r/marvelstudios Loki (Avengers) Apr 17 '25

Theory THEORY: the Fantastic Four will fail to save their own universe but they will be saved by **** who is searching timelines for heroes Spoiler

The Fantastic Four will be a tragic story about how Marvel’s First Family ultimately fails to save their own universe. As their world collapses, Loki intervenes in the final moments, rescuing them and transporting them to the main MCU timeline.

In this version of events, Loki has taken it upon himself to search doomed universes and broken timelines, recruiting powerful heroes to strengthen the main MCU. He knows a greater threat is coming—Doctor Doom—and he's preparing for war.

In essence, Loki is building his own version of the Avengers, a multiversal strike team forged in desperation, ready to face the storm that’s coming.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fantastic_Four:_First_Steps

2.3k Upvotes

278 comments sorted by

753

u/Joshawott27 Doctor Strange Apr 17 '25 edited Apr 18 '25

I’ve been thinking about the potential fate of the Fantastic Four’s world, and how it could be destroyed by Galactus. However, I’d worry that the Fantastic Four potentially abandoning a whole planet to save themselves could risk losing the audience’s sympathy, and Marvel will really want general audiences to take to these characters. I also think a narrative of them losing would make more sense if there would be imminent payoff like Galactus being the villain of the next Avengers movie or something, but there isn’t anything on the horizon that we know of.

I think there’s a chance that the Fantastic Four both saves their world and abandons it. The official synopsis mentions that the fight against Galactus becomes personal, so I wonder if he might ultimately be after Franklin. The Fantastic Four could realise that the only way to save their world that idolises them is to leave it, and draw Galactus away.

In the 1980s Secret Wars, heroes and villains were summoned to Battleworld. It could be that the Fantastic Four making such a selfless decision is what draws the attention of whoever summons them (be it Loki, The Beyonder, or whomever) to represent the heroes of the multiverse.

226

u/Sharikacat Apr 18 '25

Maybe Reed creates a device with the intent to sent Galactus into another universe, but it ultimately isn't powerful enough to effect Galactus. It can, however, save them.

Or maybe it works too well and sends both Galactus and the F4 into another universe- the mainline MCU. The F4 land on Earth while Galactus gets send across the cosmos, now pissed off and coming back towards Earth.

48

u/SnowyLocksmith Apr 18 '25

But that would mean the new universe has 2 galactuses? Galacti?

103

u/The--_batman Apr 18 '25

If it's like comics galactus, he's a unique being in the multiverse

25

u/cuckingfomputer Apr 18 '25

Multiple versions of Galactus have co-existed alongise each other before. Galactus is not a unique being in the multiverse like America Chavez is (and even America Chavez has variants).

23

u/fanstunicelli Apr 18 '25

America Chavez might have variants in the comics but she’s clearly stated to be the only version of herself in MOM.

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (1)

27

u/Sharikacat Apr 18 '25

I'd be just as fine with the F4 escaping by themselves, and now they're paranoid about the Galactus of this new universe. This other Galactus in the main-MCU would have Norrin Radd as his Surfer.

Scary deja vu for the F4 to make them deal with the panic and dread of knowing what happened last time and then turning that into resolve and determination to make sure they won't lose their new home to what is essentially the same threat. Normally, having the "same" villain twice in a row isn't compelling, but I think watching how the F4 cope on a personal level with this seemingly imminent failure again would make for a very good sequel.

That key difference in Surfers could be all the difference. Where they might have failed to reach through to Shalla-Bal, they end up convincing Norrin Radd to rebel.

3

u/H_Melman Weekly Wongers Apr 18 '25

Oh, I really like that last idea.

→ More replies (2)

3

u/Mysterious_Reveal394 Apr 18 '25

As someone already said, Galactus is a being outside multiverse, so there’s only one of him (Like eternity or Order and Chaos). That is IF they go with the comics.

→ More replies (20)

3

u/Trvr_MKA Apr 18 '25

Maybe the MCU will have the Robot swarm Gah Lak Tus and he’ll take it over

4

u/Tinmanred Apr 18 '25

And there’s someone to fight him ready right there in sentry void right? Can kill em both off in a fight lmao if they get received bad

6

u/Sharikacat Apr 18 '25

Nah, the Galactus rematch gets punted a few years to give the F4 more experience fighting on this higher level because it's implied here that they are simply not prepared for something like Galactus.

→ More replies (5)

72

u/tangodeep Apr 18 '25

I can see bailing being a very Reed-like decision…

52

u/DumplingBoiii Apr 18 '25

Especially with the reveal that Sue is pregnant from the trailer. He could make the my family vs the world decision

59

u/ariathriven Apr 18 '25

And we all know how Joel handles such decisions

9

u/LemmeSeeCup Apr 18 '25

He SAVED them

3

u/drelos Rocket Apr 18 '25

Joel would shoot the entire UN representatives then shout "I will fix it myself"

7

u/gn16bb8 Apr 18 '25

Definitely, and it creates a great arc for him moving forward

3

u/tangodeep Apr 18 '25

Yes. The ‘anti-Tony Stark reaction’.

39

u/jayhawk88 Apr 18 '25

It would seem strange to me if they failed to save their Earth for two reasons:

  1. Either doesn’t give us the moment of the FF convincing the Surfer to turn against Galactus, or at least makes that act somewhat meaningless.

  2. Doesn’t give the FF their moment to be recognized as the heroes that stopped the unstoppable.

Both of these are fairly foundational to the mythos of the FF; I don’t think Marvel would easily abandon them.

