so their introduction could be helpful to the Avenger’s upcoming fight.

Rumors are Marvel’s Fantastic Four’s plot will help set up Doctor Doom as the perfect Fantastic Four villain. In Marvel Comics, the 2015 “Secret Wars” storyline features Doctor Doom as a critical character in saving the multiverse, so it makes sense to bring in The Fantastic Four before Dr. Doom or in the same movie. In “Secret Wars“, an omnipotent being, the Beyonder, needs to use a molecule man who can manipulate matter to destroy various realities in the multiverse. He succeeds in eliminating several universes before Dr. Doom stops him. Although Dr. Doom can’t save the multiverse, he creates a new world (Battleworld) where the survivors can start their new lives. While peace prevails for a while, they soon band together and overthrow Dr. Doom. Avengers: Secret Wars being a part of Marvel Phase Six after Fantastic Four only adds weight to this rumored plot. This team has also fought shape-shifting Skrulls, so their debut after Secret Invasion isn’t a coincidence.

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Marvel’s Fantastic Four’s Story will be the Beginning of the End for the Multiverse

Marvel has always been extra cautious about sharing details about their upcoming projects, and it’s no different with Fantastic Four. While there are plenty of rumors about John Krasinski’s return as Reed Richards and other Hollywood favorites like Adam Driver as the MCU’s Dr Doom, Marvel hasn’t confirmed anything yet. However, with the writer’s strike now over, Marvel is prioritizing The Fantastic Four to kickstart the end of the multiverse saga, so there could be some news sooner rather than later.

Plot details are also under wraps, with Feige only sharing that the film won’t be an origin story. A different story is great news for Marvel fans because it’s the perfect time for something fresh and new. Giving these characters a meaningful storyline with beautiful relationships is more important because their origin story can fit in a flashback scene or monologue. Plot details will likely be available as the release date draws nearer, but fans will be ready to see The Fantastic Four’s MCU debut finally and whether it will be worth the wait.