A recent rumor within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has important implications for collectibles and retail opportunities centered around Marvel’s Fantastic Four franchise.
According to ComicBookMovie, industry insider MyTimeToShineH has indicated that Marvel Studios is not done with the Fantastic Four. Following the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, it appears that another Fantastic Four film is on the horizon, which could elevate interest in collectible items associated with these characters.
“Despite the first film’s modest box office performance, Marvel is pushing ahead with plans for a Fantastic Four 2 post–Secret Wars, with hopes of bringing back director Matt Shakman, who is viewed as an asset in enhancing the film’s prospects,” shares MyTimeToShineH. “The studio believes that the Fantastic Four’s integration into the Avengers narrative will drive attendance for the sequel, benefiting both films and merchandise tied to them.”
Directed by Matt Shakman and penned by Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, and Ian Springer, The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduced fans to a fresh narrative within the expansive MCU Multiverse, set against the retrofuturistic backdrop of Earth-828. This film showcased the origins of Marvel’s First Family as they confronted Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps features a star-studded cast including Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm (the Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm (the Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (the Thing). Supporting roles include Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal (the Silver Surfer), Paul Walter Hauser as Harvey Elder (the Mole Man), Natasha Lyonne as Rachel Rozman, and Ralph Ineson as Galactus.
On its debut, The Fantastic Four: First Steps received favorable reviews from both critics and audiences alike, achieving an 86% “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on over 400 verified critical assessments. While it was nominated for several accolades, including Best Action or Science Fiction Feature at the 9th Annual Astra Film Awards, its box office return of approximately $522 million against a production budget of around $181 million raised questions about its overall financial impact, highlighting the challenges faced by big-budget productions in today’s cinematic landscape.
As the industry anticipates the release of Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for December 18, 2026, collectors can soon expect to see the core cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps back in action. This film marks the official MCU introduction of Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, a character whose cameo at the end of the previous film hinted at greater story arcs to come. The ensemble cast will include familiar faces from beyond the MCU, such as the X-Men franchise veterans James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming, and Patrick Stewart, alongside Channing Tatum reprising his role as Gambit.
Release Date: December 18, 2026
Based on reporting by John Dodge. Read the full story at https://www.cbr.com/the-fantastic-four-2-rumors-avengers-doomsday-secret-wars/.