The MCU is gearing up for a fiery comeback with The Fantastic Four trailer, as Marvel’s First Family prepares to take its first steps. As we get our first proper look at Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby’s Susan Storm, Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm, fans have been scanning every frame, overanalyzing what details Marvel might be hiding in the trailer. One apparent easter egg could blow a multiversal hole in your brain if it comes true. Despite several versions of the Fantastic Four appearing on-screen before, none have been very successful, although ardent fans have loved them all. The multiverse saga might just make their farthest dreams come true.
Let’s take a deeper dive into one such theory and go on a wild trip in the Fantasticar to explore the possibility of one too many Reed Richards. Reed Richards is one of the smartest beings in the Marvel Comic Universe, rivaling even Tony Stark. Before gaining his stretchy powers in a freak space accident, Richards was a world-renowned scientist holding multiple PhDs. The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer alludes to this background, showing Pedro Pascal’s Reed scribbling on a blackboard and prepping his team for a manned space mission. A specific panel points to Reed researching multiversal theory, featuring a drawing of a wormhole, a concept often linked to time travel and dimensional hopping.
Comics frequently employ the idea of wormholes to explain complex storylines, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps using this theory to connect to the MCU aligns well with the multiversal theme. If that is indeed the concept underpinning the upcoming movie, we could witness multiple versions of Marvel’s first family, similar to what we have seen in projects like Loki and Deadpool & Wolverine.
This leads us to a famous storyline in Marvel Comics: The Council of Reeds, a multiversal team comprising various versions of Reed Richards from different universes. Created by Jonathan Hickman in 2009, they combine their advanced technology and intellect to tackle multiversal challenges too significant to face alone. However, this storyline introduces another villain—The Maker. The Council of Reeds aimed to work toward the greater good of the multiverse, but such noble intentions can be flawed. In the multiverse, even the smallest mistakes can snowball into disastrous consequences, leading to the emergence of The Maker, a sinister iteration of Reed Richards from the Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610).
Initially a heroic scientist, The Maker transforms into a villain after experiencing personal tragedies, resorting to grave measures, including the murder of his family. He ultimately seeks to wreak havoc across the multiverse, overpowering both heroes and villains in his quest. Should The Council of Reeds feature prominently in The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ storyline, it is plausible that The Maker will also be introduced.
The Council might include previous iterations of Mr. Fantastic, such as Ioan Gruffudd, Miles Teller, and John Krasinski. This scenario presents a unique opportunity for Miles Teller to redeem his version of Reed Richards, which faced critical backlash in his previous film. Transforming Teller’s Reed into The Maker would not only add another dimension to The Fantastic Four: First Steps but also create a perfect backdrop for Avengers: Doomsday, where audiences might witness numerous versions of their favorite heroes and villains battling it out.
With Robert Downey Jr. returning as a villain himself, the presence of The Maker seems to lie within reach. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is slated for release on July 25, 2025, fueling excitement and anticipation among fans eager to see what unfolds in the ever-expanding MCU.