A new theory suggests that Galactus might actually be the hero of Marvel Studios' Galactus in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, bringing an honest-to-goodness, comic-accurate adaptation of the Marvel Comics planet-eater into live-action for the first time. 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer butchered Galactus on-screen, so it will be great to see the supervillain make his official debut as a walking and talking cosmic being.
Typically, Galactus is depicted as a formidable and almost-unstoppable cosmic being who travels around the cosmos with his Heralds, including Norrin Radd and Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards, a.k.a. Mister Fantastic, could follow in the footsteps of Phase 4's Doctor Strange and become the true villain of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Reed Richards “Stretched The Bounds Of Space” In The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ New Trailer
Reed Richards Takes Center-Stage In First Steps' Official Trailer
The official trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps finally showcased some of Reed Richards' powers as Mister Fantastic, including his stretchy plasticity and his remarkable intellect. His limitless skills are never more evident than when Richards suggests that he "stretched the bounds of space," and posits that Galactus and Shalla-Bal's Silver Surfer "heard" this, which brought them to the Fantastic Four's world. It's unclear exactly what Mister Fantastic could be referring to, though there have been several theories about how the Fantastic Four might have "stretched the bounds of space."
Perhaps the most obvious explanation for Reed Richards stretching space could refer to the Fantastic Four's original flight, which brought them into the path of cosmic radiation that gifted them their incredible powers. However, The Fantastic Four: First Steps' first teaser trailer also suggested that the titular team had been to space more than once, so Richards could have stretched space even more than first thought. Another popular theory suggests the Fantastic Four traveled the multiverse to end up in their 1960s-inspired reality, which would certainly constitute "stretching the bounds of space," and could have created an even bigger problem.
Mister Fantastic Already Caused An Incursion Event: Major MCU Theory Explained
The Fantastic Four Might Be The Villains Of Their MCU Debut
A new theory shared by Fantastic Four's travel from one universe to another, perhaps even from the MCU's Earth-616 to their 1960s-inspired reality, may have caused an incursion event. Even if they haven't traveled from another reality, Mister Fantastic could have caused an incursion, which would threaten the stability of not just their universe, but also another. It might be this alternate world where Galactus originated, and he might be targeting the Fantastic Four's universe in an effort to save his own.
There has been a great deal of speculation about how The Fantastic Four: First Steps will end, with the most popular theory suggesting that Galactus will destroy the alternate world, allowing the titular team to the MCU's main continuity. Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach have all been confirmed to be returning in Avengers: Doomsday, so they will survive the events of their MCU debut. While it's likely some sort of incursion could destroy their world, it's also possible that Reed Richards might have already caused an incursion event.
Phase 6’s Mister Fantastic Might Make The Same Mistakes As Phase 4’s Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange Caused An Incursion In The MCU's Phase 4
It would be a shock for Reed Richards' Mister Fantastic to be introduced to the MCU having already caused a destructive incursion event, but this could see him mirror a pre-established and often-morally-gray MCU hero. In Phase 4, Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange was thrust through the multiverse, and his actions in battle against the Scarlet Witch caused an incursion event that he and Charlize Theron's Clea left to solve. Doctor Strange seemingly caused an incursion while trying to be a hero, and it's likely that Reed Richards might have inadvertently done the same.
Marvel Retconned The Rules Of Incursions 1 Year After They Were Written
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduced incursions to the MCU, but these reality-destroying events already work differently.
The idea of the MCU's best and strongest superheroes accidentally causing the destruction of the multiverse is a fantastic choice by Marvel Studios. Doctor Strange routinely makes mistakes that come back to bite him, and Mister Fantastic often does the same in Marvel Comics, so it would be great to see this brilliant storytelling technique translated into the MCU. Marvel's heroes are far from perfect, no matter what their celebrity status might be, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps can put this on display by having Reed Richards cause the destruction of another universe.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Theory Turns Galactus Into A Hero In The MCU
Galactus Might Not Be A Bona Fide Villain In The MCU
At first glance, Galactus coming to Earth in The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a direct adaptation of his Marvel Comics debut, as he came to Earth to consume the world back in the 1960s. However, the Reddit theory suggests that Galactus hopes to destroy the Fantastic Four's Earth as a means to save his own from destruction. In the lead-up to Marvel Comics' Secret Wars event in 2015, it's revealed that alternate Earths are always the central incursion point, so destroying a parallel world stops the incursion and saves the other reality.
Live-Action Fantastic Four Movie |
Release Date |
Director |
Box Office |
|---|---|---|---|
The Fantastic Four |
May 31, 1994 |
Oley Sassone |
N/A |
Fantastic Four |
July 8, 2005 |
Tim Story |
$333.5 million |
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer |
June 15, 2007 |
Tim Story |
$301.9 million |
Fantastic Four |
August 7, 2015 |
Josh Trank |
$167.9 million |
The Fantastic Four: First Steps |
July 25, 2025 |
Matt Shakman |
TBD |
This might be Galactus' mission in the MCU's Phase 6, as he might have traveled from another reality, perhaps through a gap left by the Fantastic Four's own universe-hopping, in an effort to stop an incursion. This means that The Fantastic Four: First Steps might actually debut the planet-eater Galactus as something of a heroic figure, rather than just a cosmic entity seeking to destroy the world. This could also twist the Fantastic Four team into unwitting villains, especially Reed Richards, who might be threatening the stability of the entire multiverse by fighting to save his own world.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
- July 25, 2025
- Runtime
- 130 Minutes
- Director
- Matt Shakman
- Writers
- Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson, Stan Lee
- Producers
- Jamie Christopher, Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Tim Lewis
Cast
Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic
Vanessa KirbySue Storm / The Invisible Woman
Johnny Storm / Human Torch
Ebon Moss-BachrachBen Grimm / The Thing
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
