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Summary
The Fantastic Four: First Stepscould bring back a rarely seen MCU character, who could seamlessly connect the new superhero team to the larger franchise. The upcoming Marvel movie is set in a ’60s-inspired world, and if its timeline and reality do align with the MCU’s main events, one familiar face surely needs to make a reappearance.
The MCU is known for bending narrative rules, like using time travel and the multiverse to bring back characters. Lately, it’s also been reusing actors in new roles, like Chris Evans’Human Torch inDeadpool & Wolverineor Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom. ButThe Fantastic Four: First Stepscould bring back a character in a way that actually fits the story. And surprise: it’s a Stark, just not the one fans are thinking of.
Maria Stark (wife), Tony Stark (son)
Death
Killed by the Winter Soldier (Bucky Barnes) in 1991 under HYDRA’s orders
Howard Stark might seem like just another background character on paper, but fans know he’s anything but. As the founder of Stark Industries, he has influenced key moments in history, especially in creatingIron Man and Captain America. The man is a true part of Marvel’s heritage. Now thatThe Fantastic Fouris being rebooted and officially integrated into the MCU, bringing Howard Stark into the mix is an opportunity too good to pass up.
So far, there is no confirmation on whetherThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsis actually set in the 1960s or if it simply adopts aretro-futurist aesthetic. The planet shown in the trailer may not even be Earth-616, the primary MCU reality. As of now, there has been no indication that previously established characters will appear in the film. But if everything lines up, Howard Stark would be a great addition to the film.
How Tony Stark’s Father Can Be Reintroduced InF4
Scientist Connection With Reed Richards
Marvel wouldn’t have to try too hard to introduce Howard Stark inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic, is a genius of his time and a major figure in the scientific community. He and Howard could be peers, perhaps working together on a technological advancement — possibly something related to the Tesseract, which would make for another great callback. Alternatively, Howard could be Reed’s rival in the field, though that role is often reserved forVictor Von Doom, aka Doctor Doom,in their stories.
Marvel’sS.H.I.E.L.D.And A Secret Society
Howard Stark’s strongest Marvel Comics connection isn’t to Reed Richards but to his father, Nathaniel Richards. InJonathan Hickman’sS.H.I.E.L.D.series, both are part of the secret Brotherhood of the Shield, alongside historical figures like Leonardo da Vinci and Isaac Newton. Nathaniel is deeply tied to time travel and alternate realities, often linked to Kang the Conqueror. Howard may not be as directly involved, but that doesn’t mean his path wouldn’t eventually cross with Nathaniel’s son, who is the leader of The Fantastic Four.
The Fantasticar’s MCU Origins
The aptly named Fantasticar, the primary mode of transport for the group, made its first appearance inThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsteaser trailerand at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con. Interestingly, its design bears a resemblance to the flying car prototype introduced at the 1943 World Exposition of Tomorrow—later known as the Stark Expo. Perhaps the Fantasticar itself is a custom creation by Howard Stark for Marvel’s First Family. If true, this would be a brilliant Phase 6 payoff for a setup that dates all the way back toMarvel’s Phase 1.
Marvel’sFantastic FourWill Skip The Origin
The Gap Could Be Filled By Howard Stark’s Backstory
Howard Stark’s backstory has plenty of room to fit intoThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. Kevin Feige has already confirmed that the film won’t be focusing too much on the team’s origin story.Speaking toThe Hollywood Reporterin July 2022, the Marvel Studios president compared the approach to how Spider-Man was introduced in the MCU –without retelling his classic origin story. Instead, the upcomingFantastic Fourmovie will connect with the larger MCU rather than function as a standalone reboot.
A lot of people know this origin story. A lot of people know the basics. How do we take that and bring something that they’ve never seen before? We’ve set a very high bar for ourselves with bringing that to the screen.
CouldFirst StepsIntroduce More Classic MCU Characters?
It doesn’t have to be just Howard Stark making his way from this era. His inclusion could naturally pave the way for other established characters like Peggy Carter and Hank Pym, both of whom would have been in their prime at the time. The idea of these legacy characters interacting with The Fantastic Four makes the crossover feel more complete. Imagine Reed Richards assisting ayoung Hank Pymin developing the Ant-Man suit. We’ve already seen Peggy Carter’s multiversal variants, like inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, so another return wouldn’t be surprising.
Dominic Cooper Should Return As Howard Stark
The MCU has shown two versions of Howard Stark. Dominic Cooper played the younger version inCaptain America: The First AvengerandAgent Carter.The older version, portrayed by John Slattery, has been seen interacting with Tony Stark, whether through the posthumous film reel inIron Man 2or the emotional time-travel scene inAvengers: Endgame. ForThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, Cooper would be the better choice. Since he has aged naturally, he now looks just like Howard Stark would in the 1960s.
