The secondThe Fantastic Four: First Stepstrailer includes a sneakyMCUeaster egg that references Matt Shakman’s first Marvel project.The Fantastic Four: First Steps' second trailerreveals a few key details about Phase 6’s first installment, including Franklin Richards' introduction, Julia Garner’s comic-accurate Silver Surfer look, andReed Richards' super-stretching powers. The trailer also emphasizes the Fantastic Four’s popularity in their alternate timeline, which only raises the stakes for their encounter with Silver Surfer and Galactus.
There are no superheroes other than the titular team inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps' alternate universe. Therefore, references to characters and events from previous MCU installments are unlikely. Reed Richards and his family have no knowledge of Earth-616’s Avengers and vice versa. This doesn’t mean thatThe Fantastic Four: First Stepswon’t have easter eggs, however. As the first chapter in the Multiverse Saga’s final phase and a love letter to one of Marvel’s most important properties,The Fantastic Four: First Stepswill probably feature dozens of references to Marvel’s eighty-six year history.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Trailer Has A WandaVision Easter Egg
The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Second Trailer Drops A Nod To WandaVision
In a shot ofThe Fantastic Four: First Steps' alternate-universe New York,a storefront sign for “Westview Appliances & Television” makes a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance in Times Square. This is a reference toWandaVision’s Westview — the fictional New Jersey town Wanda Maximoff took over inWandaVision.WandaVision’s nine episodes were directed by Matt Shakman, who’s now helmingThe Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Why It Makes Sense The Fantastic Four Would Reference WandaVision
WandaVision And The Fantastic Four: First Steps Share More Than Just Their Director
The Fantastic Four: First Steps' reference toWandaVisionmay only be a lighthearted nod to Matt Shakman’sWandaVision, as the MCU’s actual Westview and Scarlet Witch probably won’t appear in the Phase 6 movie.WandaVision’s unique retro stylecertainly played a key role in Marvel Studios' decision to hire Matt Shakman forThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsafter the MCU’sSpider-Mantrilogy director Jon Watts abandoned the project.Matt Shakman’s skillful handling ofWandaVision’s vintage elements made him the perfect choice forThe Fantastic Four: First Steps' 1960s-inspired setting.
After the events ofWandaVision, Wanda Maximoff became obsessed with the idea of recovering her children created in Westview. Wanda travels to Earth-838 inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessand meets the MCU’s first Reed Richards variant, played by John Krasinski.Scarlet Witch kills Reed Richards and his Illuminati teammatesin cold blood. Apart from being a reference to Matt Shakman’sWandaVision,The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Westview easter egg also serves as a nod to Reed Richard’s brief history with Scarlet Witch.