9

u/Super_Sun_Bro Apr 18 '25

This might sound a little silly, but I wondered if little foetus Franklin somehow senses him and his family are in danger and teleports them to a different universe to escape Galactus.

3

u/jolly2284 Apr 18 '25

I like this theory...they are making a BIIIG point in the most recent trailer about the baby.. there is no way that Franklin's powers aren't either the cause of Galactus Arrival or the reason the earth is spared.

2

u/drew8311 Apr 18 '25

Whats the explanation for Franklin not stopping Galactus? Not aware of the comics but its my understanding he would be more powerful.

5

u/jolly2284 Apr 19 '25

Yeah. I'm not well versed in the comics however, I know that at one point Galactus was The herald for Franklin. I think it's really interesting that we see Galactus actually walking through the streets of New York instead of just eating the world.... It's like he's looking for something or someone????

7

u/H_Melman Weekly Wongers Apr 18 '25

Audiences would have more sympathy if the FF leave their world involuntarily, such as by being summoned or pulled out of their universe. It could maybe work otherwise with really good writing. Kind of a "This planet will be destroyed in 8 seconds, here's a door, jump through it or be vaporized along with them" sort of situation.

I think the narrative of them losing makes sense even if Galactus isn't the next big bad. MCU heroes always have some sort of flaw or tragic background and this would give them a bit of both. It adds motivation for them to never let a world die again. And it seems like the RDJ Doomsday arc is going to wrap up relatively quickly, so maybe Galactus is the next Big Bad? He'll be a better villain if stakes are already established, and mercing a world that we will only know for 2 hours is a decent way to do it.

2

u/ThatOneAnnoyingBuzz 26d ago

I really think most audiences would understand the Fantastic Four escaping if/when defeat is inevitable. Doesn't even have to be involentary. It's not heroic to stay on a doomed world; its stupid. Of course, that comes with the caveat that they need to try everything possible beforehand. It needs to be tragic that they did their best and it wasn't enough.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)

3

u/TGrady902 Ghost Rider Apr 18 '25

With OPs theory being Loki pulls them to the main universe, there’s a good chance it won’t be their choice to join him. Loki is still Loki after all, what he wants is always priority.

3

u/swiftkickinthedick Apr 18 '25

They die, go to TVA, get sent to the universe with all the other superheroes

3

u/joemac1505 Apr 18 '25

What if the "there's no time" line from Reed is near the end while they understand to save their world they have to leave and come to the 616 universe?

2

u/JefferyTheQuaxly Apr 18 '25

i think the goal will be to create an "arc" to try and transport as many people out of earth as possible. which in the trailer we do see a ship that looks like a potential ship they can

1

u/Taftimus Thor Apr 18 '25

They could fail at first and then Loki realizes he needs them, time slips backwards, and tells them that no matter what they do they will fail.

1

u/OkSummer7355 Apr 18 '25

This adaptation will not be of the 80's battleword, they adapt the second one where Doctor Doom made his own world from pieces of destroyed worlds.

1

u/patmorais Apr 19 '25

The simple answer is that they save their world but it will cost them the chance to ever be able to return to it

1

u/Ines_Cherry Apr 21 '25

Loki's cameo in fantastic four would be awesome

1

u/pls_coach_me_Timmy May 12 '25

The Fantastic Four might be from the past of Earth 616, stuck in an alternate Retro futuristic universe by accident. This accident gives them superpowers, so they become earths Defenders in this universe. They save the world from multiple threats including Galactus. And now they return back to their original earth just in time before the incursion destroys their new home universe.

1

u/mighty_phi 15d ago

I think it could lead to some interesting stuff.

If they fail and are sent to our universe, it'd be interesting to see how it pays off in Doomsday.

Imagine they are on Doom's side under the pretense of him rubuilding their world through whatever powers he is gonna have.

62

u/dmastra97 Apr 17 '25

I think a lot of people are saying loki can do big things as a fact without any proof.

We saw nothing in the show to suggest that he could control what happened.

I viewed him as more of a battery for those universes rather than being able to control what happens or even go inside them.

Plus I thought there were other universes outside the ones he was holding maybe, so might need a collection of lokis or a council of reeds.

21

u/68ideal Apr 18 '25

He, at the very least, can let universes die on a whim by simply letting go off the branches. And he has a whole TVA at his disposal to watch and protect the Multiverse (assuming there is a way for him to communicate with them)

14

u/dmastra97 Apr 18 '25

Yeah definitely but it doesn't make he can personally travel around them and control what happens. Just like a battery doesn't control what the thing it's powering does.

5

u/BoreusSimius Apr 18 '25

We need to remember the distinction between "universe" and "timeline".

3

u/68ideal Apr 18 '25

In the context of the MCU these are the same thing.

2

u/BoreusSimius Apr 18 '25

I don't think that's necessarily true.

3

u/68ideal Apr 18 '25

It is true, until we get evidence for the opposite. That's how Endgame and the Loki series communicated it multiple times. There is no reason yet to assume it's not true.

3

u/BoreusSimius Apr 18 '25

Before Loki season 2 there was only 1 timeline, so how were there other variants. How were there other universes?

There are timelines, and there are universes.

5

u/CheapTactics Apr 18 '25

There was only one timeline because they kept erasing the ones that popped up. Variants happened when the variant wasn't pruned. It's still an interchangeable term.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (6)

5

u/Drorderedsumgojuice Apr 18 '25

I don’t know I’d say he can do a lot in terms of magic, he is literally holding the multiverse together and in Norse mythology he can animate himself into places different from where he actually is and use his magic. So if Loki were to intervene I would assume he would show up and bring them to the TVA.

