3 Ways Galactus & Silver Surfer Can Return to the MCU After Fantastic Four: First Steps

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The new movie, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, has a big job to do: introduce a fresh take on Marvel’s famous family while avoiding past errors. The film spends the first twenty minutes building a strong connection between the characters, which pays off by allowing it to then focus on the threat posed by the villains. When Silver Surfer appears and warns of Galactus – a being who plans to destroy Earth and anyone who opposes him – the Fantastic Four naturally step in to find a way to save the planet.

Okay, so the Fantastic Four’s plan to trick Galactus didn’t totally work – he figured it out pretty fast once he landed. But here’s the cool part: Galactus was so focused on what they were doing, he didn’t see the Silver Surfer coming! The Surfer managed to shove him through a wormhole, and now they’re both stuck way out in deep space. It got me thinking about how they could possibly come back to the MCU after what happened in First Steps, and I’ve come up with three ideas!

1) The Old-Fashioned Way

When Galactus first met the Fantastic Four, he explained that he wasn’t always a massive, planet-devouring being. He started small and gradually built up his power and technology to make his job easier, and he’s capable of doing it again. This means there’s a possibility he could return to Earth-828 seeking revenge, forcing the Fantastic Four to defeat him all over again, though it would take time for him to rebuild his power.

Let’s talk Silver Surfer. Unlike her old boss, Galactus, she’s not just about destruction. Her board isn’t a weapon, it’s a scout! She’s sent ahead to check out planets and make sure they’re worth saving before Galactus arrives. If the filmmakers keep her powers, I fully expect to see Shall-Bal team up with the Human Torch and the rest of the Avengers crew in one of the next two big Marvel movies. It makes total sense, and I’d be surprised if it didn’t happen.

2) The Multiverse

Seeking revenge across the galaxy seems like a huge undertaking. Luckily, the existence of the multiverse means there are likely alternate realities where Galactus doesn’t have to go to such lengths. Since Doctor Doom, another Fantastic Four villain, is also targeting the multiverse in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, it’s reasonable to expect we might see a different version of Galactus and his herald appear and get involved.

The characters already exist in the universe established by Tim Story’s Fantastic Four movies. Although we might not see the giant purple cloud again, the post-credits scene in The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer proves that the Silver Surfer survived. Perhaps Marvel Studios will find a way to address plot points left unresolved from the Fox films.

3) New Characters Take Up the Mantles

The most fascinating option doesn’t actually involve the Galactus and Silver Surfer we saw in First Steps. Instead, the recent MCU film suggests Galactus is trying to pass on his power to Franklin Richards, recognizing that Franklin possesses the Power Cosmic. If Franklin continues to get stronger, he could potentially become the next Devourer of Worlds, mirroring his role in the comics.

Once that’s taken care of, Franklin can pick anyone to be his herald. His uncle, Johnny Storm, seems like the best choice, since he previously volunteered to help the Silver Surfer in First Steps and has even been a herald in the comics. If not Johnny, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of Norrin Radd could also be a possibility.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is streaming on Disney+.

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2025-11-07 00:12