Summary
The Fantastic FourMCU cast announcement may contain a clue about the exact year the Marvel Studios film is set.
TheFantastic FourMCU cast was announced in a Valentine’s Day photo featuring animated versions of Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic/Reed Richards,Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing. The image gave fans the impression theFantastic Fourreboot would be set in the ‘60s, but eagle-eyed fans have spotted a potential clue revealing the precise year.
In theFantastic Fourcast photo, Moss-Bachrach’s The Thing sits in a chair and reads a magazine. While few details are animated into the magazine, there are enough visual similarities between the fictional cover and a real-world Life Magazine cover featuring United States President Lyndon B. Johnson. As noted by several fans, including Reddit usercoolmandragon, the Life issue in question is dated July 07, 2025, potentially meaning Marvel Studios’Fantastic Fouris set in the same year.
While Marvel Studios has not confirmed anyFantastic Fourplot details, the 1963 setting would align with fan wishes for the project to be a period piece. Many fans have long claimed the Fantastic Four are products of their time, arguably more so than other Marvel characters, and that a feature film starring the team would be best served by being set in the ’60s.Ant-Mandirector Peyton Reed’sFantastic Fourproject, which was developed when the film rights were at Fox, was going to be set during this period. However, Fox ultimately passed on Reed’s pitch and instead moved forward with a 2005Fantastic Fourmovie directed by Tim Story. Although the movie had a sequel, both failed with audiences. Fox later attempted aFantastic Fourreboot in 2015, which was even more poorly received.
Consequently, fans clamored for a properFantastic Fourmovie and rejoiced when Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, placing the film right to the team in Marvel Studios' hands. Like Reed, many fans believed Marvel Studios' Fantastic Fourreboot should be a period piece set in the ’60s. Some even proposed having the characters travel through a wormhole at the end of theFantastic Fourso the characters could catch up with the modern MCU timeline in subsequent movies. If these eagle-eyed fans are correct about the 1963 setting, these time-travel theories could be accurate, as Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige has already said theFantastic Four play a pivotal role in the MCU’s future, suggesting that if the reboot is set in the ’60s, the characters won’t stay there for long.
Of course, this is all speculation. Marvel Studios’Fantastic Fourcast announcement is the project’s most significant update in some time, and story details will likely remain elusive for the foreseeable future. Still, the evidence is hard to ignore, and fans are probably thrilled to see at least onewish forThe Fantastic Fourgranted when they make their MCU debut.
The Fantastic Fouris scheduled to be released in theaters on August 04, 2025.
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four are Marvel’s original team of superheroes. After being bombarded by cosmic rays, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm gained amazing superpowers, taking on the mantles of Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and The Thing. Their main adversary, Doctor Doom, has become one of Marvel’s all-time great villains.
