Will RDJ Appear as Doctor Doom in ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’? All We Know Is That Feige Said the Movies Are Fully Connected

Disney made a big splash at this year’s CineEurope in Barcelona, with a full presentation of its upcoming theatrical releases. This was the first time veteran executive Andrew Cripps presented for Disney since becoming Head of Theatrical Distribution in March.

And he didn’t disappoint, especially with one of the event’s biggest moments, a closer look at Fantastic Four: First Steps, and some exciting teases about Avengers: Doomsday.

The event kicked off by celebrating the success of Lilo & Stitch, which has been doing incredibly well and is expected to pass $900 million at the global box office this weekend. It might even become the first $1 billion movie of 2025. Every seat in the theater had a Stitch plush toy that lit up along with the show, setting a fun and colorful tone.

Then came the big Marvel showcase. Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige introduced a brand-new trailer for Fantastic Four: First Steps, giving fans and theater owners a sneak peek at what’s to come. Feige didn’t stop there; he confirmed that First Steps will lead straight into Avengers: Doomsday, which is currently filming in London and aiming for a December 2026 release.

Fantastic Four: First Steps is directed by Matt Shakman and written by Josh Friedman and Eric Pearson. The cast includes Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn as the Fantastic Four, joined by John Malkovich, Julia Garner, Paul Walter Hauser, and Ralph Ineson.

The movie takes place on a retro-futuristic version of Earth inspired by the 1960s. In the story, the team must defend their world from the cosmic threat of Galactus, played by Ineson, and his herald, the Silver Surfer.

Some rumors from earlier this year suggested that First Steps could also feature a big surprise. According to reports, Robert Downey Jr. might appear in a cameo or post-credits scene. There’s no official word on that yet, but it has sparked a lot of speculation. There’s also talk that Franklin Richards, who is confirmed to appear in First Steps, will have a major role in Avengers: Doomsday.

As for Avengers: Doomsday, it’s shaping up to be one of the most packed Marvel movies yet. It’s being directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the same team behind Avengers: Endgame and Infinity War and written by Michael Waldron and Stephen McFeely. The cast is massive, including Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Vanessa Kirby, Paul Rudd, Letitia Wright, Florence Pugh, Tom Hiddleston, and many others.

Some familiar X-Men actors like Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and James Marsden are also returning.

The film will bring together heroes from all over the Marvel Universe, the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Wakandans, and even the New Avengers, to battle Doom. Avengers: Doomsday was originally scheduled for May 2025, but because of the 2023 writers’ strike and extra production needs, it was pushed to May 2026 and then again to December 18, 2026. It will be the 39th movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and part of Phase Six.

Fans at CineEurope were thrilled by what they saw and heard. With Fantastic Four: First Steps setting the stage and Doomsday building toward a massive crossover, Marvel’s future looks more connected than ever. Kevin Feige even said at the event, “The movies are fully connected,” making it clear that everything is leading to something big.

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