The Unbelievable 4: First Steps has turn into probably the most anticipated motion pictures not simply of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, however of 2025. The movie’s teaser trailer debuted to 202 million views in 24 hours. It generated constructive reactions from followers, even some who may need been burned out by among the MCU’s current choices. This new tackle Marvel’s First Household is producing loads of buzz, notably in the way it appears to differentiate itself from the earlier cinematic incarnations. But one explicit means The Unbelievable 4: First Steps will differentiate itself from different movie variations of the Unbelievable 4 and honor the comics is the inclusion of the kid of Reed Richards and Sue Storm: Franklin Richards.
Many fan theories have already popped up about how Sue Storm, aka The Invisible Lady, may be pregnant in Unbelievable 4: First Steps and that possibly the advertising and marketing digitally eliminated a child bump from some photographs. After inserting a shot of The Hulk into the Avengers: Infinity Warfare trailer or eradicating each Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield from the heroic shot of Tom Holland touchdown in Spider-Man: No Method House, it won’t be out of the realm of risk.
But there may be one particular shot within the trailer that Marvel put in to throw folks off the scent, one that’s meant to reflect the group’s origin however as an alternative is the second the Unbelievable 4 household grows. Marvel is hiding the start of probably the most highly effective MCU character. Right here is the way it adjustments what followers learn about Unbelievable 4: First Steps and the way it will tie into the villain Galactus and the broader Multiverse Saga heading into Avengers: Doomsday and will reshape the fallout of Avengers: Secret Wars.
The Unbelievable 4: First Steps
- Launch Date
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July 25, 2025
- Director
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Matt Shakman
- Producers
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Jamie Christopher, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Tim Lewis
- Franchise(s)
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Marvel Cinematic Universe
The ‘Unbelievable 4’ Trailer Seemingly Reveals Sue Storm Is Pregnant
The Unbelievable 4: First Steps teaser trailer confirms that the film will not be an origin story and have an already established group. Nonetheless, there are a number of photographs that trace on the group’s origin, notably Ben Grimm/The Factor watching a information broadcast of the group earlier than they go into area, whereas one other shot exhibits Reed Richards and Sue Storm in area with Reed holding Sue as she seemingly is popping invisible.
Many have anticipated that this shot, seen 42 seconds into the teaser trailer, is a flashback to the group’s origin. But if this shot is a showcase of their origin, the place are The Factor and Johnny Storm / The Human Torch? This shot takes place after the group already has their powers, as Reed’s flight go well with options the quantity 4 on his left arm, whereas the area fits the group wore earlier than they obtained their powers don’t.
That is backed up by the road within the trailer the place Reed is speaking to Sue, saying, “Earlier than we went up the primary time..” implying the film will see the Unbelievable 4 journey into area once more. Why would the group go to area particularly? Extra importantly, why would Reed Richards be nervous or hesitant to enter area once more if the Unbelievable 4 are adventurers? It may be as a result of this journey comes with an added complication.
Within the shot of Reed holding Sue Storm in area whereas she turns invisible, she notably shouldn’t be sporting an area go well with like her husband. She is mendacity down in a white robe, just like a hospital robe. She is even positioned like a girl in a hospital mattress giving start, with Reed by her facet holding her hand. This means this scene in area shouldn’t be the origin story for the Unbelievable 4 however is the place Sue Storm will give start to her and Reed’s son, Franklin Richards.
Who Is Franklin Richards in Marvel Comics?
Franklin Richards first seems in Unbelievable 4 Annual #6 in November 1968, however he was first teased in Unbelievable 4 Annual #5 the 12 months prior when Sue Storm introduced she was pregnant. The choice to offer Mr. Unbelievable and the Invisible Lady a toddler stemmed from Stan Lee’s need to make the characters really feel like an actual married couple, one that may have youngsters and develop the idea of household that’s on the coronary heart of the Unbelievable 4.
Nonetheless, the start of Franklin Richards was removed from simple. Because of the Unbelievable 4 getting their powers from cosmic rays, this meant that Sue’s blood was coursing with cosmic power, which made childbirth a tough and harmful course of, notably for the unborn child. Reed, Johnny, and Ben all journey to the Destructive Zone to retrieve an merchandise known as the Cosmic Rod from a villain referred to as Annihilus, one that can assist ship Sue to Franklin safely.
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Regardless of being the comedian that launched the fashionable period of Marvel Comics, The Unbelievable 4 was practically wiped from Marvel’s historical past within the 2010s.
Each of his dad and mom got powers by way of cosmic means, which meant that Franklin Richards was a mutant-born baby and probably the most highly effective beings within the Marvel Comics universe. His powers embody reality-manipulating and psionic powers so huge he can create new realities, making him an Omega-level mutant.
The issues round Franklin Richards’s start look to be tailored into Unbelievable 4: First Steps, however as an alternative of Reed needing to enter the Destructive Zone in order that Sue Storm can ship her baby safely, it seems they have to do it in area. Franklin Storm’s inclusion in The Unbelievable 4: First Steps is a giant deal, not solely in that he strengthens the household dynamic that’s the thematic coronary heart of the group but in addition in what he means for the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe. Franklin Richard’s capacity to create new realities and have untold powers doubtless will put him within the crosshairs of the Unbelievable 4’s best foes. He may be the rationale the Earth is at risk from Galactus within the first place.
Is Franklin Richards the Cause Galactus Involves Earth?
Galactus’s presence in Unbelievable 4: First Steps may be the most important giveaway that the story will contain Franklin Richards. Franklin Richards and Galactus are intertwined in some ways all through Marvel’s canon. In FF #16 from March 2012, it’s revealed that Franklin Richards is immortal, and each he and Galactus share a candy second the place the devourer or worlds is completely happy to know he will not be alone to witness the warmth loss of life of the universe. Franklin Richard shall be by his facet on the creation of a brand new universe.
