Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed that the movie is set in a historical context during June 2024 on The Official Marvel Podcast. He also addressed the theory that the film takes place in an alternate universe. He stated that:

“Yes, yes, very much so. It is a period… There were a lot of smart people, who noticed that that cityscape didn’t look exactly like the New York that we know, or the New York that existed in the ’60s in our world. And those are smart observations, I’ll say.”

This explains the absence of Marvel’s First Family in the rest of the MCU. The way “The Fantastic Four” is positioned leading into the next Avengers event suggests that they may be brought to the present through a multiverse plot. Regardless, a retro-futuristic vibe inspired by the 1960s will create a unique atmosphere for the upcoming MCU movie.

According to the synopsis, the main conflict in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” will center around Galactus attempting to consume Earth, with the Silver Surfer serving as one of his heralds. Galactus is a colossal cosmic entity who could potentially become a significant antagonist in the MCU in the future, indicating that his storyline might extend beyond “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”

The concluding part of the synopsis, which mentions that things “get very personal,” suggests that Doctor Doom could make an appearance due to his long-standing rivalry and history with Mr. Fantastic. With “Avengers: Doomsday” on the horizon, it seems increasingly likely that the many rumors and theories about “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” introducing the MCU’s version of Doctor Doom could become a reality. This would allow The Fantastic Four to encounter their comic book nemesis in their debut within the cinematic universe.

Director Matt Shakman mentioned in an interview with Collider, “I have heard about it for a while, and I had to keep that secret for a while.” This suggests that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom may play a role in some capacity in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Additionally, the film’s storyline could set the stage for “Avengers: Doomsday,” which is set to release less than a year later.

With the Fantastic Four confirmed to appear in “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars,” it seems logical to introduce the conflict between this heroic group and the villain early in their stories. This approach could help the MCU establish a dynamic that will be crucial for the future of the Multiverse Saga.

Since Doctor Doom hasn’t had the same amount of time to be established as an antagonist—due to the shift from “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” to “Avengers: Doomsday,” which previously focused on Kang as part of the Multiverse Saga—this approach allows for a central narrative to emerge around key characters. Having “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” illustrate the extent of Doctor Doom’s threat would effectively position him as a formidable villain in a shorter timeframe. Furthermore, a confrontation between Pedro Pascal’s Mr. Fantastic and Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom holds significant star power that could attract fans.