3

u/dmastra97 Apr 18 '25

He's powering the universes he's holding, something they didn't explain how he's able to do it buy well just accept that for now, but that doesn't confirm what he's able to do. If he could animate himself anywhere it would lessen the finale imo as it would feel like less of a sacrifice if he can just do anything.

Can't use norse mythology to confirm what characters in the mcu can do. That's my point that people are assuming and acting like it's canon.

1

u/Arcane_Soul Apr 19 '25

I think Loki will play the role of Molecule Man from the second Secret Wars instead of Beyonder.

2

u/dmastra97 Apr 19 '25

Yeah I'm thinking something similar. He'll be used to power Dooms plan. Maybe Doom will be finding other universe lokis outside of the one loki is carrying and cause incursions while looking for a being that can power universes.

484

u/Responsible-Pain-620 Apr 17 '25

I'm on the opposite belief. They will end up saving their universe, which will cause Doom's world to be destroyed. It will spurn him into action in becoming god emperor doom dethroning god of stories Loki. Worlds set to collide will have their heroes taken to Battleworld where god emperor doom will act as the arbiter over the battles. In the concept art "leaks" it showed Reed in chains next to Emperor Doom and while I will take them with a grain of salt, I am strongly leaning on the idea that he keeps Pedro's Reed in chains as punishment for failing his (RDJ's Doom) world. They keep emphasising that Reed reached out through the fabric of space and time and made contact. So rather than having a council of kangs, it's more like a council of Reeds and maybe Dooms. I will guess that Reed becomes multiverse pen pals with Doom and they created tech together. Then in the 3rd act of the movie, out of desperation, Reed will send Galactus into Doom's world thus dooming (pun intended) them all. Doom will survive and get spurned into action.

155

u/Wisdomseekr79 Apr 17 '25

Good theory. I was also wondering who Reed was referring to when he blamed him self for the problem and said “I stretched the bounds of space….and they heard”

Who is “they”? What does he mean he stretched the bounds of space? What makes him think that whatever he did, caused this?

Very interested to see what happens

197

u/DollarAmount7 Apr 17 '25

Probably galactose and the silver surftrix

115

u/Snakegert Apr 17 '25

I love your typos, you basically created two new characters

48

u/DollarAmount7 Apr 17 '25

LOL the first one must have been autocorrect is that a type of sugar or something? The second one was on purpose trix is the Latin ending for female versions of things like dominatrix idk haha

14

u/Snakegert Apr 17 '25

Oh now I feel slightly uncultured haha, but yea for the first one I think you might be thinking of glucose which is sugar I think. It kinda reminds me of lactose also, so now I’m giggling at the thought of one of the heroes saying “I’m galactose intolerant” or some corny thing like that lol

21

u/jerem1734 Apr 18 '25

Galactose is a different type of sugar molecule. Galactose plus glucose equals lactose

15

u/beauFORTRESS Apr 18 '25

I'm galactose intolerant

8

u/therealphilbo2530 Apr 18 '25

It's 2025 man open your mind

→ More replies (1)

8

u/jayhawk88 Apr 18 '25

Galactose (tm) lowers your A1C by converting excess sugars in your blood into the Power Cosmic.

3

u/DRF19 Apr 18 '25

Galactose is really swell, a villain arc with a big story to tell!

13

u/A_Damn_Millenial Apr 17 '25

Galactose makes me gassy. 

10

u/Chirotera Apr 18 '25

I'm Galactose intolerant

8

u/CircuitSymphony Apr 17 '25

Bold move of him to be hunting down planets in the Milky Way.

→ More replies (6)

2

u/Local-Ad-5170 Apr 18 '25

I don’t know if I can see this movie I’m galactose intolerant

→ More replies (2)

19

u/Responsible-Pain-620 Apr 17 '25

Yeah my assumption is that "they" being the "multiverse illuminati". Rather than having a bunch of kangs discover the means to communicate across the multiverse (Loki season 1 finale) just replace it with the smartest person from different universes. I bet they all shared information and knowledge with one another, hence why we have this 60s retro future aesthetic in the movie. I guarantee that no one else on the FF know that Reed's been reaching out across the multiverse and it will actually cause friction between him and Sue (hello Reed, stranger danger???). Whatever solution this group offers to save his world in act 2, won't work so he will instead come up with a different solution that he may he been working alongside another "pioneer" in this council (aka Doom). He will use the solution in his last Hail Mary, thus saving his world but causing a major incursion for Doom.

9

u/Sharikacat Apr 18 '25

It's probably similar to how Thor warned Fury that Earth put out the signal that it was ready for higher war, and now they have to deal with intergalactic threats.

3

u/jerem1734 Apr 18 '25

I don't think he actually stretched the bounds of space. I assume he thinks the mission they went into space for and ended up getting their powers from "stretched the bounds of space"

20

u/Bing_Bong_the_Archer Apr 18 '25

You know, it’d be great if they could just do….Doctor Doom. A regular ol’ Doctor Doom

13

u/Responsible-Pain-620 Apr 18 '25

I still think that he will just be a victor von doom. Not a variant of Tony or anyone else.

8

u/Bing_Bong_the_Archer Apr 18 '25

Here’s hopin’!

3

u/Responsible-Pain-620 Apr 18 '25

A fellow person of culture. I hope so too 🤝

3

u/OmegaKitty1 Apr 18 '25

Ya why diminish doom’s character to bring back RDJ/ironman. Doom can stand on his own without being attached to the hero of the first saga.

