Kevin Feige Confirms The Fantastic Four: First Steps Sets Stage for Avengers: Doomsday – Here’s How They Connect

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has sent fans into a frenzy by confirming that The Fantastic Four: First Steps will directly lead into the MCU’s next blockbuster, Avengers: Doomsday.

This revelation, made at CineEurope 2025, underscores the pivotal role Marvel’s First Family will play in the Multiverse Saga.

With The Fantastic Four: First Steps drawing heavy inspiration from Alex Ross’ iconic, vibrant depictions of the team, and Avengers: Doomsday teasing a Robert Downey Jr.-led Doctor Doom, the connection between these films promises cosmic stakes and multiversal chaos.

Let’s dive into how these two films intertwine and speculate on the threads linking them, from retro-futuristic aesthetics to a potential Doom-driven showdown.

What Did Kevin Feige Reveal About the Connection?

At CineEurope 2025, Feige confirmed that the events of The Fantastic Four: First Steps will serve as a narrative bridge to Avengers: Doomsday, set for release on December 18, 2026.

According to Deadline, Feige teased that the Fantastic Four’s debut is not a standalone tale but a crucial setup for the Avengers’ battle against Doctor Doom. This aligns with a Thunderbolts* post-credits scene, where a ship bearing the Fantastic Four’s signature “4” enters Earth-616, hinting at their arrival in the main MCU timeline.

Feige’s comments suggest that The Fantastic Four: First Steps, releasing July 25, 2025, will lay the groundwork for the multiversal conflict in Avengers: Doomsday.

The confirmation has fueled speculation, especially given Feige’s history of cryptic teases.

He also hinted at Empire Magazine that the ship in Thunderbolts* might not be the Fantastic Four’s Excelsior, opening the door to narrative twists. This deliberate ambiguity points to a complex connection, possibly involving multiversal travel or a villainous misdirection.

How Does Alex Ross’ Influence Shape The Fantastic Four: First Steps?

The Fantastic Four: First Steps embraces a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic aesthetic, heavily influenced by Alex Ross’ vivid, painterly style.

Ross’ work, known for its hyper-detailed and heroic portrayals in comics like Marvels and Kingdom Come, brings a timeless grandeur to Marvel’s First Family.

The film’s trailers showcase a colorful, comic-accurate world, with Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm embodying Ross’ larger-than-life heroism.

Director Matt Shakman has cited Ross’ influence, particularly in the depiction of Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), who mirror Ross’ cosmic, god-like renderings.

This aesthetic choice grounds The Fantastic Four: First Steps in a distinct timeline, separate from Earth-616’s present-day setting. Feige himself noted on The Official Marvel Podcast that the film’s cityscape deviates from our world’s 1960s New York, confirming its alternate-universe setting.

This Ross-inspired visual identity not only differentiates the film from past Fantastic Four adaptations but also sets up a multiversal narrative that could crash into Avengers: Doomsday.

What Role Does Doctor Doom Play in Linking the Films?

Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday is a game-changer, and fans suspect he could debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

While director Matt Shakman has stated Doom isn’t part of the main narrative, a post-credits scene remains a strong possibility.

ComicBook.com theorizes that Doom, the Fantastic Four’s arch-nemesis, might use the chaos caused by Galactus’ planet-devouring rampage to escape his universe or orchestrate a multiversal incursion.

This aligns with Ross’ depictions of Doom as a regal, menacing figure, which Downey’s portrayal is likely to echo.

Feige’s comment that “all those characters” from The Fantastic Four: First Steps will appear in Avengers: Doomsday suggests not just the core team but potentially Galactus, Silver Surfer, or even Franklin Richards could cross over.

Doom’s historical rivalry with Reed Richards, coupled with Ross’ iconic portrayals of their clashes, points to a personal stakes-driven connection.

Perhaps Doom manipulates the Fantastic Four’s battle with Galactus to breach Earth-616, setting the stage for Avengers: Doomsday.

How Might Multiversal Travel Connect the Two Films?

