Marvel Studios’ upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps appears to be laying the groundwork for one of the most compelling storylines from the comics through a devastating moral choice involving baby Franklin Richards. Recent clips from the film reveal that Galactus, the world-devouring cosmic entity, has made an impossible demand: he wants the Richards’ newborn son in exchange for sparing Earth. This setup not only creates a profound ethical dilemma for Reed Richards but also establishes the perfect foundation for introducing the Council of Reeds, potentially bringing back previous actors who portrayed Mr. Fantastic.
The Galactus Ultimatum: An Impossible Choice
Franklin Richards as the Ultimate Prize
The film’s central conflict revolves around Galactus’s demand for baby Franklin Richards, a character whose comic book counterpart possesses godlike powers capable of creating entire universes. This demand transforms the typical superhero battle into a deeply personal moral crisis for the Fantastic Four, particularly Reed Richards.
As revealed in the film’s marketing materials, when the Fantastic Four travel to the moon where Galactus has established his base, they attempt to negotiate with the cosmic entity. However, his price proves too high: he wants their child. This creates what can only be described as the ultimate trolley problem – sacrifice one life to save billions, but that one life is your own son.
The Moral Complexity of Reed’s Dilemma
Reed Richards finds himself caught between his logical, scientific mind and his paternal instincts. The film appears to explore how Reed’s naturally calculated approach to problem-solving clashes with the emotional reality of potentially sacrificing his own child. This internal conflict becomes the driving force behind the narrative, forcing Reed to confront whether pure logic can guide all decisions.
The scenario presents several layers of moral complexity:
- Utilitarian Logic: One life versus billions suggests an obvious choice
- Parental Bond: The emotional impossibility of sacrificing one’s own child
- Uncertainty: No guarantee that surrendering Franklin will actually save Earth
- Long-term Consequences: The implications of giving a reality-altering being to a cosmic threat
Franklin Richards: The Multiverse’s Most Valuable Asset
Comic Book Origins and Powers
In Marvel Comics, Franklin Richards represents one of the most powerful beings in existence. His abilities include:
- Reality Manipulation: Can alter the fundamental nature of existence
- Universe Creation: Capable of creating entire realities from nothing
- Cosmic Awareness: Understanding of multiversal mechanics
- Temporal Manipulation: Influence over time itself
- Matter Reconstruction: Ability to rebuild destroyed realities
The 2015 Secret Wars storyline demonstrated Franklin’s ultimate potential when he recreated the entire multiverse following its destruction. This precedent suggests that the MCU version of Franklin could serve a similar function in the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars.
Why Galactus Wants Franklin
The film’s version of Galactus appears to come from a universe that no longer exists, having witnessed its death. Theory suggests that Galactus seeks to use Franklin’s reality-altering powers to recreate his lost universe. This motivation transforms Galactus from a simple world-devourer into a tragic figure attempting to restore what he’s lost.
This interpretation aligns with Marvel’s tendency to provide complex motivations for cosmic-level antagonists, similar to how Thanos believed his universal genocide would solve overpopulation. Galactus’s desire to restore his universe provides emotional stakes that extend beyond mere hunger.
The Council of Reeds: Multiversal Variants Converge
Setting Up the Council Introduction
The film establishes Reed Richards as someone who has been “stretching the bounds of space,” with marketing materials showing multiversal equations on his chalkboard. This experimentation with dimensional barriers creates the perfect setup for Reed to encounter his multiversal variants.
The Council of Reeds represents a gathering of Reed Richards variants from across the multiverse, each having faced similar challenges but made different choices. In the comics, this council operates with cold logic, prioritizing their intellectual pursuits over emotional connections, including their relationships with the other members of the Fantastic Four.
The Multiverse Saga’s Casting Opportunities
The introduction of the Council of Reeds provides Marvel Studios with the perfect opportunity to bring back previous actors who portrayed Reed Richards:
Miles Teller – From the 2015 Fantastic Four film, representing a younger, more inexperienced Reed variant who learned hard lessons about the consequences of ambition.
Ioan Gruffudd – The Reed Richards from the 2005 and 2007 films, embodying the classic interpretation of the character with a more traditional heroic approach.
John Krasinski – Building on his brief appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, representing a Reed who achieved leadership of the Illuminati.
This casting approach aligns with the Multiverse Saga’s established pattern of bringing back actors from previous Marvel properties, as seen with Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, Hugh Jackman, and Patrick Stewart.
The Council’s Cold Logic
Previous Encounters with Galactus
The theory suggests that other Reed Richards variants have successfully saved their worlds from Galactus, but at a terrible cost: they all sacrificed their Franklin to the cosmic entity. This revelation would devastate Earth-828’s Reed Richards, who initially seeks their guidance hoping to find an alternative solution.
The Council of Reeds’ willingness to sacrifice Franklin demonstrates how they’ve abandoned the emotional connections that once made them heroes. Their logical approach prioritizes the mathematical certainty of saving billions over the emotional reality of losing one’s child.