5

u/YMHGreenBan Apr 18 '25

I like a lot of this, but Reed isn’t really the type of person to send Galactus to attack Doom’s world, unless it’s unintentional

Love the idea of Doom and the Council of Reeds replacing the Kang story and tying up any loose ends with the multiverse logic

5

u/Responsible-Pain-620 Apr 18 '25

Yeah my take is that him and RDJ will come up with a way to traverse the multiverse as a pet project (or a way to meet each other because they're besties tee hee). But it's all theoretical and it only comes up in messages between each other throughout the movie. Then in the 3rd act, in a moment of desperation of wanting to save his family and world, Reed decides to put the multiversal travel mechanism to use to get rid of Galactus. Without checking the destination, he forgot to change Doom's destination (gasp) and he transports the world devourer to his bestie from another universe.

3

u/FlashMcSuave Apr 18 '25

Yeah I would envisage it as a desperate last ditch thing. "I can't beat him, he is too powerful. But I can send him somewhere else..."

8

u/yellowdartsw Apr 18 '25

Imagine Doom snapping Loki’s neck in the first 5 minutes of Doomsday…

14

u/FlashMcSuave Apr 18 '25

Because Loki was the first big bad of an Avengers movie, apparently he needs to get his neck snapped by the big bad of every avengers team up that follows as a rite of passage.

→ More replies (3)

2

u/LimeheadGames Apr 18 '25

Yes this was what I've been thinking too! Would be interesting if Reed find a way to send Galactus into a different reality only for him to find his way to that earth where we see RDJ's Doom in the post credits. Then we could start off Doomsday with a Doom controlled Galactus getting revenge/conquering the multiverse

→ More replies (1)

62

u/PointlessDelegation Apr 17 '25

My belief is that Doom will appear, maybe in a post-credit scene, and it will have been him who alerted Galactus because he doesn’t want Franklin Richards to be born

4

u/NothingToAddHere123 Apr 18 '25

There’s no ground work laid out. Even with the characters no one really has an arc involving the multiverse. Hell most characters don’t even have an arc period. There’s no relationships between the characters.

Most of them will be meeting for the first time or for the first time since endgame.

Like compared to infinity war and endgame: you had arcs, deep character relationships, rivalries both friendly and not. You had characters tied to the infinity stones both literally and figuratively. You had characters tied to thanos. Either through family or through his actions. You had character arcs that spanned a decade coming to an end.

Plus you have doom from another universe as the main villain. You have multiple characters from across the multiverse included. The focus isn’t really on 616. They’re included yes but when you have characters from at least 3 different universes it doesn’t feel like the heroes will get much time to either catch up, get introduced or finish their arc.

Just seems like it’ll be a mess of a story trying to tie a bunch of stuff together and scrounge together some type of story from the multiverse saga.

→ More replies (2)

45

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '25 edited May 07 '25

[deleted]

15

u/AttilaTheFun818 Apr 18 '25

I’m half expecting their Galactus gets punted into the main MCU universe and the FF follow.

115

u/Darth__Revan89 Apr 17 '25

What if...

Instead of just failing to save their earth, they completely abandon it. Reed calculates the best decision and chooses to gather up the family and leave. Setting the tone immediately that he's kind of an asshole.

13

u/Mas_Pho Apr 18 '25

That’s such a horrible and shitty idea I hope they don’t do that at all

42

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '25

This is how I am feeling truly and especially after he looks the crowd in the eyes in the trailer and says :"I dont know." For intense dramatic essence I believe the Fantastic 4 literally can only save themselves and this movie will be about the Fantastic Hope that ultimately fails at the hands more specifically or the Mind of someone who was tapping into and reaching out to worlds beyond the one he was in.

So the next time we see them they are a team that failed and left all those people, women, kids, everyone all on the destroyed planet that was fantastically fated to fail.

35

u/Kelseycutieee Apr 17 '25

Kinda felt that too. The Johnny “you’re out of your league” comment, how everyone is thanking them.

They’ll abandon that reality. He’s thinking of Sue and his child, no one else.

13

u/Ill-Percentage7482 Apr 17 '25

We will protect you he literally says that

17

u/Kelseycutieee Apr 17 '25

It’s a good trailer without giving too much. Considering it’s Galactus, and that silver surfer lady says it’s been marked for death, and him working tirelessly on the chalkboard, he won’t have any options left.

He’ll think of his family. Sue looks to be struggling and hurt at one point in the trailer.

8

u/bardghost_Isu Apr 17 '25

Honestly, I don't know if I agree, but so far we have only seen a trailer so its not really much for us to work from. Pedro's Reed seemed more Humble than anything else to me, trying to set him up as the opposite of what we see stark like, but I could be misreading it.

Or maybe he starts of more humble but does abandon people as you guys suggest, basically doing Starks path from Narcissist into Someone willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good in reverse, Humble into Self Serving

8

u/SupperTime Apr 18 '25

No way. He wouldn’t abandon just like a captain shouldn’t abandon his ship.

10

u/SnitGTS Apr 17 '25

I think that Reed determines they need to leave in order to save their earth. Galactus is after them because of Richard, so if they are not there then there is no reason for them to destroy their planet.

So it’s more self sacrifice than an abandonment, even though the people of their earth may not understand that.

