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Subscribe from just £3 Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love Try a single issue or save on a subscription Issues delivered straight to your door or device From£9.99View Recommended reading Marvel Movies New Fantastic Four footage confirms what we all suspected – Sue Storm is pregnant, and it means a major Marvel character is on the way Marvel Movies Funko continues its tradition of Marvel spoilers by revealing one major under-wraps Fantastic Four character months ahead of time Marvel Movies Fantastic Four: First Steps concept art contains an unexpected MCU Easter Egg that could change the Marvel movie completely Marvel Movies Fantastic Four: release date, cast, director, and everything else we know Marvel Movies Fantastic Four star says the Marvel movie "will go down in history" for rejuvenating the MCU, "in the same way the Guardians of the Galaxy and Black Panther hit" Marvel Movies New Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer shows off Silver Surfer, Reed Richards stretching, and even more of Galactus Marvel Comics Marvel is making history with a very meta Fantastic Four comic that exists simultaneously in both the real world and the MCU Entertainment Action Movies Marvel Movies Fantastic Four: How Reed and Sue's son Franklin Richards could reboot the MCU George Marston 22 May 2025 Could the MCU be headed for its own Heroes Reborn reboot? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Marvel Entertainment) It's all but official that Franklin Richards, the young son of Reed and Sue Storm-Richards, will appear alongside the rest of his family in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, thanks to some early release promotional materials. Of course, we already knew that Vanessa Kirby's Sue Storm-Richards is pregnant with early trailers for the film making the big reveal. But we have yet to see young Franklin himself on screen. Nonetheless, we're all expecting Franklin to show up in full, especially since he's been glimpsed on promo items. And though he's just a baby, Franklin Richards may be the key to everything that's about to unfold in the MCU. You may like New Fantastic Four footage confirms what we all suspected – Sue Storm is pregnant, and it means a major Marvel character is on the way Funko continues its tradition of Marvel spoilers by revealing one major under-wraps Fantastic Four character months ahead of time Fantastic Four: First Steps concept art contains an unexpected MCU Easter Egg that could change the Marvel movie completely Because much like the rest of his Fantastic family, Franklin is blessed with incredible powers - ones that could make him the most powerful being in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, capable of altering all of reality itself in a way we've never seen before. Heroes Reborn (Image credit: Marvel Comics) In comics, Franklin Richards is possessed of the ability to completely alter reality around him with nigh-omnipotent power, to the point where he can not only destroy entire worlds but also create them. This has come up multiple times over the years, with Franklin having occasionally been a last ditch savior of the Marvel Universe, using his omnipotent abilities to defeat enemies that the entire Marvel Universe struggled against, including Galactus. But what's perhaps most interesting is what happened when the Avengers and Fantastic Four went up against a foe they actually couldn't defeat, and how Franklin Richards managed to save them all in the face of certain death. Comic deals, prizes and latest news Get the best comic news, insights, opinions, analysis and more! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Back in 1996, the entire Marvel Universe was being terrorized by the psychic villain Onslaught, who was created when Professor X mindwiped Magneto several years earlier, absorbing part of Magneto's personality into himself. The all-powerful villain threatened to destroy the entire world, with a deadly gambit established as the only way to stop him. With no other options, the Avengers (including Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, and more) and the Fantastic Four sacrificed themselves to Onslaught, weakening him just enough for the surviving heroes, primarily the X-Men, to finish him off. But the heroes weren't actually dead. Instead, they were transported to a whole new pocket reality created by Franklin Richards at the last minute, an entire new world where the Avengers and Fantastic Four existed separately from the rest of the Marvel Universe, with their own separate history and continuity. This led to a publishing initiative titled Heroes Reborn in which the Iron Man, Captain America, Avengers, and Fantastic Four comics were relaunched with the superstar creators of the day at the helm, leading to two entirely separate Marvel Universes - one in which the Avengers and Fantastic Four died, and one where they lived totally different lives from the ones we knew. The Heroes Reborn reality was eventually reincorporated back into the rest of the Marvel Universe a couple years later in 1998, after none other than Doctor Doom, himself trapped in the pocket reality, became aware of his history in the mainstream Marvel Universe and attempted to conquer both realities. The new MCU (Image credit: Marvel Studios) This could have some very real implications for what's coming up in the MCU. We know that The Fantastic Four: First Steps centers on a conflict with the world-devouring Galactus which will lead the FF to exit their own reality to join the MCU, as seen in the post-credits sequence of Thunderbolts. Meanwhile, Doctor Doom actor Robert Downey, Jr. has shared a social media post that could be teasing a showdown between Doom and Galactus in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, which will of course set the stage for the reality-bending Avengers: Secret Wars. This leads us to how Franklin could fit in. If the threat of the Beyonders, the villains behind the end or reality in comics, is replaced with the threat of