Summary
The Fantastic Four: First Stepsmay well introduce a member of Marvel’s first family who’d be a perfect candidate for the Young Avengers. TheMCUFantastic Fourreboot has gotten some substantial updates in the past month as filming for the project has started. Though it will be the group’s official introduction to the main MCU, Kevin Feige has stated that it won’t be an origin story. The Marvel Studios president likened it to Spider-Man’s MCU introduction, as many were already familiar with his origin from previous iterations of the character.
The concept footage presented at SDCC showed the main quartet of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm. Several other actors have also been confirmed to star, but there is still plenty of time for the project to add more characters. Since thefilm’s official titlewas announced to beThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, some fans have started to theorize about a certain figure that could be revealed.This young character has direct ties to Marvel’s first family, and there would be no better place to introduce him tothe MCU timelinethan inThe Fantastic Four: First Stepscast.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Cast & Character Guide
The cast of Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four reboot has begun to be revealed, ahead of the highly-anticipated movie’s release on June 20, 2025.
Theory: The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Will Introduce Franklin Richards To The MCU
Franklin Was Powerful From A Young Age
In the comics, Sue and Reed have a son named Franklin. Franklin Richards started manifesting his powers as a child due to his parents’ radiation-altered genes and soon became a very powerful individual despite still being young. The reality-warping powers that he awakened include telepathy, telekinesis, and molecular reconstruction, classifying him as an Omega-level mutant. Omega-level mutants are considered the strongest class of mutants in the comics, as their power levels are essentially immeasurable and unsurpassable.
The theories ofFranklin Richards’ introductionstarted with the MCU’sFantastic Fourreboot getting an updated title.First Stepsinfers the very beginning of something, and since the film has been confirmed by Feige not to be a Fantastic Four origin story,perhaps an origin story is being presented through Sue and Reed’s child instead. The mention of first steps is often associated with babies learning to walk for the first time, and the story of the Richards’ learning to be parents as they raise Franklin would match the retro family feel of the concept footage.
Why Franklin Richards Would Be A Perfect Member Of The MCU’s Young Avengers
The Young Avengers Ties Together Different MCU Factions
Franklin’s introduction inThe Fantastic Four: First Stepswould make him an obvious candidate for the MCU’s Young Avengers. IfFirst Stepsreally is about the Fantastic Four raising the child, thenhe would likely be a viable age for the Young Avengersby the time the team’s project rolls around in the MCU slate. Besides being a suitable age for the team, Franklin’s inclusion in the Young Avengers would also help the MCU connect yet another faction of the franchise to the young team.
Thefirst three members of the MCU’s Young Avengershave been confirmed, but many more are expected to be recruited by Kamala Khan. The theorized future members include the likes of America Chavez, Skaar, and Riri Williams. Each member of the Young Avengers will have already been introduced in separate projects from different factions of the MCU, from the genius inventors on Earth to the Nexus beings of the multiverse. The Fantastic Four will need to be integrated into the greater MCU effectively, and Franklin being recruited to the Young Avengers could help with that.
Franklin Richards' Powers Would Make Him The Strongest Young Avenger If He Joined The MCU Team
Franklin Is An Omega-Level Mutant
Franklin is classified as an Omega-level mutant, meaning that his powers would surpass most other superhumans, including his own parents and the rest of the Fantastic Four. His powers have been described as god-like, since he has the ability to manipulate matter and create anything he sees in his mind. SometimesFranklin is even considered to be a class beyond Omega. The predicted Young Avengers are already some incredibly powerful individuals, but Franklin’s powers would push them even further.
Young Avengers Cast: 16 Potential Members Already Set Up In The MCU
The MCU is getting closer to assembling a new generation of superheroes. These are the Young Avengers that have already been set up for Phase 4.
With how passionate Kamala Khan is about superheroes, she is sure to take her new task of forming the Younger Avengers incredibly seriously. She clearly does her research, as she’s already lined up Kate Bishop and Cassie Lang, so Franklin Richards would no doubt be on her radar at some point when the Fantastic Four are integrated into the present-day MCU. Kamala probably wouldn’t pass up the chance to recruit someone as powerful as Franklin, but the Young Avengers’ strongest asset hinges on the theory that Franklin is in fact introduced inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps.