The Philosophical Divide
The introduction of the Council creates a philosophical conflict between different approaches to heroism:
- Cold Logic: The Council’s utilitarian approach to problem-solving
- Emotional Heroism: Reed’s struggle between logic and love
- Sacrificial Calculus: The mathematical assessment of lives saved versus lost
- Heroic Idealism: The belief that there’s always another way
This divide mirrors the conflict seen in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, where Miles Morales refuses to accept the Spider-Society’s doctrine of inevitable “canon events,” choosing instead to fight for a different outcome.
The Maker: Reed Richards as Villain
Introduction of the Villainous Variant
The film could introduce the Maker, a villainous Reed Richards variant who represents the logical extreme of the Council’s philosophy. This character embodies what Reed could become if he completely abandons emotional connections in favor of pure intellectual superiority.
The Maker’s potential introduction serves multiple narrative functions:
- Character Development: Shows Reed what he could become
- Philosophical Opposition: Represents the dangers of unchecked logic
- Future Threat: Establishes a recurring antagonist for future films
- Moral Choice: Forces Reed to choose between easy answers and difficult heroism
Potential Casting and Timing
The Maker’s introduction could feature any of the previous Reed Richards actors, with Pedro Pascal being suggested as a particularly compelling choice. The character’s appearance could serve as either a future setup or the film’s true third-act antagonist, with Galactus serving as a misdirection.
Visual and Thematic Elements
The Multiversal Bridge
Marketing materials show Reed’s chalkboard covered with equations related to multiversal travel, including what appears to be a “multiversal bridge.” This visual element suggests Reed’s experimentation with dimensional barriers, potentially explaining how he contacts or is contacted by the Council of Reeds.
Character Design Implications
The Council of Reeds would likely feature subtle variations in costume and appearance, reflecting their different origins and experiences:
- Miles Teller’s Reed: More tactical, militaristic approach
- Ioan Gruffudd’s Reed: Classic blue uniform with subtle updates
- John Krasinski’s Reed: Illuminati-influenced design elements
- The Maker: Distinctly villainous aesthetic choices
Connections to Future MCU Projects
Avengers: Doomsday Setup
The film’s events directly set up Avengers: Doomsday, where Dr. Doom reportedly kidnaps Franklin Richards. The post-credits scene is rumored to feature this kidnapping, transitioning from Galactus’s threat to Doom’s multiversal ambitions.
This progression creates a throughline where Franklin Richards becomes the focal point of multiple cosmic threats, each seeking to use his powers for their own purposes.
Secret Wars Implications
Franklin’s role in recreating the multiverse during Secret Wars receives perfect setup through this film’s exploration of his powers. The moral choices Reed makes regarding Franklin’s safety could directly impact the character’s willingness to use his abilities to save reality itself.
The Trolley Problem on a Cosmic Scale
Philosophical Foundations
The film’s central dilemma represents a cosmic-scale version of the classic trolley problem from moral philosophy. However, the personal stakes elevate it beyond mere academic exercise:
- Emotional Investment: The threatened life is Reed’s own son
- Uncertain Outcomes: No guarantee that either choice leads to salvation
- Moral Precedent: The decision sets a template for future ethical choices
- Character Definition: The choice defines what kind of hero Reed will become
Reed’s Character Arc
The film appears to chart Reed’s journey from purely logical problem-solver to someone who must balance intellect with emotion. This character development serves several purposes:
- Humanization: Makes Reed more relatable and complex
- Team Dynamics: Affects his relationships with Sue, Johnny, and Ben
- Leadership Growth: Determines his approach to future crises
- Heroic Evolution: Establishes his moral compass for future films
Conclusion: A Foundation for Multiversal Storytelling
Fantastic Four: First Steps uses the Franklin Richards dilemma to establish one of the most compelling setups in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga. By forcing Reed Richards to choose between logical calculation and emotional connection, the film creates the perfect foundation for introducing the Council of Reeds and exploring the darker implications of unchecked intellectualism.
The potential return of previous Reed Richards actors through the Council concept provides both nostalgic value and narrative depth, while the introduction of the Maker establishes a long-term antagonist who represents Reed’s potential corruption. The film’s exploration of moral philosophy through cosmic-scale consequences demonstrates Marvel’s willingness to tackle complex themes within the superhero framework.
Most importantly, the setup positions Franklin Richards as a key player in the multiverse’s future, establishing his importance for Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars while creating emotional stakes that extend far beyond typical superhero conflicts. The success of this approach will likely influence how Marvel handles similar moral dilemmas in future projects, potentially establishing a new template for character-driven cosmic storytelling.
The film’s willingness to present Reed Richards with an impossible choice reflects the Multiverse Saga’s broader themes of identity, sacrifice, and the weight of consequence. By grounding cosmic threats in personal stakes, Fantastic Four: First Steps appears poised to deliver both spectacular action and meaningful character development, setting the stage for the epic conclusions to come.
