The Avengers Confirmed to Have a New Leader in the MCU's Phase 6 - United States News Beep

After almost two decades of films and TV shows, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is entering Phase Six. The new series of films will officially launch shortly with the release of the The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

The upcoming superhero film, which will introduce Marvel’s First Family into the mix, has been long rumored to have a connection to the upcoming Avengers films, Doomsday and Secret Wars, slated for release in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Now that connection has just been nothing but confirmed by the film’s director, Matt Shakman. In an interview with Variety, Shakman highlighted that Phase Six will have a new Avengers leader: Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic.

Veteran Marvel Director Reveals Why They Quit This Upcoming MCU Blockbuster

MCU production woes plagued one of its most prolific filmmakers.

The director teased that Reed was the most challenging part to cast, which eventually led to everyone’s favorite, Pascal, who has been experiencing a surge in popularity since his role in HBO’s The Last of Us. His part as Mister Fantastic in The Fantastic Four: First Steps alone wasn’t the only problem, but his higher responsibility in the franchise.

He goes from being the nerdy scientist […] to the guy who’s leading the Avengers.

“He goes from being the nerdy scientist who’s locked away in the lab, to the husband and the father who’d do anything to protect his family, to the guy who’s leading the Avengers,” Shakman teased. “I realized that the version we were building had to have all of those elements.”

The need for a leader is clear. The first Avengers films featured a battle for leadership between Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark and Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers. Since Tony died at the end of Avengers: Endgame, with Steve deciding to go back in time and live life with the love of his life, Peggy Carter, the Avengers no longer have a clear leader, although Captain America continues to be a part of the group via Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, and Chris Hemsowrth’s Thor is also coming back. However, Reed makes the most sense, considering the new additions and Thor’s limited availability.

Shakman and Pascal went way back, since the beginning of their careers, and working in theater. “We had the same talent manager at the beginning of our careers,” Pascal detailed his connection to the film’s director in an e-mail to the same outlet. “We even almost became roommates. Matt has always been a theater animal and would include me in various things he was assembling in the theater community in Los Angeles. Coming together for Fantastic Four felt absolutely fated in the stars.” Especially with a film that’s all about family.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Director Confirms Cutting Major Star Out Of The Movie

The upcoming Marvel film won’t feature a previously announced star.

As for him making sense as family with the rest of the cast, which features Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/ Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/ Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/ The Thing), the filmmaker said it all came down to acting talent. “Great actors create great chemistry,” Shakman explained. “You bring people together, and you build a process that supports the building of that chemistry.”

“We approached the story dramaturgically as you would a play, before we got on our feet with anything,” Pascal detailed their work bond. “It was Matt setting up the circumstances to be together as a cast and flesh out a language that bonded each of us together as a family.”

The Fantastic Four Will Return in Avengers: Doomsday

Although their film hasn’t come out yet, the four characters’ future is already revealed. Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben are among the many characters who will star in MCU’s superhero-studded Avengers: Doomsday. The fifth Avengers film is set to premiere in December 2026, and will bring back Robert Downey Jr., this time as a foe, not a friend. He is set to play Doctor Doom, the Fantastic Four’s nemesis.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on Jul. 25, with Avengers: Doomsday scheduled for release on Dec. 18, 2026.

Source: Variety