Marvel Comics kicked-off a new age of comic book stories with 1961’s The Fantastic Four #1, introducing a superhero team with a family dynamic that had never been seen before. This familial relationship has been crucial to Marvel Comics’ success for over six decades, but the Fantastic Four have also established connections to many other heroes. While the primary line-up of the Fantastic Four includes Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch and the Thing, several other heroes have also joined the Fantastic Four, which means a selection of MCU heroes could also be featured on the upcoming team.
10. She-Hulk Became A Member After Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars
Tatiana Maslany Has Played She-Hulk Since She-Hulk: Attorney At Law (2022)
Tatiana Maslany stars as Jennifer Walters, AKA She-Hulk in Marvel’s Disney+ TV series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. She-Hulk is a half-hour comedy series that follows the story of Jennifer Walters, Bruce Banner/Hulk’s cousin. Jennifer is an attorney who must juggle her life alongside being a 6-foot-7-inch hulk. Unlike her cousin, Jennifer is capable of managing her transformation at will. With these newfound powers, Jennifer will head-up a new superhero division at an opposing law firm while trying to learn what it means to be a hero. Additional casting includes Mark Ruffalo, reprising his role as Bruce Banner/ The Hulk, with Tim Roth joining the cast as Emil Blonsky/Abomination, the villain who originally appeared in The Incredible Hulk film. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is a part of the MCU’s Phase 4 and originally aired in August 2022.
After the events of Marvel Comics’ 1984 Secret Wars event, which ended with Ben Grimm staying on Battleworld as he could revert to his human form there, Jennifer Walters’ She-Hulk joined the Fantastic Four in the Thing’s place. She-Hulk helped the Fantastic Four battle villains such as Doctor Doom, Doctor Octopus, Mephisto and Terminus, but returned to the Avengers after Ben Grimm returned. Tatiana Maslany debuted as Walters in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, but since She-Hulk’s future in the MCU is currently unclear, it’s possible that she could find herself fighting alongside Marvel’s First Family after their Phase 6 debut.
9. Luke Cage Joined The Fantastic Four After The Thing Lost His Power
Mike Colter Played Luke Cage In Marvel Television’s Defenders Saga
After being exposed to gamma rays while fighting the Hulk, Ben Grimm lost his abilities, which led to the Fantastic Four hiring Luke Cage as his replacement in 1975’s The Fantastic Four #168. Luke Cage’s super strength and indestructible skin made him a huge asset to the Fantastic Four, but things turned sour when Cage was manipulated by the Puppet Master to fight his new team. While Luke Cage hasn’t been officially introduced to the MCU, Mike Colter portrayed the hero in Marvel Television’s Defenders Saga, and after the returns of several Netflix characters, it’s possible he could also return.
8. Ant-Man Was The Fantastic Four’s Technical Advisor
Paul Rudd Has Played Ant-Man Since Ant-Man (2015)
Following Reed Richards’ presumed death, Scott Lang’s Ant-Man joined the Fantastic Four as the team’s technical advisor in 1993’s The Fantastic Four #384. During his time with the Fantastic Four, Lang’s daughter, Cassie, learned of his superhero exploits, but while this story has already been shown in the MCU, it’s still possible that Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man could join the upcoming team. Ant-Man has become one of the most important heroes in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, specifically because of his experience with Kang the Conqueror, so he could cross paths with the Fantastic Four when they journey to the present day.
7. Iceman Once Replaced Johnny Storm’s Human Torch In The Fantastic Four
Shawn Ashmore Played Bobby Drake’s Iceman In Fox’s X-Men Franchise
Iceman’s history with the Fantastic Four is complex, as he was revealed to have been in the team when Reed Richards summoned all past members in 2018’s Fantastic Four (Vol. 6) #2. Iceman’s time in the Fantastic Four was recounted some issues later, where it was revealed that he replaced Johnny Storm’s Human Torch when both briefly left their respective superhero teams. Bobby Drake’s Iceman hasn’t debuted in the MCU yet, but Shawn Ashmore did portray the character in Fox’s X-Men Universe, and as a founding member of the X-Men, it’s likely he’ll soon make his way to the MCU.
