Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four, is gearing up for a pivotal part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) Avengers: Doomsday, set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026. With their standalone film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, premiering just months earlier on July 25, 2025, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm are poised to leap from their retro-futuristic universe into the high-stakes multiversal chaos of the next Avengers epic. Here’s a deep dive into their confirmed “key role” in Doomsday, why it matters, and what it could mean for the MCU’s future.
Why the Fantastic Four’s Role in Avengers: Doomsday Is a Big Deal
The Fantastic Four have been absent from the MCU until now, largely due to 20th Century Fox owning their film rights during the Infinity Saga. Their integration into Marvel Studios’ Multiverse Saga marks a seismic shift, with Avengers: Doomsday serving as a critical stage for their influence. A press release from The Walt Disney Company, celebrating the viewership of the Doomsday cast announcement livestream on March 26, 2025, confirmed that the Fantastic Four will play “key roles” alongside the Thunderbolts in the film. This isn’t just a cameo—Marvel is signaling that Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben will be central to the battle against Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom.
“Cast members from Marvel Studios’ next two films — ‘Thunderbolts*’, which kicks off the summer May 2, and ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ on July 25 — will play key roles in ‘Avengers: Doomsday.” Full quote from text release.
The significance of their involvement lies in their comic book legacy and the MCU’s current trajectory. In the comics, the Fantastic Four are Marvel’s foundational heroes, with Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) often outsmarting cosmic threats like Doctor Doom or Galactus. With Doomsday replacing the previously planned Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and pivoting to Doom as the Multiverse Saga’s big bad, the Fantastic Four’s expertise in multiversal science and their historic rivalry with Doom make them the perfect team to lead the charge.
What We Know About the Fantastic Four in Avengers: Doomsday
Here’s a breakdown of the confirmed details and educated guesses about how Marvel’s First Family will fit into Avengers: Doomsday:
- Confirmed “Key Roles”: The Walt Disney Company’s press release explicitly states that the Fantastic Four cast—Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm)—will have significant parts in Doomsday. This suggests they’ll be more than background players, likely driving major plot points.
- Multiversal Origins: The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place in a retro-futuristic 1960s-inspired universe, distinct from the MCU’s Earth-616 (the Sacred Timeline). This alternate universe setting positions the Fantastic Four as multiversal newcomers, potentially bringing unique tech or knowledge to combat Doom’s schemes.
- Connection to Doctor Doom: In the comics, Doctor Doom is the Fantastic Four’s arch-nemesis, with a personal grudge against Reed Richards stemming from their college days. While it’s unconfirmed if Robert Downey Jr.’s Doom will appear in First Steps, his presence in Doomsday ensures a clash with Reed, setting up a brain-versus-brain showdown.
- Potential Supporting Characters: Kevin Feige hinted that “all those characters” from First Steps will transition to Doomsday, suggesting figures like Franklin Richards (Reed and Sue’s superpowered son), Galactus, or Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer could join the fray. Franklin, in particular, is a comic book powerhouse who once reshaped the multiverse, making him a wild card for Doomsday.
- Team Dynamics with the Avengers: The Fantastic Four will share the spotlight with Earth-616 heroes like Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, and the Thunderbolts crew. Their scientific expertise and outsider perspective could make them the strategic linchpin, especially if Doom’s plans involve multiversal incursions or cosmic tech.
How the Fantastic Four Could Shape Avengers: Doomsday
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Strategic Leadership | Reed Richards, the MCU’s smartest man, could outmaneuver Doom’s intellect, guiding the Avengers through multiversal chaos. |
| Emotional Stakes | Sue Storm’s rumored pregnancy in First Steps may add personal stakes, with her and Reed protecting their family against Doom. |
| Action Contributions | Johnny’s fiery powers and Ben’s brute strength will bring spectacle, potentially clashing with Doom’s tech or mystic armor. |
| Multiversal Expertise | Coming from an alternate universe, the Fantastic Four may understand multiversal mechanics better than Earth-616’s heroes. |
| Setup for Secret Wars | Their role in Doomsday will likely lay groundwork for Avengers: Secret Wars (May 7, 2027), where they could tackle multiversal collapse. |
Why Fans Are Hyped (and What to Watch For)
The Fantastic Four’s inclusion in Avengers: Doomsday has sparked excitement for several reasons:
- A Fresh Dynamic: Unlike the Avengers, who’ve been fractured since Endgame, the Fantastic Four are a tight-knit family unit. Their teamwork could inspire Earth-616’s heroes or create fun contrasts with the dysfunctional Thunderbolts.
- Doom’s Rivalry: Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as Doctor Doom is a bold move, and fans are eager to see how his dynamic with Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards plays out. Will it echo the comics’ bitter feud, or will the MCU remix it with a multiversal twist?
- Multiverse Stakes: With Doomsday and Secret Wars capping the Multiverse Saga, the Fantastic Four’s alternate-universe origins make them ideal guides for navigating incursions or reality-altering threats.
- Star Power: The First Steps cast—Pascal, Kirby, Quinn, and Moss-Bachrach—brings serious acting chops, promising layered performances that elevate Doomsday’s ensemble. Joseph Quinn, for instance, recently called his casting “a nice thing” and a “relief,” hinting at his enthusiasm for the role.
Fans should keep an eye on The Fantastic Four: First Steps for clues about Doomsday. The film’s cosmic threat, Galactus, and its multiversal setting may plant seeds for Doom’s plans or the Fantastic Four’s motivations. A post-credits scene in First Steps could even introduce Downey’s Doom, setting the stage for their Doomsday showdown.
Final Thoughts
The Fantastic Four’s “key role” in Avengers: Doomsday is a game-changer for the MCU. With their scientific prowess, family dynamic, and deep ties to Doctor Doom, Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben are set to steal the spotlight in this multiversal epic. As The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces them to audiences, their leap into Doomsday will cement their place as Marvel’s cornerstone heroes. Whether they’re outsmarting Doom, clashing with Avengers, or paving the way for Secret Wars, one thing’s clear: Marvel’s First Family is ready to make history.
