When & Where Is The Fantastic Four: First Steps Set in MCU Timeline

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Following the triumph of Thunderbolts* and the escalating anticipation for Avengers: Doomsday, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has stirred considerable excitement within the Marvel Cinematic Universe in quite some time, potentially playing a pivotal role in the narrative timeline. However, fans are eager to know when and where the upcoming movie is set. Here’s what we can gather about its setting.

*Please note that Thunderbolts is a fictional superhero team from Marvel Comics.

When is The Fantastic Four: First Steps set in MCU’s timeline?

The backdrop for Fantastic Four might be a bit more intricate compared to many other Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, given that it’s primarily set in the 1960s, and it has consistently been positioned as a period film. As mentioned by Kevin Feige previously, this is one of its distinctive features.

The creators opted to place the movie in a 1960s backdrop to better align with the comic’s original setting, mirroring the time when the characters were initially introduced. While they haven’t specified the exact year, the narrative takes place within another dimension during the 1960s. Thunderbolts* suggest that this timeline intersects with the current Marvel Cinematic Universe events familiar to fans.

At a talk held at BFI IMAX, Matt Shakman highlighted the significance of the timeline, explaining, “The explanation is rather straightforward – these characters originated in the 1960s by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. They were born during an era of optimism and the Space Race. People were yearning for the stars, envisioning mastery over the unknown, and that’s precisely what the Fantastic Four embodies.

Hence, Fantastic Four is set in the 1960s.

Where is The Fantastic Four: First Steps set in MCU’s multiverse?

In “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” the story unfolds in a different universe, Earth-828, distinct from where the initial Marvel films took place. The shift in location serves to preserve narrative coherence. Establishing the film on the same Earth as previous Avengers movies might prompt questions about why the Avengers didn’t intervene during earlier battles.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps will premiere theatrically on July 25, 2025.

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2025-07-21 17:46