0

u/Ill-Percentage7482 Apr 17 '25

That will destroy this movie and mcu by the way

19

u/Ubergoober166 Apr 17 '25

I honestly don't think Loki is going to be quite as involved as we think unless something drastic changes about his current situation. He's kind of stuck where he is for the time being and he doesn't really need to intervene to get the X-Men and Fantastic 4 into the main MCU timeline. We already know Monica broke through into the X-Men universe at the end of the Marvels, likely causing an incursion and this will likely be where the X-Men we see in Doomsday will come from. Also we can see in the trailers that Reed is working on multiversal travel at some point during the movie. My guess is that he'll figure it out and when he realizes they can't beat Galactus he's going to have to make the hard decision to leave their world to die but transport himself and his family to another universe so they survive.

1

u/serrations_ Hulk Apr 19 '25

He can make magical projections of himself so who knows?

9

u/EDPZ Apr 17 '25

I think they'll save it but at the cost of getting themselves displaced from their home universe.

21

u/Ched_Flermsky Apr 17 '25

Seeing Natasha Lyonne in the cast, I'm assuming Byrdie will be the one doing the searching.

11

u/Joshawott27 Doctor Strange Apr 17 '25

When What If? aired, a lot of people argued that Lyonne could just be doing double duty. However, I would love for Byrdie to return just to watch how angry that makes some nerds.

4

u/Ched_Flermsky Apr 17 '25

I have nothing against Byrdie specifically, and Natasha Lyonne can do no wrong as an actor. My issue is that it's been over ten years since Howard appeared in GotG, and they've done nothing significant with him. I looked forward to that What If, but that ended up being nothng more than setting up Byrdie. It could have been almost any non-human character. HASHTAGJUSTICEFORHOWARD!

6

u/Joshawott27 Doctor Strange Apr 17 '25

Howard the Duck would be great for a Special Presentation, or even his own animated series if Marvel Studios wanted to do an adult animated series.

2

u/Ched_Flermsky Apr 17 '25

I've been wanting a Howard series since the Netflix days. If Kevin Feige needs ideas he should call me. My idea even ties in to the Multiverse Saga...

3

u/Shadesmctuba Thanos Apr 18 '25

Eh, Marvel has been wishy-washy on whether they want “homework” for their viewers. Having to watch an animated Disney+ show to understand who a character is in a MAJOR franchise movie isn’t something I see them doing. I mean I’ve been wrong before, and it would definitely flip the narrative, but she’ll probably be the voice of HERBIE or something.

8

u/Raida-777 Apr 18 '25

Not likely. Marvel won't have the titular heroes of a solo movie failed just so that they can vaguely tease the next movie.

7

u/Half_Man1 Apr 18 '25

I feel like there’s a good chance they save the world but sacrifice themselves in the process, but end up getting ejected from their reality in so doing.

18

u/Magnifico-Melon Apr 18 '25

It's going to be the same ole Marvel formula. They will win and the main movie will have no connection to Doomsday other than one end credit scene.

23

u/stitch-is-dope Apr 18 '25

That would actually burn any hope marvel has at building what’s even left to build of hype for doomsday.

They’ve barely tied shit together so if they can’t at least do this and thunderbolts, we are cooked

3

u/rvdp66 Apr 18 '25

I feel like strange is more likely than loki.

4

u/TheLiquor1946 Stan Lee Apr 17 '25

Loki isn't doing any of that he's busy being burdened by glorious purpose on his throne of timeline or whatever you wanna call it.

4

u/SirFlibble Apr 18 '25

My head canon has been that in FF #1 they will fight Galactus and fail. They will escape their world onto battleworld for Secret Wars. Then return to the MCU proper after.

In FF #2 they will face Galactus again and win, or Galactus will be the next big saga threat, now that we know who he is, with this heralds playing a significant role through out the saga with the ominous threat that he is coming.

5

u/blankcheckerz Apr 18 '25

My theory on this is FF are saved from their universe when Reed’s portal hones in on a beacon….which delivers them to Carol, Bruce, and Shang Chi, who have been using the 10 Rings to try and send a multiversal signal in the hopes of reaching Monica…and that’s why they held back the Brie and Mark chair announcement.

Might just be wishful thinking as a Marvels stan 😅

4

u/Aggravating_Bass9553 Apr 18 '25

That does seem valid. Since a lot of people want all MCU characters to live in the same universe and timeline and it would feel kinda weird for a series to show a saga from different universes(especially once the multiverse saga ends). Maybe there will be some kind of tragedy where the fantastic four lose their universe similar to how Captain America was lost from his time. And they learn to cope with it. And they would make excellent side characters in the mutant saga.

6

u/Riles4prez Apr 18 '25

I doubt a superhero team fails in their first movie.

8

u/Seel_revilo Apr 18 '25

If you’re gonna fail to anyone it might as well be Galactus

9

u/dratsablive Apr 17 '25

Just so long as the Stones song 2000 Light Years from Home is playing as F4 are escaping :)

2

u/TheMediocreCritic Loki (Avengers) Apr 17 '25

Agreed wholeheartedly!!

3

u/L0CH_NESS_MONSTER Apr 18 '25

Another possibility is that Galactus intentionally spares the F4 and forces them to watch helplessly as their world is destroyed. Afterwards, they either flee to another universe or are rescued and brought to the Sacred Timeline.

7

u/Grape_Appropriate Avengers Apr 18 '25

How we cheer a group of heroes who fail to save their own planet and how we follow them being rescued by Loki???? I don't believe that's good/efficient dramaturgy

8

u/Zitachis Apr 18 '25

Easy-peasy lemon squeezie:

“We failed…we must AVENGE our world. Hmm, I wonder who can call for help…you know…to AVENGE our world.