6. Black Panther & Storm Replaced Reed Richards & Sue Storm After Marvel Comics’ Civil War
Chadwick Boseman Played T’Challa’s Black Panther & Letitia Wright Has Played Shuri’s Black Panther In The MCU
In the wake of Marvel Comics’ Civil War storyline, Reed Richards and Sue Storm chose to take a leave of absence from the Fantastic Four, prompting iconic super-couple T’Challa, the Black Panther, and X-Men member Ororo Munroe, a.k.a. Storm, to replace them. With the Fantastic Four, the Black Panther and Storm saved the multiverse and battled Galactus and his Heralds. While T’Challa has passed away in the MCU, his sister, Letitia Wright’s Shuri, is the new Black Panther, so she could join the Fantastic Four, and a new iteration of Storm is likely to be featured among the MCU’s X-Men.
5. The Hulk Was A Member Of The New Fantastic Four
Mark Ruffalo Has Played The Hulk Since The Avengers (2012)
During 1990’s Fantastic Four #347, the titular team were captured by a Skrull impersonating Sue Storm, who falsely reported them dead. The Skrull formed a new Fantastic Four team, and manipulated them to steal a weapon from Mole Man, and this short-lived team included Bruce Banner’s Hulk in his gray Mr. Fixit persona. The Hulk rejoined this team in the Secret Defenders storyline, and again in the Ages of Apocalypse reality to fight several powerful villains. With Mark Ruffalo’s future as the Hulk being uncertain, it would be great to see him be featured in a new Fantastic Four team.
4. Namor Could Come Between Reed Richards & Sue Storm
Tenoch Huerta Has Played Namor Since Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the sequel to the 2018 film Black Panther and is part of Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Gripping with the passing of their king, the nation of Wakanda attempts to figure out how to move forward with Queen Mother Ramonda (Angela Bassett) and Princess Shuri (Letitia Wright) at the helm. However, a nation in grieving is not observed by all, as soon Wakanda comes under attack by the underwater civilization of Talocan, led by Namor (Tenoch Huerta.) Wakanda will enlist allies outside and from within to push back this new invading threat and ensure that Wakanda truly does live on forever.
While Namor has never been featured in the line-up of the Fantastic Four, he has been closely associated with the team since their debut in 1961. Namor was cured of his amnesia with the help of Johnny Storm, but it was his on-again, off-again relationship with Sue Storm that tied him more closely to the team. Namor has been seen as both an ally and enemy of the Fantastic Four, especially after Sue Storm chose to marry Reed Richards, and this same dynamic could be adapted into the MCU following Tenoch Huerta’s debut as Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
3. Wolverine Will Soon Be Coming To The MCU
Hugh Jackman Has Played Wolverine Since X-Men (2000) & Will Soon Join The MCU
Along with Bruce Banner’s Hulk, popular X-Men member Wolverine was also featured on the Skrull’s new Fantastic Four team in 1990’s Fantastic Four #347. Wolverine was again included in the team when they arrested Johnny Storm for arson, and also fought in the Ages of Apocalypse reality. Hugh Jackman portrayed James “Logan” Howlett’s Wolverine in Fox’s X-Men Universe between 2000’s X-Men and 2017’s Logan, and is set to reprise the role in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine. However, Jackman is expected to be recast when the MCU’s official Wolverine is introduced, meaning this version could form a new Fantastic Four team.
2. Spider-Man Helped Form The Future Foundation
Tom Holland Has Played Spider-Man Since Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Peter Parker’s Spider-Man is perhaps the most well-known addition to the Fantastic Four. As Johnny Storm’s close friend, Peter Parker has been associated with the team for many years, and following Johnny Storm’s apparent death in 2011, Spider-Man joined the Fantastic Four in his place. During this period, the team transformed into the Future Foundation, but Spider-Man was also featured in the Skrull’s new Fantastic Four prior to this. After the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man may be searching for a new team, and the Fantastic Four could provide the perfect new home for the wall-crawler.
1. Venom Replaced Spider-Man In The New Fantastic Four (& May Soon Debut In The MCU)
Tom Hardy Plays Eddie Brock’s Venom In Sony’s Spider-Man Universe
When a second iteration of the new Fantastic Four team was formed in 2012’s Venom (Vol. 2) #13, Eddie Brock’s Venom replaced Spider-Man, while the Red Hulk replaced Bruce Banner, X-23 replaced Wolverine, and Alejandra Jones’ Ghost Rider replaced Danny Ketch. Tom Hardy’s Venom could return to the MCU after his cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but it’s more likely that the piece of the Venom symbiote will introduce a new version of the villain-turned-antihero. Venom would be an unorthodox inclusion in the team, but any of these heroes could be featured in future versions of the Fantastic Four.