Galactus, could the powers of Franklin Richards become the mechanism by which everyone is saved? In comics, Secret Wars begins with Doctor Doom saving reality by holding together scraps of different realities in a new setting known as Battleworld, using not just his own abilities but the powers of the Molecule Man. Could Franklin Richards take the place of the Molecule Man as the source of Doom's reality saving abilities? And if that is how things shake out, could that mean that we're looking at a potential reboot of the MCU, a la the way Heroes Reborn rebooted part of the Marvel Universe? It wouldn't be the most surprising development, especially considering the 2015 Secret Wars comic altered and rewrote parts of Marvel continuity, even bringing characters from alt-realities, such as Miles Morales, into the mainstream Marvel Universe. We can't say for sure that Marvel Studios is looking at a soft or even a hard reboot coming out of Secret Wars, but the idea that aspects of Marvel's reality will be rewritten is not so far-fetched, especially with Franklin Richards - a character who has already been responsible for one reboot in Marvel Comics - in the mix. Check out the best Marvel Comics events of all time, Secret Wars included. See more Movies Features Marvel Comics Fantastic Four Avengers: Doomsday Avengers: Secret Wars George Marston Social Links Navigation I've been Newsarama's resident Marvel Comics expert and general comic book historian since 2011. I've also been the on-site reporter at most major comic conventions such as Comic-Con International: San Diego, New York Comic Con, and C2E2. Outside of comic journalism, I am the artist of many weird pictures, and the guitarist of many heavy riffs. (They/Them) You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. New Fantastic Four footage confirms what we all suspected – Sue Storm is pregnant, and it means a major Marvel character is on the way Funko continues its tradition of Marvel spoilers by revealing one major under-wraps Fantastic Four character months ahead of time Fantastic Four: First Steps concept art contains an unexpected MCU Easter Egg that could change the Marvel movie completely Fantastic Four: release date, cast, director, and everything else we know Fantastic Four star says the Marvel movie "will go down in history" for rejuvenating the MCU, "in the same way the Guardians of the Galaxy and Black Panther hit" New Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer shows off Silver Surfer, Reed Richards stretching, and even more of Galactus Latest in Marvel Movies Avengers: Doomsday leaker who claims to have snuck onto the top secret Marvel set says they "might be cooked" after allegedly receiving "formal threat" Marvel fans are wondering what ever happened to Hercules from Thor: Love and Thunder's post-credits scene Marvel fans quickly debunk a Disney event's "first look" at Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday New Avengers: Doomsday set photos reveal the return of a surprising MCU location Fantastic Four leaks aren't stopping and they're getting even more bizarre – with Galactus being fully revealed in a Snapple promotion Red Hulk almost had a gun in Captain America: Brave New World Latest in Features I've finally fallen in love with Helldivers 2, thanks to Super Earth's immaculate Halo 3: ODST vibes and a community that doesn't mind my terrible team-killing 8 years since making the jump from Wii U to Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart 8 is more essential than ever 19 years later, Oblivion Remastered has renewed my interest in walking into people’s houses uninvited Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker adds more Chrono Trigger to an already-exceptional RPG, and it's the perfect chaser to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Splatoon 3 took Nintendo's paint-'em-up series to new heights – and while doing it, proved shooters need more imagination Former Dragon Age lead David Gaider would love to make an RPG at his new home, but "our last hope to keep the studio alive" comes first – and it looks like a very promising roguelike GAME REVIEWS MOVIE REVIEWS Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown review: "Radically slick brawls barely feel turn-based, but I'm left wanting more depth" Monster Train 2 review: "A truly first class ride through deckbuilder roguelike heaven, and I'm already going off the rails" Blades of Fire review: "Following up Metroid Dread with a dark fantasy soulslike full of inventive ideas that I find delightfully infectious" Elden Ring: The Board Game - Realm of the Grafted King review: "A disappointing experience" Dune: Imperium - Bloodlines review: "Make it a default part of your games" Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning review: "Wraps up this spy franchise in spectacular style with Tom Cruise in peak condition, even if its villain lacks terror" Final Destination Bloodlines Review: "Meticulous murderous mayhem" Thunderbolts review: "Makes good on the promise of a new start for the MCU" A Minecraft Movie Review: "Jack Black's irrepressible star turn helps elevate this video game adaptation" The Electric State review: "Although this may be their most visually stunning movie yet, it looks like the Russos are yet to find their footing outside of the MCU" Rick and Morty season 8 review: "Largely plays it too safe after years of crossing boundaries" Doctor Who season 2, episode 6 spoiler review: 'The Interstellar Song Contest' is "a blast and sets the stage for a thrilling season finale" Doctor Who season 2, episode 5 spoiler review: 'The Story & The Engine' is "one of the most original and ambitious episodes this show has produced in years" Doctor Who season 2, episode 4 spoiler review: 'Lucky Day' has a "genuinely surprising" mid-episode reveal The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 review: "Almost 350 episodes into this franchise, it's nice to know it can still surprise us" GamesRadar+ is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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