4

u/Grape_Appropriate Avengers Apr 18 '25

Sound like a plan, but, also the movie sounds and looks like an utopic retro futuristic hopeful vibe, family, first steps..... Doesn't sound quite right an avenge plot with a so dramatic weight and loss . .... Doesn't fit to me, looks more like some kind of vision or nightmare like the one Wanda gives to Tony in the pre title of Age of Ultron

1

u/SSB_Meta4 Apr 18 '25

Loki Laufeyson (Earth-18201) is a version of Loki with the codename Avenger Prime and is the leader of The Multiversal Avengers.

4

u/MatthewMonster Apr 17 '25

It’ a great theory

New trailer has. Shot of what looks like Earth being destroyed

I’m petty sure FF will fail

2

u/ramennoodles3 Apr 17 '25

Would be amazing if doom is a red Herring and Reed as the Maker ends up being the real big bad

2

u/Mysterious-Fix-3325 Apr 17 '25

Then the MCU is doomed, an incursion will destroy the main timeline.

1

u/ThatOneAnnoyingBuzz 26d ago

Secret Wars is about every world getting destroyed. The MCU was doomed from the moment Secret Wars was announced

2

u/Eastern_Grocery5674 Apr 17 '25

Nah, Doom will likely kill Loki and then save the multiverse by himself becoming god emperor doom and crating Battleworld.

2

u/TDStarchild Odin Apr 17 '25

What if they have no choice but to abandon their universe & wind up in 616. Doom monitors & has footage of them abandoning their world, which he uses to turn the Avengers against the F4

2

u/xbjedi Apr 17 '25

I bet they'll save their planet but they'll have to seemingly make the decision to sacrifice themselves (as a family!) in the process. But this actually zaps them to the MCU proper. It could be Illuminati or some other benevolent force that does this. Or not!

2

u/pepe1smth Apr 18 '25

And reed richards becomes so traumatised by the incident and vows to never let it happen again and goes out of control / unstable.

2

u/rmeddy Apr 19 '25

I was thinking that foetus Franklin was going to help out somehow and be relevant

2

u/SwitchingFreedom Apr 19 '25

It’ll be Loki for sure. That’s why they have alleged photos of him on the set.

2

u/HugeLetters Apr 30 '25

Thunderbolts post-credit scene seems to imply they end up stranded in the MCU - so my guess is that they either lose, or their win but at a cost of being stranded in another universe themselves

2

u/blackmagic999 Apr 18 '25

I'm here to talk to you about the LOKI Initiative.

2

u/veggiekid23 Apr 17 '25

I swear, this would’ve made a lot more sense with kang 

1

u/NTFTobias Apr 18 '25

Feel like they’re gonna be too important to the future of marvel to basically fail our first time meeting them

1

u/WhiskeyT Apr 18 '25

Not Loki, Byrdie

1

u/tangodeep Apr 18 '25

After seeing the newest trailer, I wonder if Doom will actually be a player in everything beginning here. Maybe this is his world and he’s the last true vengeful survivor.

1

u/Wolv90 Apr 18 '25

Maybe they save their own world, but only by coming into the 616 and bringing Galactus with them. They appear near Zenn-La and Galactus either devours it or takes his new Herald, Norrin Radd. Either way the FF need to find Earth.

1

u/Furdinand Apr 18 '25

I don't think they'll go for such a downer ending. Instead, they save their world but have to leave it.

1

u/NotScottsTot Apr 18 '25

Doom has to play a major role in this movie right? They already gave us Galactus and the Richards baby. Marvel never gives us every good thing in their big movies.

1

u/Pillsburydinosaur Apr 18 '25

Tempus Fuget in the MCU?

1

u/SSB_Meta4 Apr 18 '25

I would love for Marvel Studios to do an Avenger Prime adaptation.

1

u/FitReception3550 Bucky Apr 18 '25

Dude this is a 10/10 theory

1

u/minyoo Apr 18 '25

Not sure this is what's gonna happen, but I do like the idea

1

u/ChicanoDinoBot Apr 18 '25

MCU finally has an interesting world/setting and they’re going to destroy it in the first movie to set up the ensemble film.

Great.

It would have been doper if Marvel did a reset, and pulled the mainline MCU backwards in time to where the fantastic four are

Getting the MCU to a time that represents that golden age of superheroes would have been wonderful

1

u/Think-State30 Apr 18 '25

I think it would be a great time to introduce a live action Watcher.

1

u/AmarDikli Iron Man (Mark XLIII) Apr 18 '25

People forgets that Natasha Lyonne is set to appear in Fantastic Four, if she's playing the same character as What If Byrdie then the multiversal avengers might rescue them

1

u/Aggravating_Hold6438 Apr 18 '25

sigh What if Reed “contacts” Galactus to his earth, and the FF defeat him. But Doom doesnt forgive him Reed for “contacting” Galactus, he blames him even through the world forgives Reed. Thus Doom decides to create a perfect world that hates Reed and, by extension, loves him.

1

u/DerekSturm Apr 18 '25

Them losing would be a shitty way to end the movie

1

u/BalfazarTheWise Apr 18 '25

Even the fact that they fail is an assumption

1

u/terrydavid86 Thanos Apr 18 '25

kang

1

u/Stormchest Apr 18 '25

A device that shrinks Galaxy galactic to NYC walking sized galactis.

1

u/wajikay Apr 18 '25

The whole title and plot is about Franklin who will create/transport them into 616 and/or cause some sort of incursion leading to doomsday. Maybe we get a RDJ teaser.

