Director Matt Shakman has revealed that the 1960s setting for Marvel’s The Fantastic Four was a direct solution to a persistent fan question: where the team was during major MCU events like the Thanos saga.
At a launch event in the U.K., Shakman explained that placing Marvel’s First Family in a different time and on an alternate Earth was a necessary creative choice. This approach honors the characters’ origins while sidestepping complex continuity issues.
“[The Fantastic Four] were created in this time of optimism during the space race,” Shakman stated. “Putting them back in the 60s, we were getting close to their point of origin which felt like the right place for them to be.”
He continued, “But we didn’t want them to be on this Earth with the other Marvel characters because where were they when Thanos came? They would have helped out and would have solved the problem. So, we put them on a different earth, Earth-828 a different part of the Marvel universe.”
The film’s release positions it in a box office race with DC’s Superman. While DC Studios co-head James Gunn has dismissed talk of a rivalry, industry projections suggest a competitive summer. Early estimates indicate a domestic opening weekend of up to $175 million for Superman. In comparison, projections for The Fantastic Four: First Steps have climbed from an initial $125 million to a potential high of $155 million.
Beyond its box office prospects, the film holds significant weight within the larger MCU narrative. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has confirmed that The Fantastic Four will directly set up the events of the 2026 crossover film Avengers: Doomsday, a factor that could drive more viewers to theaters at the end of July.
