The Fantastic Four: First Stepsis gearing up to have an interesting overlap withThunderbolts*, whichI absolutely love for theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Since the inception of the MCU, it’s been breaking new ground for the superhero genre. Despite popular suprhero films and franchises coming from various studios, the MCU reimagined what is meant to be a comic book movie.
In addition to creating a massive shared universe that saw heroes collide from across all corners of the Earth and deep into space, theMCU delivered superhero storiesthat explored genres, dived deep into the minds of the characters inhabiting the world, and opened up a whole world of incredible stories. But now, the MCU is evolving once again with a new generation of stories.
Thunderbolts* Does A Great Job Of Exploring A Weird Yet Wonderful Part Of Marvel’s Stories
The Relationship Between Yelena & Alexei Is Central To The Movie
Thunderbolts*addressed one topic that only a few superhero movies have ever been able to adequately approach in terms of mental health, but it also leaned into an exploration of family and specifically the complicated lives of superfamilies. While themisfit heroes form a family together, Yelena Belova and Alexei Shostakov literally spent three years living as father and daughter in the US from the time Yelena was three until she was six.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Looks Set To Center Even More On Superhero Parenthood
Franklin Richards Will Make His Cinematic Debut In The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Now,The Fantastic Four: First Stepsappears to be following a similar trajectory with a focus on Reed Richards and Sue Storm raising a child being a central tenet of the film. Yes, the family is a much more traditional one, but the complexities of life as a hero versus the time it takes to raise and support a family is important to both narratives. Where Yelena was able to reunite and repair burned bridges with her adoptive father,Reed and Sue will need to navigate how to be effective parents, and still operate as heroes to the public.
Exploring this side of superhero life is something that has rarely been approached in superhero films, despite being a large part of many different comic book runs. Now that theMCU is moving into its Silver Age, it needs to shift the focus away from the foundational stories that set the stage, and start taking a closer look at life behind the scenes for the heroes. Andexploring the challenges of parenthood, compounded with life as a superhero, could be the perfect way to do exactly that.
The MCU’s Long-Running Format Can Make The Fantastic Four’s Family Story Even More Interesting
The MCU Is Likely The Only Existing Franchise That Could Pull This Off
Thanks to the ongoing format which is building towards its 40th feature film release in the next couple of years, the MCU has the opportunity to explore this story in more detail than any other comic book movie. With babyFranklin Richards appearing inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, itsets the stage for this child to grow up on the screen, alongside other iconic heroes and his parents. If Franklin’s story mimics the comics, and his powers manifest from very early on, he could play a pivotal role in the next several films.
But beyond that, seeing an actual family in the MCU could serve as an anchor point for other stories. While teams break-up, and opinions separate old friends, families push through those problems. The MCU is being presented with a wholly unique opportunity as it opens up the story of Marvel’s First Family, andThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsis perfectly positioned to take the story forward.
