Credit: Inside the MagicSomething big loomed in the opening moments of The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025). A major doomsday tease hovered over the story, just out of clear view — enough to send chills through the audience, without giving it away. It felt like the calm before a multiversal storm.
WARNING: HUGE spoilers ahead!
Where’s the MCU Now?
Currently, the MCU is perched at the start of Phase Six, officially starting with The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25, 2025. Phase Six spans until late 2027, ending with Avengers: Secret Wars as the grand finale. With the Kang storyline scrapped after real‑world controversies, Marvel pivoted to Doctor Doom as its next big villain, reshaping the trajectory of the Multiverse saga.
In other words, the MCU has turned a corner. It’s embracing the Fantastic Four and pushing ahead into cosmic territory, with Doom positioned to challenge everything — Multiverse, heroes, and all.
The Thunderbolts are still coming, with their uneasy alliance likely tested against Doom’s threat. Thor was last seen venturing into the unknown with Love, suggesting a mythic return for him and other Avengers on the horizon. Spider-Man remains underground post-No Way Home (2021), setting the stage for a stealthy comeback. And Ant-Man, after the chaos of Quantumania (2023), may play a crucial role in decoding the Multiverse again.
All roads point toward an epic collision.
Fantastic Four: The First Steps (2025)
A Retro‑Futuristic 1960s Setting
Set in Earth‑828, our team — Reed (Pedro Pascal), Sue (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss‑Bachrach) — navigate a stylized 1960s world threatened by Galactus and his emissary, the Silver Surfer (Shalla‑Bal).
The Threat of Galactus
Galactus arrives, demanding Franklin — Sue and Reed’s unborn son — as the heir to his Power Cosmic. Instead, the Fantastic Four lure him into a teleportation bridge built by Reed. Sue’s sacrifice seems to push Galactus through, but the Silver Surfer’s final act truly secures Earth — at the cost of her own life.
Franklin’s Power Emerges
After the dust settles and the world mourns Sue, Franklin — now alive — reveals extraordinary abilities by restoring her to life. That moment changes everything: this family film just dropped a superpowered bombshell.
Credit Scenes: Cartoon Fun, But the Real Deal Came Later
Post‑Credits: A Cartoon Throwback
The end credits roll with a playful animated sequence styled like the 1960s Fantastic Four cartoon — complete with “It’s clobberin’ time!” and a vintage theme. It’s cheerful and nostalgic and not meant to hint at future drama.
Mid‑Credits: Doom Enters the Room
But the real narrative meat appears mid‑credits: a four‑year time jump. A mysterious hooded figure kneels before a now‑toddler Franklin in the Baxter Building — holding Doctor Doom’s mask. Filmmakers confirmed it’s Robert Downey Jr. under the cloak, though his face remains obscured. This quiet moment teases big Multiverse ambitions and hints at where Phase Six is heading: Doom wants Franklin.
What’s Next: Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
Avengers: Doomsday is the next chapter, scheduled for December 18, 2026. Directed by the Russo brothers, it brings together the Avengers, X‑Men, Wakandans, and the Fantastic Four to face Doctor Doom, now the MCU’s top villain.
That mid‑credits scene in First Steps wasn’t just fan service — it’s a full Multiverse setup. Doom’s motive? Likely harnessing Franklin’s abilities to reshape reality, possibly merge universes, echoing Jonathan Hickman’s comic arcs and Secret Wars storyline.
Robert Downey Jr. Returns
Robert Downey Jr. made a subtle splash on Instagram: he posted a picture featuring the comic West Coast Avengers #35, which deals with Doom’s adopted heir, Kristoff Vernard, ruler of Latveria. In another post, he’s listening to music by his son, with that comic prominently displayed next to him — sparking speculation that these elements hint at Doom’s plans for Franklin or Latveria’s legacy.
We’ve also seen set photos and vague captions teasing a possible clash between Iron Man and Doctor Doom. And yes — Marvel officially confirmed Downey Jr. portrays Doom in the mid‑credits scene of First Steps and will lead the villainous charge in Doomsday and Secret Wars.
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What It All Means: Doom, Franklin & Iron Man Legacy
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Franklin Richards is the wildcard. His ability to resurrect or shape reality positions him at the center of Avengers: Doomsday and beyond.
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Doctor Doom (Downey Jr.) may not simply be a new villain — he could be a variant of Tony Stark from another universe, jealous of Reed’s fame, building a Doom legacy instead of Iron Man glory.
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This setup might allow Downey to simultaneously/retroactively clash with his own Iron Man persona — perhaps even a thematic or literal sacrifice if Doom realizes his ambition.
What MCU Fans Need to Know
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps opens Phase Six, placing a family-friendly team at the heart of multiversal stakes.
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The mid‑credits reveal Doom, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., kneeling before Franklin — teasing a master plan.
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The post-credits cartoon is fun, but the real payoff is coming in Avengers: Doomsday (2026), where the Fantastic Four, Avengers, X‑Men, and others unite.
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Franklin Richards is likely the MacGuffin — Doom wants his power; heroes must defend reality.
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Robert Downey Jr.’s Instagram teases, from comic covers to music cues, suggest more profound Doom lore to explore, possibly involving the Stark/Doom duality and legacy.
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All of this is steering us straight into Secret Wars (2027), where multiple universes—and the fates of heroes and villains—will collide.
In short: Doom is coming. He’s bringing Franklin and multiverse-shaking stakes.
Expect Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and even Iron Man’s past to collide by the time Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters—and reinforce itself fully by Secret Wars.