A new report sheds light on the Earth where The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place, offering clues about its ties to the wider multiverse. The report confirms that the film takes place on an alternate Earth, placing Marvel’s First Family in a reality near the Illuminati’s Earth-838. It clears up earlier speculation and positions the team to cross over smoothly within the MCU’s expanding multiverse.
Here’s where The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set in MCU Multiverse
Insider scooper MyTimeToShineHello revealed on May 30, 2025, that The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place in “Universe 828.”
This places the film’s setting in a reality distinct from the mainline Marvel Cinematic Universe, Earth-616, and the Illuminati’s Earth-838, featured in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The confirmation marks the first official appearance of Earth-828 in the MCU canon.
The Illuminati’s Earth-838 featured a version of Reed Richards played by John Krasinski, who was killed by Wanda Maximoff. To avoid overlap, Marvel Studios placed the new Fantastic Four in a different universe altogether. Kevin Feige previously confirmed that the characters would originate from another universe, and trailers show a stylized, 1960s-inspired setting supporting the idea of a distinct, retro-futuristic dimension.
Earth-828, though new to audiences, connects closely to other known MCU universes. It stands apart from Earth-10005 (Fox’s X-Men universe) and Sony’s multiverses. Marvel Studios seems to have designed Earth-828 to bridge the visual and thematic space between Earth-838 and Earth-616. This approach enables the First Steps team to appear in crossover films like Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars without creating continuity issues.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps casts Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm. The Thunderbolts*’ post-credits scene teases their interdimensional arrival in Earth-616. Julia Garner takes on the role of the Silver Surfer, while Ralph Ineson plays Galactus.
The film releases on July 25, 2025, marking the start of MCU’s Phase Six.
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on SuperHeroHype.
