Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated introduction of The Fantastic Four into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) promises to be a pivotal moment, with recent revelations hinting at a multiverse-spanning adventure. Pedro Pascal takes the helm as Reed Richards, alongside Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, solidifying the core cast.
The inclusion of iconic Marvel Comics adversaries like Galactus and the Silver Surfer further underscores the film’s significance. While specific plot details remain under wraps, MCU president Kevin Feige has confirmed that the movie will be set in the 1960s and commence filming on July 29. Notably, Feige has teased the possibility of The Fantastic Four originating from an alternate Earth, setting the stage for a compelling new theory.
Theory: Future Foundation Sparks the Council of Reeds
Recent reports indicate Marvel Studios’ return to San Diego Comic-Con, promising significant announcements. Though no footage will debut due to filming starting immediately after SDCC, banners for The Fantastic Four spotted near the event hint at the Future Foundation’s involvement in the film.
In Marvel Comics lore, the Future Foundation, conceived by Reed Richards to harness young prodigies’ potential, expands to include figures like Spider-Man and even Doctor Doom. Building on this, a new theory posits that the Future Foundation’s formation in the MCU could lead to the creation of the Council of Reeds—a departure from its comic origins where Reed eventually splits from the Council to pursue a different path.
Feige’s hint that The Fantastic Four arrives from another Earth aligns with the theory, suggesting the team’s introduction to MCU’s Earth-616 could coincide with their encounter with the multiversal Council of Reeds. In comics, the Future Foundation undertakes interdimensional voyages to rescue inhabitants from collapsing universes—a narrative thread that could be woven into The Fantastic Four, introducing MCU’s Reed Richards to his multiversal counterparts amidst the discovery of the vast multiverse and the looming threat of Kang the Conqueror.
The Council of Reeds: A Multiversal Ensemble
As its name implies, the Council of Reeds comprises various iterations of Mr. Fantastic across the multiverse. Originating from different realities where Nathaniel Richards’ influence varies, this assembly of Reeds initially aimed to solve universal crises but encountered moral dilemmas, such as controversial acts like the lobotomization of multiversal Doctor Doom variants. Ultimately, they faced annihilation by the Mad Celestials.
The MCU has already hinted at the existence of multiverse variants, with John Krasinski portraying an alternate Reed Richards from Earth-838 in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This precedent sets the stage for Pascal’s Reed to explore further multiverse connections, potentially encountering Earth-838’s Fantastic Four and other variants, aligning with the theory’s premise.
The Council of Reeds: Guardians Against Multiversal Threats
For the MCU’s ongoing Multiverse Saga, the Council of Reeds represents a fitting addition, expanding on the multiverse’s complexities and introducing new narrative dimensions. With Avengers 5 rumored to involve the Council of Kangs, a counterpart to the Council of Reeds, the stage is set for an intellectual and existential battle across realities. This alignment could see variants of Mr. Fantastic uniting to counter the multidimensional schemes of Kang variants, leveraging their collective intelligence and knowledge of the multiverse.
As filming for The Fantastic Four approaches, further revelations are expected, potentially confirming this compelling theory and offering insights into the film’s narrative direction.
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