The Fantastic Four: First Steps almost looked very different. The most recent installment in the always-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe has been one of its most anticipated outings for some time now, as audiences all over the world waited excitedly to see Marvel's First Family join the ranks of the MCU. It was a long time coming, but as initial reactions are reinforcing, it was absolutely worth the wait.
Set on another earth in the MCU's Multiverse Saga, First Steps gets to function as an origin story (without actually being an origin story) while also having free rein to play with world-ending threats that don't have to tie into the rest of the franchise. And with that, Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm / Invinisble Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm / Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm / The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) get to be the heroes of their own world.
Those heroes were very much needed when the world found itself in the crosshairs of Galactus and the fantastic foursome had to stand in his way to prevent the demise of that world in the film's ending scenes. However, it turns out that the storyline itself was once very different.
*** This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS from The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Don't read on if you would prefer the movie wasn't spoiled for you. ***
The Fantastic Four: First Steps' different story all had to do with Franklin Richards' arrival
The Fantastic Four: First Steps promised that it would be all about family and it delivered on that promise. The film of course revolved around Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben's unique family dynamic, but that was only the beginning as it was revealed early on that Sue was pregnant with her and Reed's son. That son, who they named Franklin, would play a major role in the movie.
Sue is pregnant for the first half of the movie, meaning that Franklin isn't born when the Silver Surfer heralds the end of Earth-828 and Galactus' arrival. She and her family head into space to confront Galactus but when he sensens the Power Cosmic from Sue and Reed's unborn child, he offers them the chance to save their world in exchange for their son. They refuse and head back to Earth, but before they get there, Sue goes into labour and Franklin is born in space.
When their plans to save their own world fails, they make the difficult decision to bait Galactus into coming to Earth for Franklin, attempting to trap him in a teleportation wormhole for centuries. But it backfires and he leaves the site in search of Franklin, who the Fantastic Four moved out of harm's way when distracting the big brute. When he gets the child, Sue's maternal instincts kick in and she uses all of her powers to push Galactus back to the trap. Reed gets his son back as Ben and Johnny prepare to trap him. Although he temporarily breaks free, the villain is betrayed by his own herald as the Silver Surfer helps the Fantastic Four pull it off, pushing Galactus into the trap and seemingly sacrificing herself along with him.
The physical stress of depleting her powers like that seemingly killed Sue as she lies motionless in the street. When all hope seems lost, Franklin climbs into his mother and seemingly revives her, allowing for a happy ending to the beautiful family adventure. Well, you know, until Doctor Doom surfaces in the post-credits scene and shows his face to Franklin. We don't see his face (as actor Robert Downey Jr. likely wasn't present during the filming of this scene) but it's clear that this is a set up for Avengers: Doomsday.
All up to speed on the events of First Steps? Okay, great! So that's how things actually played out, but director Matt Shakman says that the film almost had a completely different script - one which would have involved Franklin in a different way. For starters, he confirms that the all-powerful child did save his mother's life, telling Entertainment Weekly as much in an exclusive interview.
He also revealed that the film once had Franklin born at the beginning of the film. Although the space birth was never in question, an earlier version of the script had the child born "at a space station rescue at the opening of the movie". He ultimately decided against this in favor of showing us how the Fantastic Four were adapting to the idea of having a child around the Baxter Building, which certainly went a long way in highlighting the familial approach of the film.
"For a long time, the baby was born at the beginning of the movie. And then we realized it would be wonderful to see the baby-proofing and the preparation and to see them get ready for the child. So moving Franklin's birth to the midpoint was something that we decided to do, which also then allowed me to combine it with some of these other moments."
Needless to say, The Fantastic Four: First Steps understood the assignment as a family-focused movie, showcasing the heart of what a family is all about. The relationship between Reed Richards and Sue Storm, their love for their shared family, and Franklin's place at the center of all of that, it truly understands the importance of family and that's why the film thrives. An alternate version with Franklin being born at the beginning of the story is definitely an intriguing idea - and it would have no doubt still been as heartfelt as the finished product - but there is something about how Marvel's First Family transitions to parents over the course of the movie, all while maintaining that love for each other, that truly sets this one apart. Just as Sue says in the movie: They took in together... as a family!
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now playing in theaters.
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