What The MCU’s ‘Fantastic Four’ Could Learn From Steve Rogers

by Josh Ramos · January 31, 2022

In a point first raised by CBR.com, we discuss just what the MCU’s Fantastic Four could learn from Steve Rogers, and how Marvel can approach adapting comics first family for the big screen.

One of the iconic characters in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America was the second great creation that brought this vast MCU to life.

Captain America: The First Avenger. Photo: Marvel Studios

Following the tremendous success of 2008s Iron Man, Chris Evans brought the character of Steve Rogers to life in a brand new, unprecedented way.

His debut film, Captain America: The First Avenger, focused on the character’s origins story; as a young, sickly man, living in 1940s Brooklyn, Steve wanted nothing more than to do his part in fighting the evil forces of the Nazi party.

Source: Marvel Studios

The film followed the creation of Captain America, but what came from that story is truly what made Steve Rogers one of Marvel’s greatest creations, and unique addition to the MCU’s ever-growing team of super-powered individuals.

What defined Steve was his place as a “man out of time,” a character who was frozen in ice at the conclusion of his service in World War II, only to be found and revived again prior to Loki’s attempted invasion of earth in the first Avengers film.

Source: Marvel Studios

So, What can the MCU’s Fantastic Four learn from Steve Rogers?

The effectiveness of that same arc.

Photo: Marvel

It is a delicate balance, as some fans could potentially rebel against the Fantastic Four origin in the MCU following the same “character out of time,” trope that has so defined the story of Captain America; a character who is clearly one of the most beloved in the MCU.

But what better way to introduce Marvel’s first family than by endearing them in much of the same way?

Source: Marvel

For the Fantastic Four to be originally from the 1960s, the MCU could craft a story around a dysfunctional family of four getting lost in a timeless void of space for 60 years, before crashing down to earth with superpowers feels like the most feasible way to introduce the team to the current MCU.

After all, for a Cinematic Universe that is always comfortable poking fun at itself, an origin story for the Fantastic Four that so mirrors Steve Rogers seems well equipped with jokes that almost write themselves.

Source: Marvel

Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm would benefit immensely from the challenges and character exploration that comes from being lost in time; with each character, personality forcing them to adjust to this newfound and incredibly unknown reality.

With Jon Watts set to direct the film, one thing is for sure; However, Marvel decides to tell the story of one of their most iconic teams should be done extremely well. And we cannot wait to see it.