The Fantastic Four: First Steps team might have found a way to Earth-616, and this new MCU theory supports it

Marvel Studios thrives on speculations and fan theories, and the recent one for The Fantastic Four: First Steps is another addition to this list. Reports suggest that this Fantastic Four film is set in an alternate universe. This might be alien to those who are not aware of the studio's cinematic lore. In 2016, Doctor Strange introduced the multiverse to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and since then, the studio has repeatedly used this concept for their projects. Regardless, its characters often started out on the same Earth.

The heroes in The Fantastic Four: First Steps exist in another Earth. However, that becomes significant to the fans, considering the powerful villain in the film. The Fantastic Four are supposed to fight Galactus, considered to be a planet eater, according to the comics. Afterwards, the same four characters will appear in Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel's upcoming tentpole that will bring Robert Downey Jr. as the villainous Doctor Doom. So, some speculations suggest that the Fantastic Four will find a way to Earth-616 for their mission against Downey's character. How? Possibly because of a bracelet that the two of them wear.

What is The Fantastic Four: First Steps about?

The Fantastic Four: First Steps will bring another iteration of the First Family to the screen. Pedro Pascal will be Mister Fantastic, Reed Richards. Vanessa Kirby will be the Invisible Woman, Sue Storm. Joseph Quinn will be her brother Johnny Storm, and Human Torch, while Ebon Moss-Bachrach will star as the disfigured hero, Ben Grimm, aka The Thing. They are scheduled to grace the silver screens on July 25, 2025, in the United States. The official synopsis for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, per IMDb, reads,

"Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, the Fantastic Four must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer."

How can the Fantastic Four return to Earth-616? A new theory explains how it might be possible

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According to some rumors, while defending their Earth, these four heroes will eventually find a way to Earth-616. A theory shared by The Direct and Screenrant explains how that might be possible. As mentioned before, it has something to do with the metal bracelets that Captain Fantastic and Invisible Woman are seen wearing in the film's teaser.

The theory suggests that this bracelet will help them, as a similar bracelet helped Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame. It might be the key for them to travel between different universes and be stable upon entering another one. A complementary theory suggests that Earth-616 might just be the First Family's actual home. They might have been left on another Earth after they returned from their space missions.

A similar technological tool was also used in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and the subsequent films from that franchise. So, it is highly likely that the Fantastic Four will use the wristbands in their pursuit back home. That might also be how they join the forces of other heroes against the mighty threat of Doctor Doom.