Fantastic Four director reveals why it’s set on Earth-828 and Thanos is to blame

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The Fantastic Four series is not connected to the world of the Avengers. Instead, it unfolds in a different universe within the Marvel Multiverse, specifically Earth-828. The decision to keep these two groups apart was made strategically by the filmmaker.

With Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, Marvel Cinematic Universe enthusiasts eagerly anticipated the inclusion of iconic superhero franchises like Fantastic Four, X-Men, Deadpool, and more into their universe.

Instead, many fans have pondered the same query: How will the franchise account for their prolonged absence? As for the Fantastic Four, they’ve always been off in another world rather than here.

According to Matt Shakman, these characters serve as guardians for Earth-828, a parallel universe in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Although they’re bound to meet in Avengers: Doomsday, the director aims to prevent more fan questions about crossovers.

Fantastic Four director explains Earth-828 setting

As I stood before the grand audience at the BFI IMAX in London, moments before the premiere of Fantastic Four, I was hit with a question that made me pause: Why did I decide to set the story in the ’60s? Well, let me tell you, it wasn’t just about the era’s style and flair. It was about capturing the spirit of exploration, innovation, and the incredible sense of possibility that defined the ’60s, a spirit that mirrors the journey of our Fantastic Four heroes.

He mentioned that these characters originated back in the ’60s, specifically from the minds of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee,” (he said).

The Fantastic Four originated during an era of hopefulness and the Space Race competition. Folks were envisioning the cosmos, fantasizing about mastering the unexplored, which perfectly encapsulates their spirit.

Shakman stated that by placing the team in the ’60s, they were more aligned with their “starting point.” Yet, there was no inclination to delve into their pasts within the primary Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), specifically Earth-616 and not Earth-199999.

We felt it was best for them not to coexist with the other Marvel characters, as… you might recall, they weren’t around during Thanos’ arrival, correct?” Shakman explained.

Instead of assisting us here, they were sent to another world – Earth-828 – within the Marvel multiverse, where they could tackle the problem.

Did you know that Jack Kirby, one of the comic book world’s legendary creators, was born on August 28th? In other words, if we follow the American style of writing dates as month/day, it’s 8/28 – quite fitting for a man who played such an essential role in shaping the comics industry.

Prior to its cinema release on July 25, discover where to obtain the sensational popcorn containers and explore our comprehensive guide on all upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe projects.

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2025-07-11 15:18