Credit: Marvel StudiosAs more information surfaces about the future of Kevin Feige’s Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Marvel franchise’s past continues to be examined.
After a rocky Phase Four, made even more turbulent by the sudden onset of Disney+ TV shows and specials, Phase Five wrapped with Jake Schreier’s Thunderbolts* (2025)–or The New Avengers as it was later marketed. Schreier’s misfit movie was a critical hit for Marvel Studios, so much so that the director was chosen to helm the future X-Men movie for the MCU.
It is with that X-Men movie that Marvel hopes to reset the 17-year-old franchise. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has expressed that the likely named Mutant Saga will not be a reboot, but will usher in the next era of the MCU after the Multiverse Saga comes to a close in Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
Directed by the Russo Brothers, Anthony and Joe Russo, Doomsday and Secret Wars won’t necessarily be the end of something, like Avengers: Endgame (2019) was, but more so the start of the next chapter. Feige echoed this sentiment recently when discussing the future of his Hollywood blockbusters.
While Thunderbolts* ended Phase Five, The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) opened Phase Six. Starring Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/Thing, the Matt Shakman-directed comic book movie smashed its opening weekend.
However, it wasn’t meant to last, as Marvel’s First Family floundered in its second weekend despite praise from critics and audiences. That said, The Walt Disney Company Chief Executive Officer explained during the Mouse House’s third-quarter earnings call that the Fantastic Four remain a key component of the MCU franchise moving forward–Feige, after all, had already confirmed the team would return in the upcoming Avengers movies long before First Steps hit the big screen.
Many have seen The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which also stars Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal and Ralph Ineson as Galactus, as the now-definitive F4 movie. The beloved family has had a chaotic time in cinemas with movies in 2005, 2007, and 2015 all drawing criticism–the latter being one of the most panned superhero flicks in history.
Fantastic Four‘s Legacy and the Legend Who Got Fired
Released on July 8, 2005, Fantastic Four brought Marvel’s original superhero team to the big screen under the direction of Tim Story and through 20th Century Fox, well before the Marvel Cinematic Universe took flight with Iron Man in 2008.
The movie follows Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm as they embark on a mission into space, only to be forever changed after exposure to cosmic radiation. Ioan Gruffudd’s Reed Richards gains the ability to stretch as Mr. Fantastic, Jessica Alba’s Sue Storm can disappear and form protective force fields, Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm ignites as the fiery Human Torch, and Michael Chiklis’ Ben Grimm transforms into the rocky, super-strong Thing.
Alongside their personal struggles in learning to cope with these powers, the team faces off against Victor Von Doom, played by the late Julian McMahon, whose own exposure turns him into the menacing Doctor Doom. The supporting cast includes Kerry Washington as Alicia Masters, adding further depth to the film’s ensemble.
Fantastic Four drew mixed to negative reviews from critics, who pointed to uneven pacing and clunky dialogue. Regardless of the critical reception, audiences turned out in force, with the film grossing over $333 million worldwide on a budget of $100 million, securing its place as a commercial success. Its lighter tone and more family-friendly approach set it apart from the darker superhero films that would dominate in later years, making it a distinctive product of its time.
The movie paved the way for a sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, in 2007, which reunited the cast for another cosmic adventure. Beyond the immediate franchise, the 2005 film remains an early chapter in the history of superhero cinema—one remembered for its campy tone, blockbuster success, and role in shaping the long road toward today’s interconnected Marvel universe.
But it might have been a different story if the original plans for 2005’s Fantastic Four had come to fruition.
Speaking to Hanna Flint on the Fade to Black podcast, legendary director Chris Columbus was asked about why he was fired from the 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios) movie.
“We were in a weird situation,” Columbus told Flint while on the podcast to discuss his Thursday Murder Club movie release. “On the first Fantastic Four, I had worked on a script. There were a lot of writers involved. They were about to make a movie, and I was producing it. I met with the director and had some ideas.”
“I basically said, ‘Some of this conceptual art should feel more like Jack Kirby, the creator of the Fantastic Four, and should feel more like the Silver Age of Marvel,'” the Home Alone franchise director added. “I left that meeting and on the way back from my house, I got a call from the head of 20th Century Fox saying I was fired and had too much of an opinion.”
After explaining his love and admiration for superhero movies like Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 (2004) and The Batman (2022) by Matt Reeves, Columbus said he wouldn’t make a superhero feature film in the future. “I realized I don’t have a desire to make those movies anymore because people are doing them better than I ever could at this point in my career,” he said.
You can watch the full interview down below:
As the MCU pushes forward to the inevitable end of the Multiverse Saga, only time will tell if it can recoup the massive blockbuster success it had with Phase Three. With movies planned for 2026, 2027, and even 2028 (hello, Black Panther 3?), Disney’s superhero giant is seemingly not going anywhere.
How do you think Chris Columbus would have tackled the Fantastic Four? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!