The Fantastic Four’s alternate 1960s universe, as seen in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, necessitates a multiversal leap to join Earth-616’s Avengers. The Thunderbolts* post-credits scene, showing a Fantastic Four-branded ship, strongly implies this transition.

However, Feige’s tease that it might not be the Excelsior suggests a twist—perhaps Doom or another entity hijacks the ship. Incursions, a key Multiverse Saga concept where universes collide, could be the catalyst.

ComicBook.com notes that Galactus’ actions might trigger an incursion, forcing the Fantastic Four to flee their collapsing reality.

Ross’ art often emphasizes cosmic scale, and his Fantastic Four stories frequently involve interdimensional adventures. This influence could manifest in The Fantastic Four: First Steps as a portal or cosmic event that strands the team in Earth-616, where they confront Doom’s schemes.

The Russo brothers, directing Avengers: Doomsday, are drawing from Jonathan Hickman’s Secret Wars, which features universe-shattering events—perfect for integrating the Fantastic Four’s multiversal journey.

What Other Characters Could Bridge the Films?

Beyond Doom, other characters from The Fantastic Four: First Steps might tie into Avengers: Doomsday. Feige’s broad statement about “all those characters” opens the door for Franklin Richards, Reed and Sue’s powerful son, who could play a multiversal role given his reality-warping abilities in the comics.

Galactus and Silver Surfer, as cosmic entities, could also persist into Avengers: Doomsday, perhaps aligning with or against Doom to maintain universal balance. Ross’ depictions of these characters as mythic figures support their potential to escalate the stakes across both films.

The Avengers: Doomsday cast, including X-Men like Ian McKellen’s Magneto and Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, suggests a multiversal team-up.

The Fantastic Four’s arrival could unite these heroes against Doom, with Ross’ influence ensuring their visual and narrative impact carries over. This massive crossover, described as one of Marvel’s largest, will likely amplify the Fantastic Four’s role as linchpins.

Why Is This Connection a Big Deal for the MCU?

The Fantastic Four: First Steps marks the official debut of Marvel’s First Family in the MCU, and its direct link to Avengers: Doomsday positions them as central to the Multiverse Saga’s climax.

Feige’s emphasis on doing the Fantastic Four justice, informed by his work on Fox’s earlier films, reflects a commitment to a comic-accurate, Ross-inspired vision.

This connection not only elevates the Fantastic Four’s importance but also sets up Avengers: Doomsday as a culmination of Phase 6’s multiversal threads.

The Ross-inspired aesthetic, blending retro charm with cosmic grandeur, ensures The Fantastic Four: First Steps stands out while seamlessly feeding into Avengers: Doomsday’s epic scope.

Fans are already buzzing on X, with posts like @MCUFilmNews amplifying Feige’s reveal, signaling high anticipation. This narrative bridge promises to redefine the MCU’s trajectory.

Key Takeaways:

• Confirmed Link: Kevin Feige announced at CineEurope 2025 that The Fantastic Four: First Steps leads directly into Avengers: Doomsday.

• Release Dates: The Fantastic Four: First Steps premieres July 25, 2025; Avengers: Doomsday follows on December 18, 2026.

• Alex Ross Influence: The Fantastic Four’s retro-futuristic look and cosmic villains draw from Ross’ vibrant, heroic art style.

• Key Cast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach star in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, with Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday.

• Multiversal Plot: The Fantastic Four’s alternate universe likely connects to Earth-616 via an incursion or Doom’s schemes.

• Additional Characters: Galactus, Silver Surfer, and Franklin Richards may bridge the films, per Feige’s comments.

Some Closing Thoughts:

Kevin Feige’s confirmation that The Fantastic Four: First Steps directly fuels Avengers: Doomsday has ignited excitement for Marvel’s next chapter.

With Alex Ross’ iconic art shaping the Fantastic Four’s vibrant debut and potentially Doctor Doom’s menacing arrival, the connection between these films could hinge on multiversal travel, cosmic villains, or a Reed-Doom rivalry.

As The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25, 2025, fans will uncover the first clues to this epic setup.

Stay tuned for more reveals, and join the multiversal hype as Marvel’s First Family meets Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.