Some comics have implied that Franklin Richards will turn into the brand new Galactus within the subsequent actuality of the Marvel Comics Universe. Within the Earth X comedian storyline that featured the Shalla-Bal Silver Surfer that can seem in Unbelievable 4: First Steps, Franklin Richards does turn into the brand new Galactus. This connection between Franklin Richards being the inheritor obvious to Galactus may be a key plot level within the movie. The brand new logline for The Unbelievable 4: First Steps that was launched with the brand new trailer featured this tidbit: “If Galactus’ plan to devour the whole planet and everybody on it weren’t dangerous sufficient, it abruptly will get very private.”
The concept of the specter of Galactus changing into very private to the Unbelievable 4, and the Devour of Worlds connection to Franklin Richards within the comics, closely implies Reed and Sue’s baby shall be within the film and probably what attracts Galactus to Earth within the first place. Whereas Galactus might feasibly see Franklin as a menace to his energy and need to destroy him, that could be a reasonably simple battle for The Unbelievable 4 to beat by way of morality.
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Marvel’s first household, the Unbelievable 4, will lastly be making their transition to the MCU after languishing in twentieth Century Fox’s again catalogue.
Nonetheless, Galactus would possibly need to use Franklin Richard’s huge cosmic powers to revive the universe he got here from, probably one from earlier than the start of the MCU multiverse and the Multiversal Warfare that He Who Stays and the remainder of the Kang the Conqueror variants fought in. Galactus would possibly threaten Earth and power the Unbelievable 4 to decide on between Franklin Richards or the entire world. That actually is an ethical conundrum and one that can actually check the Unbelievable 4.
It performs properly into Sue Storm’s line from the trailer that “no matter life throws at us, we’ll face it collectively. As a household”, which not solely means herself, Reed, Johnny, and Ben, but in addition Franklin Richards. This can be a film about household and one that can proceed to develop. Even within the face of cosmic annihilation, the Unbelievable 4’s best energy may be present in working with each other. In Unbelievable 4 #502 from 2003, The Factor tells a younger, scared Franklin Richards, “If any of us wuz actually trapped in Hell with ya, y’know we might combat to the bitter finish.” The group would by no means surrender Franklin, however additionally they will not sacrifice the world and can do every thing of their energy to cease Galactus, which might result in the MCU’s future.
Franklin Richard’s Might Be Vital to ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’
Within the comics, Franklin Richards’s powers of actuality manipulation are key elements of two totally different universe-rewriting storylines. The primary was when going through off towards the villain Onslaught. The villain, a twisted merger of Professor X and Magneto’s thoughts, kidnapped Franklin Richards to make use of his powers to reshape actuality. The mixed would possibly of the Unbelievable 4, X-Males, and The Avengers defeated Onslaught. Nonetheless, lots of the heroes seemingly die within the battle, together with the Unbelievable 4. Franklin makes use of his powers to maintain them alive in a pocket universe in a storyline known as Heroes Reborn, which was used as a approach to reboot the Marvel heroes.
Franklin Richards can be key to the fallout of 2015’s Secret Wars; Franklin Richards’s powers had been important in recreating the Marvel multiverse after Physician Doom destroyed it. With Physician Doom now the MCU’s new massive dangerous and the sixth film being titled Avengers: Secret Wars, evidently Franklin Richards may be key to the way forward for the MCU. The MCU would possibly combine Heroes Reborn and the aftermath of the Secret Wars comedian, with Franklin Richards giving an in-continuity reboot to the franchise, permitting the Unbelievable 4 to maneuver from their remoted Nineteen Sixties set universe to be a part of the MCU sacred timeline. This might additionally clarify the sudden emergence of mutants and open the door for the X-Males.
“First Steps” Takes On New Which means
At San Diego Comedian-Con 2024, it was confirmed that the title for the MCU Unbelievable 4 film could be known as The Unbelievable 4: First Steps. Because the movie was formally introduced in December 2020, it had been known as Unbelievable 4, which made many curious as to why the film would change the title proper earlier than filming. Was it to differentiate it from the opposite two theatrically launched motion pictures titled Unbelievable 4? That seemed like sufficient. However like Spider-Man: Homecoming or Daredevil: Born Once more, it’s a title with a number of layers.
The apparent level many took was First Steps was a play on Neil Armstrong’s well-known first phrases when he stepped off the Apollo 11 rocket and onto the moon: “That is one small step for man, one big leap for mankind” on July 20, 1969. The Unbelievable 4: First Steps is a film set in an alternate Nineteen Sixties, one that pulls closely from the area race period that impressed the comics (The Unbelievable 4’s origins are tied to them stealing a rocket to beat the Russians into area). It appeared like each a play off the area race period setting and a attainable trace on the Unbelievable 4 as a group taking their first steps into the multiverse and the MCU itself.
Nonetheless, together with Franklin Richards would possibly give First Steps a complete new that means. Whereas it may be a play-off of the Nineteen Sixties area race period, it additionally refers to a toddler taking their first steps. For all dad and mom, the second a toddler takes their first steps is important, one that may really feel simply as groundbreaking as being a superhero. The inclusion of Franklin Richards has been hiding in plain sight since July 2024.
The Unbelievable 4: First Steps not solely introduces the very characters that created the fashionable Marvel Universe into the favored cinematic universe practically 20 years into its run but in addition an necessary character that would reshape the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe as followers comprehend it. New life, new potentialities, and a brand new MCU might all start with the start of Franklin Richards. The Unbelievable 4: First Steps is releasing on July 25, 2025.