For the most part, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is separate from the rest of the MCU, right up until the post-credits scene. Like many MCU post-credits scenes, it triggered some excitement in many fans, but if you really think about it, the scene ultimately missed the mark of what it should’ve accomplished.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place in a different universe from most MCU projects, meaning it didn’t connect to anything else. However, the post-credits scene marked the arrival of the highly anticipated Doctor Doom, who will be the major villain in Avengers: Doomsday. Yet, because they didn’t do one specific thing, this scene didn’t work for me.
Not Actually Showing Doctor Doom Was A Mistake
The big moment in the post-credits scene of The Fantastic Four: First Steps shows young Franklin get approached by a man in a green hood with a metal mask in his hand. This is clearly Doctor Doom, who will be the antagonist in next year’s Avengers: Doomsday. On the surface, this is an exciting tease for that film.
However, the decision not to actually show Doom made this scene feel rather hollow. Everyone knows that Doctor Doom is played by Robert Downey Jr., so it’s not like there’s a sense of mystery surrounding the character. A simple shot of Doom actually turning around and giving us our first look at RDJ in the role would’ve been perfect.
Not showing Doom weakens the scene and makes it feel like it was tacked on at a time when RDJ wasn’t available or on set. That’s especially frustrating since we know that a lot of these post-credits scenes are filmed at a different time from the actual movie.
In fact, the post-credits scene of Thunderbolts* was shot on the set of Avengers: Doomsday. They could’ve done the same thing with Downey for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and by not doing so, the scene loses a lot of its luster. Even if I’m still excited for Avengers: Doomsday, this could’ve added so much to it.
The Messy Build For Avengers: Doomsday Didn’t Help Things
A major reason why the post-credits scene of The Fantastic Four: First Steps didn’t work is because of the overall messy build to Avengers: Doomsday. One thing the MCU has often been praised for is the way it has built everything up over the years, especially leading into Avengers projects.
Everything leading up to 2012’s The Avengers set the stage for it, from Loki’s motivations to how we were introduced to the heroes. It also set up Tony’s motivation for creating Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Of course, there were also several teases and appearances by Thanos before Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
While we didn’t need a bunch of Doctor Doom teases before Avengers: Doomsday, the build to the movie has been inconsistent. For starters, everyone knows that Kang was the initial plan for the films but the controversy surrounding Jonathan Majors and the character’s lackluster film debut changed that, making those appearances rather moot.
There’s also the problem of who is set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday. Characters like Shang-Chi are lined up, yet he’s only appeared in one project five years ago. That makes it hard for audiences and myself to connect and care about it. There’s also barely been a mention of classic X-Men characters who are in Avengers: Doomsday.
TV shows and movies like Moon Knight, Eternals, and Shang-Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings are just some that feel like they don’t have any bearing on Avengers: Doomsday. In fact, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps are the first movies to feel like they’re setting up Avengers: Doomsday.
Since those two films were only released a year or so before Avengers: Doomsday, things feel rather rushed. The lack of actually seeing Doctor Doom only adds to that feeling. Seeing him would’ve allowed the post-credits scene to hit in a way that made me more excited for Avengers: Doomsday.
Avengers: Doomsday Still Could Be What Rights The MCU Ship
It’s no secret that the quality of the MCU has been up and down since the release of Avengers: Endgame. It even gets referenced in Deadpool & Wolverine as the film notes that Deadpool is joining the MCU as a “low point.” Despite the issues and the lackluster build, Avengers: Doomsday could right the ship.
Spider-Man: No Way Home, WandaVision, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Loki, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Thunderbolts*, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps are among the hits. Meanwhile, Eternals, Thor: Love and Thunder, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and Captain America: Brave New World missed the mark, just to name a few.
Even with all the issues the franchise is going through, the MCU hasn’t missed with its Avengers movies. Given its history of success, the return of Robert Downey Jr., and the cast involved, it’s very likely that Avengers: Doomsday will be great. That might be all the MCU needs.
If this film delivers the way that many of us suspect, then the franchise seemingly dropping loose threads like everything in Eternals, Hercules popping up, Hulk having a son, and others will likely be forgotten and forgiven. Playing on nostalgia has been successful for many franchises and the MCU can hit on that with Avengers: Doomsday.
Avengers: Doomsday being great can set the tone for Avengers: Secret Wars, excite audiences again, and maybe mark a turning point for the MCU to get back on track. It’ll also make us all forget if we felt disappointed by the post-credits scene of The Fantastic Four: First Steps too.
- Release 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 Wood, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee
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Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic
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Vanessa Kirby
Sue Storm / Invisible Woman
