An update from The Fantastic Four hints at a major Marvel Comics organization appearing in the film, which concerns me regarding the fate of Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm. Although the film does not begin shooting until the latter half of July 2024, it appears that The Fantastic Four will have some kind of presence at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. The Fantastic Four‘s cast will likely be beginning production when SDCC begins, but they could very well appear in some capacity to tease the upcoming Marvel movie.

Given that production is slated to begin as SDCC begins, I would not be surprised if The Fantastic Four members provided fans with a sneak peek of the set. Conversely, Kevin Feige could simply provide a first look at the cast members in their full Fantastic Four costumes. Regardless, it is clear that the film will be involved in Marvel’s 2024 Comic-Con panel to some capacity due to artwork hung outside the convention center. While I am undoubtedly excited about this, one small detail in the artwork has me worried about the future of Joseph Quinn in the MCU.

The Fantastic Four’s Future Foundation & Human Torch Connection Explained

Future Foundation’s Marvel Comics Story Stemmed From A Dark Human Torch Fate

In the posters hung for SDCC 2024, the silhouettes of the Fantastic Four characters can be seen. These posters offering the first look at the team members is a smart move by Marvel Studios, as it does not require any of The Fantastic Four‘s actors to be revealed while still drumming up anticipation for the movie. However, it is a small piece of writing beneath the film’s title that caught my eye. These words read “Future Foundation,” promising links to the organization of the same name from Marvel Comics and a potential Spider-Man connection in the MCU’s Fantastic Four.

In Marvel Comics, Future Foundation is, well, a foundation formed by Reed Richards. Richards founded this group as he became discouraged by the Earth’s leading scientists. He was disappointed in how these scientists viewed Earth’s problems, as well as how they caused more problems than they solved. As such, Reed formed Future Foundation, which consisted of a young team of brilliant minds who could solve Earth’s problems together. Unfortunately, this team was formed out of a tragedy.

Future Foundation was formed after the death of Human Torch/Johnny Storm. In Marvel’s Fantastic Four Vol. 1, #587, Johnny is killed fending off an Annihilation Wave, an armada of bug-like aliens dedicated to the Marvel villain Annihilus. Only after this was the Future Foundation formed, with Johnny’s death even having an effect on the team members; Spider-Man joined the team, primarily due to a request from Johnny before his death. With Future Foundation being tied so intrinsically to Johnny’s death, the former’s appearance in The Fantastic Four naturally has me worried about Joseph Quinn’s MCU Human Torch.

Marvel Killing Human Torch Would Repeat Joseph Quinn’s Stranger Things Storyline

Joesph Quinn’s Breakout Role Also Ended In Tragedy

If Future Foundation’s inclusion in The Fantastic Four does mean the death of Human Torch, the MCU would be repeating Joseph Quinn’s Stranger Things arc. Quinn joined the cast of Stranger Things for season 4, playing the character of Eddie Munson. Eddie quickly became a fan-favorite character in Stranger Things season 4, leading to Quinn receiving worldwide recognition for his performance. The role of Eddie is likely one of the contributing factors in Quinn being hired as Human Torch in the MCU.

Despite many audience members, myself included, responding to Eddie as a character, Stranger Things season 4’s ending included his death. This disappointed a lot of people who liked Eddie’s character and wished to see him further interact with Dustin and the other Stranger Things characters going forward. Unfortunately, Quinn’s breakout role as Eddie saw him killed off prematurely, and Johnny Storm’s untimely death in The Fantastic Four could see this repeated.

How The MCU Can Include The Future Foundation Without Killing Human Torch

It Is Difficult To See Marvel Studios Killing Off Johnny Storm So Early

However, although my worries are versed in comic book connections, I admit that it is incredibly unlikely that the MCU would kill Human Torch so early into his tenure. As such, it is likely the Future Foundation already exists at the beginning of the movie rather than as a result of Johnny’s death. Given that the Future Foundation logo is shown on the SDCC banners, it is safe for us to assume that this is the case. If not, Marvel Studios’ SDCC marketing has had a huge oversight and included a spoiler for the upcoming movie.

With the former situation more likely, Future Foundation could be retconned to have formed because of something else. Due to hints found in early promotional material from the movie, many have theorized that The Fantastic Four is set in an alternate universe to the prime MCU timeline. This gives the film the option to deviate from Marvel Comics more easily, as the multiverse means any story outcome is possible. Therefore, another character’s death or even a completely unrelated, less-fatal incident could have led to Future Foundation’s formation in The Fantastic Four.

Why The Fantastic Four Movie Shouldn’t Kill Off Human Torch

Several Reasons Can Be Raised For Johnny Storm’s MCU Survival

Admittedly, it seems a little unnecessary for me to explore why The Fantastic Four should not kill off Johnny Storm. The possibility that this scenario comes to pass is incredibly unlikely, yet stranger things have certainly happened. As a result, it is worth running through the reasons as to why this would be a bad idea.

For one, many are excited to see Human Torch in action. The Fantastic Four in general is a Marvel property that has not had the best run in live-action adaptations, so killing off a character as beloved as Johnny Storm so early would adversely impact not only his character but the movie as a whole. A proper adaptation of Marvel’s First Family is finally being promised, and killing off one of those family members would be a surefire way to drastically reduce excitement about their MCU future.

Secondly, Human Torch’s death would negatively impact the story beyond dampening excitement. As has been proven in the MCU’s past, meaningful character deaths need to be built towards. Deaths like Iron Man’s and Black Widow’s worked so intensely due to the years of development their characters received. Conversely, a death that is commonly rendered unnecessary and unimpactful is Quicksilver’s from Avengers: Age of Ultron. Introducing a character in a movie and killing them off in the same project rarely works, and Johnny Storm’s Fantastic Four death would be no different.

Finally, as mentioned, it would be seriously unfair on Joseph Quinn for the MCU to remove his character so early. His first breakout role was the same in Stranger Things, and The Fantastic Four following suit would render Quinn extremely unlucky. For these reasons, I cannot see The Fantastic Four killing Johnny Storm/Human Torch despite the film’s Future Foundation connections. The family is expected to be a cornerstone of the MCU for a long time after their introduction, and this expectation would take a serious hit if a character as strong as Johnny had his flame extinguished unceremoniously early.