The MCU Just Explained Why The Fantastic Four's World Was So Much More Advanced According To Doomsday Theory

Avengers: Doomsday's newest trailer has led to a theory that would perfectly explain The Fantastic Four's universe being simultaneously futuristic in its technology while also being set around the 1960s. The MCU has expanded more than ever before in the past few years, welcoming in the newest iterations of many beloved Marvel heroes - with the Fantastic Four's 2025 debut being perhaps the most important of these recent returns.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps showing us the universe the titular team come from is interesting for a multitude of reasons, not least because it means the group will have no pre-established bonds with any of the MCU's main characters. That said, this could be made even more fascinating if the family have past relationships with their variants of the main universe's heroes, as one theory suggests is the case.

Avengers: Doomsday's New Teaser Trailer Hints At The Fantastic Four Being Aware Of Their Universe's Wakanda

The newest Avengers: Doomsday teaser trailer shows what appears to be the first interaction between Earth- 828's Fantastic Four and the inhabitants of the MCU's main universe, Earth-616, via Ben Grimm meeting and talking with M'Baku, the current King of Wakanda.

Interestingly, despite having seemingly traveled to another universe that we know is different in many ways very different - and potentially either being on the run from Doctor Doom or otherwise searching after him - Ben seems completely nonplussed about his meeting with M'Baku, casually responding to the king introducing himself and saying he's from Wakanda by telling M'Baku that he's from Yancy Street.

While this may simply be a spot of comedy in a movie that looks as though it will have some very serious moments, The Thing's behavior - combined with what we learn throughout The Fantastic Four: First Steps - has led to theories that the Fantastic Four may have bonds with their version of Wakanda and those who live within it their own home universe, which could add an extra layer to this particular encounter between the Avengers: Doomsday cast members.

This would explain why Ben says the exact street he's from without mentioning the city by name, and would also go a long way to further explain why and how Earth-828 manages to have a far more technologically advanced New York, since it would mean this scenario isn't as solely reliant on Reed Richards alone.

The Fantastic Four's Universe Being A Retro Futuristic World Makes More Sense If Wakanda Was Involved

The MCU has repeatedly shown that Wakanda's technological advancements have historically far outpaced that of the rest of the world - particularly during the events of Eyes of Wakanda, which leans on the idea of Wakanda having things like advanced transport long before its adopted elsewhere.

As such, having the technological advancements of New York in The Fantastic Four's home universe be even partially explained via Wakanda having unveiled themselves earlier on - and having potentially collaborated with Reed Richards on his work there, or otherwise having helped inspire his work - would further solidify why this universe ends up so different to the main MCU in this sense.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps' references to the world having demilitarized would justify why things may have taken this different trajectory, as the differing circumstances the universe appears to find itself in would seem to align with Wakanda and its citizens being able to unveil themselves earlier - and indeed, they may actively be a part of the Future Foundation, or otherwise assist in its efforts.

Whatever the case, the theory certainly presents a fascinating and likely-looking potential scenario for the MCU timeline - and one that could potentially hold some plot significance in Avengers: Doomsday and beyond, depending on what is planned for the various Marvel heroes the franchise is set to put in the spotlight going forward.