Marvel Unveils 2026 MCU Fantastic Four Prequel & It Fixes First Steps’ Biggest Problem

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While The Fantastic Four: First Steps was a fun addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it wasn’t without flaws. Luckily, the upcoming prequel movie should address these issues. The Fantastic Four are scheduled to return to the MCU soon and will be important characters in the next Avengers film, likely due to the long-standing rivalry between Reed Richards and Doctor Doom.

Robert Downey Jr. is set to appear as Doctor Doom in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, first appearing briefly after the credits of ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Before the story continues with Doom and Franklin Richards, audiences will get a look at the Fantastic Four’s history in a prequel movie scheduled for release in 2026.

The MCU’s Fantastic Four Are Getting A Prequel In 2026

Rather than a new film or TV series, Marvel is introducing the story of the Fantastic Four through a special comic book. Titled ‘Fantastic Four: First Foes #1’, it will be released on March 4, 2026, and will explore the beginnings of the team as depicted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Fantastic Four movie will feature the Mad Thinker as the villain, a character briefly hinted at in the comic “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” To build out the movie’s story and the Fantastic Four’s history, a four-issue comic series called “Fantastic Four: First Foes” will be released, with one issue coming out each quarter. The comic is written by Dan Slott and illustrated by Mark Buckingham.

How The Fantastic Four Prequel Fixes First Steps’ Biggest Problem

The new Fantastic Four movie, ‘First Steps,’ stands out in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because it’s set in a completely separate universe. While many aspects of the film are well-done, its strongest feature is definitely the creation of its unique world.

The Fantastic Four’s version of New York City has a unique, vintage-future style that really sets it apart in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie cleverly used a talk show segment at the beginning to quickly show the team’s history, hint at upcoming villains, and establish the film’s overall mood.

The movie felt rushed, and that’s its biggest weakness. Spending more time at the beginning to show the Fantastic Four battling a variety of classic comic book villains, and fleshing out the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe, would have given the team a richer backstory and built a more compelling world. Luckily, the upcoming Fantastic Four prequel seems to be addressing this issue.

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2026-01-05 19:28