From time to time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe decides to pull off a big plot twist that no fan could've seen coming. Remember when Iron Man 3 established that the Mandarin was simply a paid actor, only for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings to showcase the real iteration of the villain further down the road? Or what about that time when fans eagerly watched the premiere of Daredevil: Born Again only to find out that Foggy Nelson wouldn't make it past the 15-minute mark? We've seen many of these jaw-dropping moments throughout the years, but one of the best and biggest came thanks to the release of Thunderbolts*.
A group of misfits, reformed villains, and anti-heroes became the world's greatest symbol of hope. As simple as that, the Thunderbolts were revealed to be the New Avengers in their film's third act, complete with their base of operations and new suits. But if that twist wasn't enough, it was enough to take a look at the movie's post-credits scene.
Fans unexpectedly got their first tease of the Fantastic Four in the MCU, and we've been eager to see more of the super team since. However, in yet another shocking turn of events, Kevin Feige just hinted that not everything is as it seems, and that ship at the end of Thunderbolts* might hold a dark secret instead.
The ship seen in Thunderbolts* might be different from that of The Fantastic Four: First Steps
What if the ship seen in the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene wasn't the same one the Fantastic Four will use in their upcoming theatrical movie? Well, that's what the MCU's mastermind, Kevin Feige, suggested in the latest issue of Empire Magazine:
"Their ship is the Excelsior, and there is a Fantastic Four ship entering the MCU ... But I’m not sure they’re the same ship."
So, is there any truth to this cryptic tease? Well, if you pay close attention to the ship intercepted by the New Avengers, you'll notice it has four wings, as opposed to the three that the Fantastic Four's ship has (as seen in their movie trailers). They are, by all means, two different aircraft. But why is this an important detail? Well, there are a few exciting theories that might explain what is really going on... and there's the most likely (yet slightly boring) option. But let's start with the shocking guess, shall we?
We know Victor Von Doom has to be from a different universe than that of the MCU, hence why he'll share the same face as Tony Stark, even though they are two completely different characters. The most likely option at the moment is that the Ruler of Latveria will originate from the same dimension as the Fantastic Four, and he'll be forced to find a new home once Galactus destroys his world. Well, what if he was the one to be in the ship seen at the end of Thunderbolts*? Just as superhero fans supposed they were getting their first look at the next big heroes in town, it would be unveiled that it was a glimpse of the next Avengers-level threat.
Unfortunately, there is one big problem with this theory in that The Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman confirmed Doom is not a part of his film nor his purview. Granted, many were quick to theorize that perhaps he didn't film any scenes with the iconic supervillain, but the Russo brothers did, and such footage will serve as the movie's post-credits scene (as it happened with Thunderbolts*). However, there's also the possibility that he's simply telling the truth and wanting to keep fans' expectations in check.
So we arrive at the most likely option: That "ship" seen in the Thunderbolts* is simply an escape pod that the Fantastic Four used to get to their new universe. That's why the design of the two aircraft is different, and why one seems to be way larger. It isn't something groundbreaking, but it goes in line with everything we've learned about The Fantastic Four: First Steps so far.
Fortunately, this mystery won't daunt us for long. The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be the last movie to be released before Avengers: Doomsday (aside from Spider-Man: Brand New Day), so it's bound to set the stage for Earth's Mightiest Heroes' upcoming adventure. With a bit of luck, we'll get many exciting twists that will leave us eager to see the conclusion of the MCU's Multiverse Saga.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be released on July 25, 2025.