Matt Shakman has opened up about possibleMCUcameo appearances inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, but his comments might be teasing an even more exciting inclusion in the upcoming Phase 6 reboot. Recent teasers and updates about 2025’s upcomingThe Fantastic Four: First Stepshave confirmed that the movie will be set in an alternate universe to the MCU’s main continuity of Earth-616. This explains the absence of Marvel’s First Family over the last 17 years of the MCU, and creates the opportunity for many possiblecameo appearances in Marvel Studios’Fantastic Fourreboot.
Set in a1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic parallel universe, speculation suggested thatThe Fantastic Four: First Stepscould have featured exciting cameos from variants of notable MCU heroes. This included the likes of Captain America, Black Panther and Iron Man, butnew comments fromWandaVisionandFirst Stepsdirector Matt Shakman have debunked these theories. WhileFirst Stepsmight not feature any highly-anticipated cameos, the Phase 6 reboot could still include one notable MCU veteran who could perfectly set upMarvel Studios' upcoming crossover events.
Matt Shakman Has Revealed There’s No Iron Man In The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Will Focus Entirely On The Titular Team
During a recent interview withEmpire, Matt Shakman revealed more about the alternate universe ofThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, and suggested that no MCU cameos would be included.Shakman stated,“We are our own universe… which is wonderful and liberating,“noting how separateFirst Stepsfeels to the rest of the MCU, as"there [are] really no [other] superheroes.“This implies that there will be no cameo appearances from variants of the MCU’s othersuperheroes inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, but Shakman’s comments could have a deeper meaning.
We are our own universe… which is wonderful and liberating. There’s really no [other] superheroes. There’s no Easter eggs. There’s no running into Iron Man or whatever. [The Fantastic Four are] it, in this universe. I love the interconnected Marvel Universe, but we get to do something so new and so different. Eventually, this world will meet up with other worlds - but for now this is our own little corner.
While Matt Shakman’s comments prove that the Fantastic Four will be the entire focus of their MCU debut, which is a very good thing,it is slightly disappointing that the team won’t be joined by other variants. However, the fact that Shakman singles out Iron Man as a hero the Fantastic Four won’t be bumping into could prove important. Excitingly,Tony Stark’s actor will soon be returningto the MCU after a lengthy hiatus, and theories suggest this could happen as soon asThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. Matt Shakman might have hinted at this.
Robert Downey Jr. Might Not Be Iron Man In First Steps, But He Can Still Be Doctor Doom
Doctor Doom Is Speculated To Appear In The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Ever since he was announced to be returning to the MCU after his departure in 2019’sAvengers: Endgame, theories have suggested that Robert Downey Jr. may be included inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. This could have been as a variant of Iron Man from the Fantastic Four’s alternate universe, butMatt Shakman’s comments single Iron Man out as someone who certainly won’t be appearing. This doesn’t mean Robert Downey Jr. still won’t appear in the reboot, however, as he could star as hisnew Marvel villain, Doctor Doom.
Doctor Doom and the Fantastic Four, mainly Reed Richards' Mister Fantastic, are archenemies in Marvel Comics, and Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom is billed as the primary antagonist of2026’sAvengers: Doomsdayand 2027’sAvengers: Secret Wars. This means thatThe Fantastic Four: First Stepscan set up Phase 6’sAvengersmovies perfectly by debuting Doctor Doom.His introduction inFirst Stepswould make sense, as Doctor Doom could be Tony Stark’s variant from the Fantastic Four’s world, and the iconic villain would be a great subject forFirst Steps’post-credits scene.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Secret Cast Member Could Easily Be Robert Downey Jr.
Someone Is Being Hidden In The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Back in November 2024, aset video from the production ofThe Fantastic Four: First Stepswas released that showed an unidentified actor being snuck aroundon set (viaX). This clearly wasn’t any of the confirmed stars of the movie, including Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, Natasha Lyonne, John Malkovich, Sarah Niles or Paul Walter Hauser. It’s very possible this could have been Robert Downey Jr., who was confirmed to be returning to the MCU back in July 2024.
Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom has only, so far, been confirmed to be appearing inDoomsdayandSecret Wars, but it would be fantastic - pun intended - to see him debut as early as July 2025’sThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. This would likely just be as part of a post-credits stinger, as Ineson’s planet-eater, Galactus, is billed as the movie’s primary antagonist. Even so, this would be the perfect way to establishDoctor Doom as a crucial part of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, and connect him to the Fantastic Four before they all return in 2026.
