Although The Fantastic Four: First Steps didn’t tease their arrival in the main universe, Shakman did hint at where the MCU is taking the superheroes next. In an end-credits scene, Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom shows up and engages with Franklin Richards, the son of Sue Storm (Kirby) and Reed Richards (Pascal).

First Steps recently shed light on why his movie's ending doesn't align with the post-credits scene of Thunderbolts

First Steps line up with the end of Thunderbolts* as the franchise builds to the release of the epic Avengers: Doomsday in December 2026? CinemaBlend's own Jeff McCobb recently broached that subject in an interview with director Matt Shakman during the Los Angeles press day for the new 2025 movie,