THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Skipped the ‘Council of Reeds,’ But They Could Show Up in AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY

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In the long-awaited live-action debut, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the classic Marvel family was finally given their due. It offered a loyal adaptation that pleased devotees of these original Marvel Comics characters. However, unlike expected, the movie omitted one aspect from contemporary Fantastic Four comics – the Interdimensional Council of Reeds. This covert collective of Reed Richardses from different dimensions seemed inevitable for inclusion in this film. Given its significance as a key part of the MCU’s Multiverse storyline, it was surprising to find it absent. Yet, considering the masterful planning of Kevin Feige, we anticipate that they might make an appearance in Avengers: Doomsday.

The Comic Book Origins of the Interdimensional Council of Reeds

The Council of Reeds, a collective of incredibly intelligent Reed Richards (also known as Mister Fantastic) from various universes, was initially envisioned by author Jonathan Hickman during his notable tenure on the ‘Fantastic Four’ series between 2009 and 2012. Notably, this concept served as a precursor to the Council of Ricks in ‘Rick & Morty.’

Each Reed from their respective universe is acknowledged as the brightest mind on their Earth (Earth-616 included). These Reeds have developed advanced interdimensional portal technology, which they refer to as The Bridge. This unique technology enables them to gather for a collaborative mission aimed at resolving all problems collectively.

The Council of Reeds was established by three distinct Reeds who each possessed an Infinity Gauntlet in their respective timelines and decided to unite their efforts.

Membership in this prestigious council came with a cost – each incarnation of Dr. Richards had to sacrifice their family to focus on the council, prioritizing science and exploration over familial ties. The Reed from Earth-616 was unwilling to make such sacrifices, demonstrating his exceptional moral integrity among all his counterparts across realities. While some Marvel writers depict him as aloof, the primary Reed Richards shows he’s a fundamentally kind and compassionate individual, qualities that many of his versions lack.

Where Was the Council of Reeds in The Fantastic Four: First Steps?

First Steps. However, it seems that the director decided not to reference past versions of the Fantastic Four to maintain the fresh start feel for casual viewers.

Avengers: Doomsday Could Debut the MCU Council of Reeds

Doomsday,” it’s expected that Reed Richards will play a significant role. This movie promises to delve deeply into multiversal chaos on an unprecedented scale. Considering this, we believe that during “Doomsday,” Earth-828’s Reed Richards may reach out to his counterparts in the Council of Reeds for assistance. Over the course of numerous Marvel films, several versions of the character have been introduced, which could potentially make up some of the council members. However, we propose that the leadership positions within this group should be limited to four prominent figures.

Previous Cinematic Reed Richards Should Lead the MCU Council of Reeds

Potential candidates for the role include Alex Hyde-White, who portrayed Reed in the unreleased 1994 Fantastic Four film. Later on, Ioan Gruffudd played him in the two Tim Story films from the 2000s. Miles Teller took over the role in the controversial 2015 reboot directed by Josh Trank. Lastly, fan favorite John Krasinski played Reed in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. With five different actors portraying Mister Fantastic, there are currently more on-screen incarnations of him than Spider-Mans or Hulks. In the upcoming film Doomsday, while we don’t anticipate a lengthy scene featuring the Council of Reeds due to its crowded nature, we believe they may still make an appearance before the Multiverse Saga concludes. Given the opportunity presented by Doomsday, we hope Kevin Feige capitalizes on it.

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2025-08-15 01:08