The Fantastic Four’s Earth-828 Is the Perfect Home for a Rebooted MCU Avengers

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) finds itself at a significant juncture, not as a sign of decline but due to a shift in audience preferences. Despite three out of the top ten films of 2025 being Marvel productions, dominating the box office, there seems to be a decrease in appeal towards the MCU among general audiences and casual moviegoers. This change has led Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, to hint at potential recastings for key characters like Iron Man (Tony Stark) and Captain America (Steve Rogers), among others.

Marvel seems to recognize that in order to regain the attention of a broader audience, they might need their most popular characters, or as you might say, the “Big Guns.” Additionally, Feige’s comments about a potential franchise “reset” suggest that the return of the classic Avengers could be connected to the Fantastic Four from Earth-828.

According to the comics, it seems that at the conclusion of “Avengers: Secret Wars,” our powerful character Franklin Richards might bring together shattered dimensions into a single new reality, which could become the primary Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Earth. However, there’s a chance that one of these other realities remains intact, and in this scenario, the Fantastic Four’s Earth-828 could persist, serving as a new base for renowned Avengers, portrayed by different actors. This world would likely differ significantly from the one Tony Stark first appeared in back in 2008.

In “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” we’re introduced to a world where the future depicted in “New Horizons” was already in progress during the 1960s, but it’s not yet completely developed. The film’s production design combines elements of retrofuturism with familiar aspects from that time period, creating a unique blend. For instance, the New York skyline features buildings reminiscent of both the Jetsons’ world and structures similar to those from our actual 1960s urban landscape. It seems Reed Richards was a visionary ahead of his time, incorporating technology into his world several decades before it became prevalent in the main universe.

The world of Earth-828, a parallel universe to ours, could significantly alter our perception. This world would be characterized by retrofuturism, a concept pioneered by Reed Richards, having fully developed by the year 2030 or whenever these films are released. In this alternative reality, advanced technology has become the norm, drastically transforming the world from what we know. The level of technology isn’t quite like Star Trek, but it’s not far off. Given that Reed Richards had FTL “faster than light” spaceships as early as 1964, it seems plausible that such technology would be commonplace in this world’s future or our present. An Earth like this could provide us with fresh interpretations of Marvel’s iconic heroes, set within an entirely novel context.

In the early 2000s, Marvel Comics took an innovative approach similar to what they did with their Ultimate Universe. After four decades, their primary universe was bogged down by intricate continuity, leading to dwindling sales. Instead of erasing the cherished old stories, they established a parallel universe where younger versions of characters like Spider-Man, X-Men, and Avengers (now known as the Ultimates) thrived. These new takes on classic characters were incredibly popular, frequently outselling the original 616 Marvel Universe comics. This move has had a profound impact on both the MCU and the Fox X-Men series. Now, it could shape things significantly once more.

In current times, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) finds itself in a situation somewhat parallel to where the comics were at the turn of the century. Over the past 17 years, the main continuity has grown complex and overwhelming for general viewers due to 37 movies and more than 20 television series. Despite this complexity, these productions continue to be cherished and have significantly impacted pop culture. Removing them would cause a strong backlash among dedicated fans. However, creating an alternate universe specifically for new iterations of the most renowned Avengers addresses this issue. This strategy can be likened to “having your cake and eating it too,” as it has proven effective in the comics, so why not apply it to the MCU?

In simpler terms, this scenario suggests that the Marvel Comics universe, specifically the 616 universe, continues to function, potentially featuring characters like X-Men, mutants, supernatural heroes, and possibly a larger focus on the Avengers team. However, it might be time for a new interpretation of the Avengers team members such as Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, and Black Widow in alternate versions. This could resemble the “Ultimates” comic series where these characters are presented together as a group, without needing standalone movies to introduce them since their basic stories are already well-known.

Absolutely, the popularity of each character could influence whether they receive standalone series down the line. Similar to The Ultimates, their existence on another Earth wouldn’t interfere with the 616-Avengers or their past, as this would be a different take on a similar concept. There may even be ties to the original at some point. Consider how Spider-Man: No Way Home linked all the Spider-Men. Initially, it would be its own distinct universe, a new interpretation of Earth, offering endless possibilities for storytelling.

It’s logical to assume that Disney/Marvel wants to keep hold of iconic characters like Iron Man/Tony Stark, Captain America/Steve Rogers, Thor, Bruce Banner/Hulk, Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, and others due to their popularity. The actors portraying these characters, such as Chris Hemsworth and Mark Rufallo, will eventually age out of playing their roles. Since these characters are among Marvel’s most identifiable heroes other than Spider-Man, Disney is unlikely to leave them on the sidelines forever. A possibility could be introducing new versions of these characters in a separate universe, which might revitalize the MCU with fresh energy and excitement that it currently lacks.

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2025-08-12 19:37