First Steps Needs This Iron Man Connection

The Fantastic Four: First Steps could 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 in Deadpool & Wolverine or Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom. But The Fantastic Four: First Steps could 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.

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Howard Stark Must Return In The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Connecting The MCU’s Past & Present

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 creating Iron Man and Captain America. The man is a true part of Marvel’s heritage. Now that The Fantastic Four is 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 whether The Fantastic Four: First Steps is actually set in the 1960s or if it simply adopts a retro-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 In F4

Scientist Connection With Reed Richards

Marvel wouldn’t have to try too hard to introduce Howard Stark in The 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 for Victor Von Doom, aka Doctor Doom, in their stories.

Marvel’s S.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. In Jonathan Hickman’s S.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 in The Fantastic Four: First Steps teaser trailer and 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 to Marvel’s Phase 1.

Marvel’s Fantastic Four Will Skip The Origin

The Gap Could Be Filled By Howard Stark’s Backstory

Howard Stark’s backstory has plenty of room to fit into The 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 to The Hollywood Reporter in 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 upcoming Fantastic Four movie 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.

Could First Steps Introduce 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 a young Hank Pym in developing the Ant-Man suit. We’ve already seen Peggy Carter’s multiversal variants, like in Doctor 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 in Captain America: The First Avenger and Agent Carter. The older version, portrayed by John Slattery, has been seen interacting with Tony Stark, whether through the posthumous film reel in Iron Man 2 or the emotional time-travel scene in Avengers: Endgame. For The 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.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Release Date

July 25, 2025

Director

Matt Shakman

Writers

Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee