Is The Fantastic Four: First Steps Secretly Tied to Eternals? The Celestial Connection Explored

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is poised to usher Marvel’s First Family into the MCU with a cosmic bang, set against a vibrant 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic backdrop. A tantalizing shot in the film’s trailer—a planet crumbling under a devastating force—has sparked fervent speculation among fans.

Could this cataclysmic imagery hint at a deeper connection to Eternals, specifically the Celestial birth process depicted by Arishem the Judge? This article dives into the visual parallels, narrative possibilities, and multiversal implications that might link these two MCU epics.

What Is the Celestial Birth Process in Eternals?

In Eternals (2021), Arishem the Judge reveals the Celestials’ grand design: planets like Earth serve as incubators for Celestial embryos. Over millennia, intelligent life fuels the energy needed for a Celestial, such as Tiamut, to emerge, obliterating the host planet in the process.

This “Emergence” is visually striking—cracks of fiery energy erupt across the planet’s surface, leading to its destruction. The Eternals thwart Tiamut’s birth, leaving his frozen form protruding from the Indian Ocean, a plot point later addressed in Captain America: Brave New World.

The imagery of a planet’s demise in Eternals is both awe-inspiring and apocalyptic, setting a precedent for cosmic-scale threats in the MCU. This brings us to the trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, where a similar planetary destruction unfolds, raising questions about a potential Celestial connection.

Does the Planet’s Destruction in The Fantastic Four: First Steps Trailer Mimic a Celestial Emergence?

The trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps features a fleeting but gripping shot of a planet disintegrating, consumed by a force that fractures its surface with glowing, destructive energy. This visual bears a striking resemblance to the Celestial Emergence shown in Eternals. While the Fantastic Four trailer attributes this devastation to Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, the aesthetic parallels are hard to ignore.

Galactus, portrayed by Ralph Ineson, is a cosmic entity who sustains himself by consuming planets, a stark contrast to the Celestials’ creation-driven destruction. However, the shared imagery—planets cracking and glowing as they collapse—suggests Marvel might be drawing a deliberate visual link. Could The Fantastic Four: First Steps be using this similarity to nod at Eternals, or is it a stylistic choice to evoke cosmic stakes?

Could Galactus and the Celestials Share a Cosmic Narrative Thread?

One compelling theory posits that The Fantastic Four: First Steps might explore a narrative overlap between Galactus and the Celestials. In Marvel Comics, Galactus (originally Galan) is a survivor of the universe that preceded the current one, transformed by cosmic forces into a planet-devouring entity.

The Celestials, meanwhile, are ancient beings responsible for shaping life across the cosmos, including the Eternals and Deviants.

The MCU could weave a connection by suggesting Galactus is drawn to planets with Celestial embryos, viewing them as rich energy sources. The destroyed planet in the Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer might be one such world, its destruction mirroring a failed Emergence.

This would tie Eternals to The Fantastic Four: First Steps through a shared cosmic mythology, with Earth—home to Tiamut’s frozen form—potentially next on Galactus’ menu.

Is The Fantastic Four: First Steps Set in an Alternate Universe with Celestial Ties?

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is confirmed to take place in an alternate universe, distinct from the MCU’s Earth-616, with a 1960s retro-futuristic aesthetic. This setting opens the door for unique takes on established MCU elements, including the Celestials. The destroyed planet in the trailer could belong to this alternate universe, where a Celestial Emergence either succeeded or was disrupted, drawing Galactus’ attention.

Alternatively, the Fantastic Four’s battle against Galactus might propel them into Earth-616, where they encounter the fallout of Eternals—namely, Tiamut’s remains. This multiversal crossover could explain how Marvel’s First Family integrates into the main MCU timeline, with the Celestial connection serving as a narrative bridge.

Are There Visual or Thematic Clues Linking the Two Films?

Beyond the trailer’s imagery, The Fantastic Four: First Steps shares thematic DNA with Eternals. Both films grapple with cosmic threats that dwarf human-scale conflicts, emphasizing family dynamics—biological in Fantastic Four, found in Eternals—against the backdrop of existential stakes. Director Matt Shakman’s inspiration from the Space Race and Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey aligns with Eternals director Chloé Zhao’s contemplative, cosmic storytelling.

The presence of the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) as Galactus’ Herald further echoes Eternals, where Ajak and Sersi serve as intermediaries for Arishem. This parallel suggests The Fantastic Four: First Steps might explore similar dynamics of loyalty and rebellion against a cosmic overlord, reinforcing a thematic link.

Could Franklin Richards Tie The Fantastic Four: First Steps to Eternals?

A rumored element in The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the introduction of Franklin Richards, Reed and Sue’s son, whose reality-warping powers in the comics make him a figure of interest to cosmic entities like Galactus. In Eternals, the Celestials monitor Earth due to its potential to produce powerful beings, such as mutants, possibly linked to Tiamut’s energy.

If Franklin appears in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, his abilities could attract both Galactus and the Celestials, creating a narrative nexus. His “first steps” in mastering his powers—potentially referenced by the film’s subtitle—might destabilize the multiverse, drawing Arishem’s gaze and setting up future MCU conflicts.

What’s Next for the Celestial and Galactus Storylines in the MCU?

The visual and thematic parallels between The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Eternals suggest Marvel is building a cohesive cosmic narrative. The frozen Tiamut, addressed in Captain America: Brave New World as a source of adamantium, indicates the MCU is not ignoring Eternals’ implications. The Fantastic Four: First Steps could expand this by exploring Galactus’ role in the cosmic ecosystem, potentially setting up Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars, where multiversal threats converge.

While the destroyed planet in the Fantastic Four trailer may simply be a stylistic nod, the possibility of a deeper connection to Eternals is tantalizing. Whether through shared visuals, narrative threads, or multiversal crossovers, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has the potential to weave Marvel’s First Family into the MCU’s cosmic tapestry, with the Celestials watching closely.

Some Closing Thoughts:

As The Fantastic Four: First Steps prepares to launch on July 25, 2025, fans will be scouring every frame for clues. The cosmic stakes, family dynamics, and visual echoes of Eternals make this film a pivotal chapter in the MCU’s Phase Six.

Whether Galactus’ hunger intersects with the Celestials’ grand design remains to be seen, but the speculation alone ensures The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a must-watch for Marvel enthusiasts.