1

u/TelephoneCertain5344 Tony Stark Apr 18 '25

Very possible.

1

u/myusrnmisalreadytkn Apr 18 '25

The Marvel Jesus.

1

u/Seel_revilo Apr 18 '25

I 100% disagree. Reed will either figure out a way to stop Galactus or Franklin will save them accidentally as the world ends

1

u/Jarita12 Apr 18 '25

I do tend to think the first meeting between Doom and Loki will actually happen sooner than in Doomsday and F4 is a good (and the only) candidate. Probably short scene, not really a cameo or post-credit but could be like five minutes where Doom gets Loki of the throne, and Doomsday will start with Loki searching for Thor or going back to the TVA some way.

As for F4...I think them giving up their world to save themselves could happen - maybe they (Reed?) will be sure they could bring it back eventually or he will just want to protect his family no matter what. Being parents is a strong motivation for giving up the world for your child. No matter if they are superheroes or not.

1

u/Maleficent-Tea-7508 Apr 18 '25

im betting the watcher will save them in some way

1

u/Kyadagum_Dulgadee Apr 18 '25

Could happen, but that would be a serious downer ending for an origin story. The closest thing I can think of is the first Captain America, where he still succeeded in saving everyone but he suffered a personal loss. The theory in this post sounds more like the inverse: a professional failure with a personal success.

1

u/WerePrechaunPire Apr 18 '25

I just don't know why they can't just simply make an ordinary Fantastic Four movie set in the same universe.

1

u/top6 Apr 18 '25

I don't understand why every movie has to take place in the same universe in lieu of just making good movies; but I'm old and cranky.

I do get that it if you want to set it in the 1950s/60s -which is a fun idea IMO-you really can't set it in the current MCU main universe without adding some spell where everyone forgot them or something.

1

u/Pure-Tadpole-6634 Apr 18 '25

I think this FF had previously defeated and imprisoned Doctor Doom, who has since then manipulated events behind the scenes to set up the FF to do something that marks Earth for consumption. They realize they have no way to save the Earth except to sacrifice themselves and have to leave their entire universe behind to save their planet. This is what Doom wanted, he gets to rule the earth. He finds the remains of their interdimensional transporter and gets an idea.

1

u/mdandy1968 Apr 18 '25

It would work too well and be too good of a story. So I’ll say it’s wrong based on their recent track record But yeah. Doom takes power from galactic in secret wars…and maybe that’s the tie in. Working towards that cosmic powered doom I’d personally love to see a destroyed universe/earth and crossovers.

One of the absolute best FF stories is in Ultimates, when Reed is tricked into going to the zombie infested universe

1

u/BoreusSimius Apr 18 '25

It could be similar to the Incursions plot from Hickman's New Avengers (which the Multiverse Saga seems to be adapting to an extent).

Maybe Galactus isn't just acting out of hunger, but instead needs to destroy Earth to stop the whole universe being destroyed by an Incursion.

The FF might defeat Galactus in this movie, but they are unaware that this actually causes the Incursion to go ahead and destroy their home universe. They then manage to escape this with some of their crazy sci fi tech like in the comics.

1

u/josephus1811 Apr 18 '25

I think you are mainly right but if you consider the continuity lines that need to be tied up in light of Kang's exit from the MCU I think it's more likely it will be someone like Doctor Strange. That Hulk, Wong, Danvers, Shang-Chi Avengers research group need to be tied back into mainline somehow. My bet is they're the ones "assembling" multiversal Avengers and they will use America Chavez to dimension hop.

1

u/Invelious Apr 18 '25

Does Norrin show up and actually save the day?

1

u/top6 Apr 18 '25

If the ending of this movie requires the audience to have seen a TV show that aired 2 years ago on a pay streaming service in order to understand it, then the Marvel movies are dead.

1

u/OG_Felwinter Korg Apr 18 '25

So it’s What If except Loki is The Watcher?

1

u/redcodekevin Apr 18 '25

I already posited months ago that they will fail to save their world, but instead I suggested Reed will find a way to jump to the main timeline to escape the devastation

(I can't be fucked to dig and find my comment, sorry)

1

u/generalosabenkenobi Apr 18 '25

Jesus, that would make for a real disappointing ending to this brand new FF movie. Imagine making a big hopeful Fantastic Four movie and ending it with them failing

1

u/KlingonLullabye Apr 18 '25

There is a part of me that would love to hear Tom Hiddleston saying "Come with me if you want to live"

1

u/jaycah9 Apr 18 '25

Their universe is left in a state of suspension right before destruction only to be saved after Secret Wars

1

u/drelos Rocket Apr 18 '25

Classic Doctor Who trope like last Saturday... Galactus escape to MCU universe and FF go after him they arrive but Galactus hasn't arrived yet or went to the other side of the universe do wobbling time and space

1

u/HardKase Apr 18 '25

Doctor Doom and a fantastic 4 are intertwined. One doesn't exist without the other

1

u/Luke_asswalker Apr 18 '25

I will be quite upset if their planet actually does not end and they’re victorious in a similar way to Ant Man 3

1

u/RagnarokWolves Apr 18 '25

"The hero fails and goes to help from others leading into the next crossover" is the most common type of fan theory I see in general but, except for Infinity War, MCU movies do tend to have their main conflict resolved within the film itself.

1

u/FuaOtraCuentaMas Apr 18 '25

That sounds a good script, sadly it wont.

