When does Fantastic Four take place in the MCU timeline?

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The iconic group, Marvel’s original family, the Fantastic Four, are set to make their long-awaited debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, their exact position within the franchise’s chronology presents a slight puzzle.

2019 saw Disney purchasing 20th Century Fox, incorporating all their superhero characters such as X-Men, Deadpool, and the Fantastic Four into Disney’s collection.

The team that follows is significantly tied to Marvel’s history; given they are often referred to as the comic publisher’s “original dynasty.” Regrettably, their cinematic legacy has not lived up to expectations, particularly in reference to the 2015 remake. (This statement softens the criticism a bit, making it more polite.)

This upcoming summer (hopefully), audiences will finally see the long-awaited movie for The Fantastic Four titled “First Steps”. It marks the commencement of Phase Six within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If you’re uncertain about its placement in the chronology, here is a brief overview of when it takes place.

When Fantastic Four is set in the MCU

The Fantastic Four story unfolds during the 1960s decade; the specific year isn’t specified. What makes this intriguing is that the events take place in a completely different universe.

Kevin Feige has consistently confirmed it since the initial promotions for the movie. He stated on Marvel’s podcast that “Absolutely, definitely, yes. It indeed falls within a specific timeframe.

As a keen observer myself, it struck me that the cityscape wasn’t an exact replica of the New York City we recognize from our world, especially not as it looked in the ’60s. Such discerning insights indeed!

At the BFI IMAX in London before the movie’s premiere, director Matt Shakman was questioned about his decision to set and style Fantastic Four in the ’60s.

He stated that the origin of these characters can be traced back to the 1960s, as they were developed by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee.

In an era filled with hope and the fierce competition known as the Space Race, these characters came into being. The collective imagination was set ablaze by dreams of the cosmos, fantasies of mastering the enigmatic, and that’s precisely what embodies the Fantastic Four.

Shakman stated that by setting the team in the ’60s, they were nearer to their “original starting point.” Nevertheless, there was no desire to delve into their histories within the primary Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), specifically Earth-616 and not Earth-199999.

We felt it wouldn’t be fitting for them to coexist in the Marvel universe during Thanos’s attack, as they weren’t present at that time.” (Shakman added.)

Since they could have assisted us and resolved the issue, we moved them to another Earth – specifically, Earth-828 – which belongs to a separate realm within the Marvel universe.

Kirby was likewise born on the 28th of August, which is equivalent to 8/28 in the commonly used U.S. date format, thus paying a distinct tribute to his co-creator.

How Fantastic Four fits into the MCU timeline

Navigating the chronology of the Marvel Cinematic Universe can be quite intricate, particularly with the introduction of the multiverse. Events become rather convoluted and challenging to follow, yet the arrival of Fantastic Four seems remarkably straightforward within this timeframe: it’s a relatively easy entry point for newcomers.

  • Captain America: The First Avenger — 1942-1945
  • Fantastic Four – 1960s
  • Captain Marvel — 1995
  • Iron Man — 2010
  • Iron Man 2 — 2011
  • The Incredible Hulk — 2011
  • Thor — 2011
  • The Avengers — 2012
  • Iron Man 3 — 2012
  • Thor: The Dark World — 2013
  • Captain America: The Winter Soldier — 2014
  • Daredevil Season 1 – 2014
  • Guardians of the Galaxy — 2014
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 — 2014
  • Avengers: Age of Ultron — 2015
  • Ant-Man — 2015
  • Daredevil Season 2 – 2015
  • Captain America: Civil War — 2016
  • Black Widow — 2016
  • Black Panther — 2016
  • Spider-Man: Homecoming — 2016
  • The Punisher Season 1 – 2016
  • Doctor Strange — 2016
  • Thor: Ragnarok — 2017
  • Daredevil Season 3 – 2017
  • The Punisher Season 2 – 2017
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp — 2018
  • Avengers: Infinity War — 2018
  • Avengers: Endgame — 2023
  • What If…? — 2023, but there are a number of different timelines throughout the series
  • Wandavision — 2023
  • The Falcon and the Winter Soldier — 2023
  • Spider-Man: Far From Home — 2023
  • Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings — 2023
  • Eternals — 2023
  • Spider-Man: No Way Home — 2024
  • Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness — 2024
  • Hawkeye — 2024
  • Moon Knight — 2025
  • She-Hulk — 2025
  • Echo – 2025
  • Ms Marvel — 2025
  • The Marvels – 2025
  • Thor: Love and Thunder — 2025
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — 2025
  • Werewolf By Night — 2025
  • The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special — 2025
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania — 2025
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 — 2025
  • Secret Invasion — 2025
  • Loki Seasons 1-2 — 2025, but the show hops around several timelines, including the events of The Avengers, present-day MCU, and the end of time itself
  • Daredevil: Born Again – 2025-2026
  • Agatha All Along – 2026
  • Captain America: Brave New World – 2026-2027
  • Thunderbolts* – 2027

One important thing to note: by the end of Thunderbolts, it’s been established that the Fantastic Four will join the main Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which is Earth-616. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Earth-828, where the story takes place in the 60s, aligns perfectly with Earth-616 in terms of time sequence.

In simple terms, this story takes place in the 1960s within its own universe, yet it can also be happening simultaneously with the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe films.

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2025-07-21 11:19