Marvel director Matt Shakman explains why The Fantastic Four: First Steps doesn’t require any MCU homework: ‘There are no Easter eggs or other heroes’

• The Fantastic Four: First Steps doesn’t require any Marvel movie or TV show homework
• Its director Matt Shakman says it’s a standalone story in every sense of the word
• Shakman also confirms he wasn’t asked to directly set up Avengers: Doomsday story

, with events in the final Marvel film of 2025 directly leading into the next Avengers movie. For more details on that, read my ultimate guide on Avengers: Doomsday.

So, despite First Steps being a standalone story, was Shakman asked to establish any story beats for Avengers 5 in his first MCU film?

“Where they go from here, that’s up to others,” he teased. “They’ll eventually join up with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and that’ll be fun to see.”

I guess we’ll find out when First Steps arrives in theaters worldwide on Friday, July 25! In the meantime, read my ultimate guide on The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and my First Steps cast and character guide, to learn more ahead of its release. Then, read the section below for more exclusive coverage of the superhero movie.

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