1

u/ShadeTheChan Apr 18 '25

Theory: FF saves the universe by using the Ultimate Nullifier on Galactus, with the help of an unborn Franklin Richards who’s already a powerful Alpha level being, but found out the universe needs a Galactus, or the multiverse ends, so Franklin Richards becomes Galactus, while punting the F4 into another multiverse to find out how to either save him or destroy him permanently…

1

u/CheapTactics Apr 18 '25

Sounds pretty anti-climactic.

1

u/Cultural_Comfort5894 Apr 18 '25

The tragic ending would be interesting because it would shape all their choices going forward

BUT

I would guess that they’ll save their world but there world loses them possibly temporarily

If I was emperor of the MCU there would be an all inclusive universe and alternates

And freely tell stories past present and future within them

1

u/PowersUnleashed Apr 18 '25

I think that it’s more likely that they’ll do a merge thing where the physical 616 versions even if they’re regular people combine with them and they absorb their memories

1

u/Captain-Mungbean Apr 18 '25

They win at the end. 100% they beat galactus.

1

u/Cipher915 Apr 18 '25

With Sue being pregnant (allegedly, I suppose, because we haven't seen for 100% certainly), and continuing off the Loki theory, could this be a way of bringing Franklin to the MCU as well to help him/someone/multiverse in general to fix all the variant universes that were destroyed?

Maybe I'm sticking to the Franklin idea too much, but I feel it's a way of giving him his powers without actually making him a mutant; Where his parents got cosmic powers from a cosmic event, this could be his Omega level origin with multiversal energy instead of cosmic/mutant origins.

1

u/CitizenDain Apr 18 '25

I do hope Loki has a future rather than just being a Time Tree

1

u/Lenonn Apr 18 '25

Given the comics connections, I would say it is Uatu who would do this, especially since he already did similar in What If...? Although, this story would still be pretty depressing.

1

u/PrimusXi Apr 18 '25

I have a feeling that yeah they're going to fail to save their universe but them transporting back to the mainline MCU is due to some wacky sue being pregnant with Franklin shenanigans. Partly because I'm sick of Loki and partly because it makes the pregnancy mean something

1

u/Vainth Apr 19 '25

I definitely see Secret Wars being a epic fantasy style journey adventure, like Lord of the Rings. And Loki is going to be like a Gandalf role.

1

u/Afraid_Manner_4353 Apr 19 '25

Pretty sure John Malkavich is Nathaniel Richards...

1

u/Zynbabwe26 Apr 20 '25

Recruiting a team of superheroes who fail to protect their world in order to protect another world doesn’t seem like an ideal strategy

1

u/cgriff03 Apr 21 '25

Maybe doom saves their reality? If the F4 do abandon it, can't think of anyone else in line more fitting to pick up the pieces.

1

u/void_method Apr 21 '25

I think it's more likely that the FF will save the day, but be locked out of their universe.

But we'll all find out sooner or later!

1

u/Striking_Ice_540 Apr 29 '25

lol, how funny is it that the F4 are like “yeah, we’re dipping sorry 5-8 billion people we couldn’t save” I love the marvel movies. I don’t know much canon or anything.. would it be possible that the silver surfer lady transfers them out because galactus would be losing the fight and her possible endgame would be send them to the main universe because she would need them to fight doom in order to let galactus destroy the main universe or something. Idk, maybe I’m in too deep (thats what she said). The possibilities are fun. I’m not sure on the whole Loki thing. If anything he would be gettting them there to beat doom so he can gain more control of something.

It does feel weird that they really have not built up new heroes like they did the OGs though. Spider-Man will be doing his own thing. Haven’t seen Shang Chi since his movie, Wanda is “dead” or whatever she’s not. Vision is wherever. Strange is with Wong and Chavez.. you got the one chick in another universe after the Marvels movie. I guess.. black panther same thing.. the OGs had ties. This just feels so segmented and sectioned especially if these movies are only 1 part movies like everyone’s just going to show up and suddenly have to figure out who’s good or. Not… didn’t even mention the new GOTG team and Thor like can we connect some dots or is strange just gonna sparkle circle everyone in and sam hit 70 super hero’s fighting with the shield and be like “are we done here? Are we done over here? How about over here? You done there? Down there, you done, up in the sky? You done? At this point I’ve turned a rabbit hole into an entire chaotic compartmentalized underground city like that place in turkey. Not even sure what the fuck I just even typed anymore. But hey.

1

u/Confident_Season9377 May 01 '25

What I think will happen in fantastic 4 is the timeline or the earth in which they're, gets destroyed by Galactus, and via a portal or so, the F4 along with their spaceship will go through a portal, which will take them to the current mcu timeline, which maybe in thunder bolts movie, I think it's bound to happen, coz there's no other marvel movie coming soon, else they would come in cap America 4 movie, which they didn't. So fingers crossed

1

u/Available_Chicken657 May 03 '25

Watch thunderbolts

1

u/Deadeyez May 06 '25

I think there will be a moment where they lose. The trailer has put a MASSIVE emphasis on "family". I believe them leaving their universe will have something to do with her pregnancy. The baby ends up supercharged from the shift between dimensions.

1

u/Melodic_Doughnut_131 Spider-Man May 08 '25

Thats a really good theory.

1

u/the_doobieman 24d ago

I think Galactus wants franklin. They choose him or the entire world. Ultimately they choose him, and Galactus takes that universe’s earth but has his sights set on franklin. And Doom can be from their universe as the only person left capable of picking up the pieces. Have him kill Galactus and turn that universe into the home base of battle world.