The Unbelievable 4: First Steps features a few main setups for the subsequent Avengers movie, together with the reveal of the Infinity Stones’ alternative. The MCU has struggled to regain the identical stage of success it had main as much as Avengers: Endgame, partly as a result of the Multiverse Saga has lacked a robust connective storyline.
A method the Infinity Saga related all of its tales was via the Infinity Stones. The Stones served because the Saga’s MacGuffin, a plot gadget that drove the narrative ahead, creating motivation and conflicts for a lot of characters. Every Stone was teased in a number of films earlier than Thanos finally got here down to gather all of them in Avengers: Infinity Struggle.
After the Stones disappeared from the narrative, the MCU hasn’t changed them with a brand new puzzle piece that connects all of the dots, however that has modified after First Steps. The movie introduces Sue Storm and Reed Richards’ son, Franklin Richards, who could also be the actual key to the upcoming multiversal battle.
Franklin Richards Is The MCU’s New MacGuffin
Franklin was already the MacGuffin of First Steps. Whereas the primary plot was The Unbelievable 4 preventing off Galactus from consuming their planet, the highly effective new child was the prime motivation behind the planet-eater’s mission. As Galactus states, Franklin “possesses the Energy Cosmic,” and will have changed the Devourer of Worlds on his throne.
In Marvel Comics, Reed and Sue’s son is among the universe’s strongest characters. His talents embody creating universes, warping actuality, and telepathy. He’s additionally able to resurrecting folks, as he demonstrates when saving his mom after the movie’s climactic battle.
Within the movie’s post-credits scene, Victor Von Doom visits Franklin, taking off his masks to permit him to look at his face. Given Victor’s need for energy, he doubtless has an important curiosity in using Franklin’s energy for his personal nefarious functions. His plans will not be revealed till Doomsday, however there may be hypothesis concerning why Doom’s concerned about Sue and Reed’s youngster.
Doomsday will lay the groundwork for 2027’s Secret Wars, that means Doom may construct his Battleworld, a world ravaged by struggle dominated by the God Emperor Doom. Because the Beyonders have not been launched within the MCU, the villainous scientist could use Franklin’s reality-warping talents to carry Battleworld to life.
Franklin additionally could possess the flexibility to open the door to the multiverse, permitting Doom to journey to Earth-616. The Thunderbolts* post-credits scene teased The Unbelievable 4’s arrival in the primary timeline, however that could possibly be a misdirect. It could possibly be Doom and Franklin on the ship, touring throughout the multiverse.
Nonetheless, The Unbelievable 4‘s post-credits scene confirmed that there’s nice curiosity in Franklin. He could also be what connects a number of factions of heroes, because the Avengers, the X-Males, and the Unbelievable 4 struggle for management over Franklin’s powers. Whereas the Infinity Stones allowed Thanos to wield energy over the universe, Franklin will be the key to controlling the multiverse.
- Launch Date
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July 25, 2025
- Runtime
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115 minutes
- Director
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Matt Shakman
- Writers
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Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson, Kat Wooden, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee
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Reed Richards / Mister Unbelievable
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Vanessa Kirby
Sue Storm / Invisible Lady