When Does The Fantastic Four: First Steps Take Place? Timeline Explained

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Some viewers find themselves perplexed about the timeline of the film “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” due to its retro-futuristic style. It might seem logical to believe that the 2025 movie is set in 1961, as it’s the year the comic book superhero team initially appeared. However, the movie intentionally makes it challenging to determine the exact year the film’s events transpire. Furthermore, some viewers may not be acquainted with the timeline, leading to additional confusion. Here’s a breakdown of when the 2025 Fantastic Four actually takes place.

What year is Fantastic Four 2025 set in?

The year 2025’s version of Fantastic Four isn’t fixed on a specific calendar date, but instead, it’s situated somewhere within the dynamic decade of the 1960s.

First Steps is designed to serve as a snapshot of that era – essentially, an encapsulation of its atmosphere or vibe.

In the opening sequence, it’s odd that common locations for a date are absent. The Ted Gilbert Show broadcast doesn’t specify a year, and neither does Sue Storm’s cover on the “NOW” magazine nor the “Daily Press” newspaper headlined “Sue Storm Brokers Deal With Mole Man,” which lacks any kind of date line anywhere.

It seems that the movie “The Fantastic Four” doesn’t provide a specific year for its setting within the decade. As The New York Times mentioned, the film draws inspiration from the 1960s in terms of architecture, fashion, design, and color choices. The Fantasticar itself is modeled after iconic American concept cars such as the 1964 General Motors Firebird IV.

To put it simply, the exact timeframe of the movie isn’t clearly defined. However, we do know that the team gained their powers about four years back during a space voyage, and the end-credits scene is set four years later.

This movie’s universe, Earth-828, is distinct from the one in other Marvel films, which falls under the “prime” timeline of Earth-616 (as observed by the Time Variance Authority in Loki and Deadpool & Wolverine). As for The Fantastic Four joining the main timeline when Avengers: Doomsday comes along, that’s a significant event worth paying attention to.

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2025-07-29 22:26