SPOILER WARNING: The next article incorporates spoilers for the top of The Incredible 4: First Steps. When you’ve got not but seen the film, proceed at your individual danger!
The post-credits scene in Thunderbolts* supplies followers with some massive revelations about the way forward for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is not solely mentioned that there are two completely different Avengers groups (the teams in battle over the moniker), however the closing second revealed the arrival of the Incredible 4 into the universe by way of rocket ship. It was notably cool to see the latter play out when the blockbuster arrived in theaters final Might, the glimpse serving as a enjoyable cliffhanger… however these of you who noticed Incredible 4: First Steps this previous weekend might have seen that the brand new launch does not make any form of effort to hyperlink up with its MCU predecessor.
So why does not the top of Incredible 4: First Steps line up with the top of Thunderbolts* because the franchise builds to the discharge of the epic Avengers: Doomsday in December 2026? CinemaBlend’s personal Jeff McCobb just lately broached that topic in an interview with director Matt Shakman in the course of the Los Angeles press day for the brand new 2025 film, and the filmmaker gave an trustworthy reply: he could not join the top of his film to the top of the blockbuster also referred to as The New Avengers as a result of that film’s finish credit score scene did not exist when the script was being written. Stated Shakman,
No, no, no, as a result of the Thunderbolts finish credit score scene was additionally created, you recognize, comparatively late in my course of too, in order that was not one thing that I used to be conversant in as a result of it hadn’t been created on the time that I used to be engaged on my script, you recognize?… I typically use the metaphor of it is, you recognize, like a relay race, proper? You move the baton, you run your part of it as laborious and quick as you’ll be able to, do the most effective you’ll be able to together with your model of Incredible 4 – Earth 828, this world – and then you definately move the baton, on this case to the Russo brothers.
Due to the particular unified continuity of the franchise and the behind-the-scenes oversight of the Marvel Studios Parliament and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, there may be typically a false impression in regards to the Marvel Cinematic Universe that there’s a massive grasp plan and particular beats coordinated in each launch. There’s a Marvel timeline maintained and massive image concepts that affect upcoming Marvel films and upcoming Marvel TV exhibits – however within the case of Incredible 4: First Steps, as an illustration, there was no directive to have the story written in order that it might finish with Marvel’s First Household arriving within the MCU (a.ok.a. go from their dwelling on Earth 828 to Earth 616).
Because of Incredible 4: First Steps seeing all of its motion saved to a single stage of the multiverse, we at the moment do not know how the group will probably be executing the truth hoping that will probably be essential to see them enter the universe the place two completely different Avengers rosters are in battle. As a result of it is uncertain that a solution will probably be arriving subsequent summer season with the discharge of Spider-Man: Model New Day (in theaters July 31, 2026), it is seemingly going to be part of the plotting in Avengers: Doomsday.
Incredible 4: First Steps is now taking part in in theaters all over the place, and we now have lower than a year-and-a-half earlier than the arrival of the following MCU capstone movie, as Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to debut December 18, 2026. The large blockbuster, helmed by Joe and Anthony Russo and that includes an excellent roster of heroes, is now in manufacturing, so be sure you keep tuned right here on CinemaBlend within the coming days, weeks and months for all the greatest updates and divulges about it.