Is Reed Richards actually leading the Avengers? The director of The Fantastic Four: First Steps clarifies his viral comments about the character’s role in Avengers: Doomsday.
Expectations aren’t exactly high when it comes to the role Marvel’s First Family will play in Avengers: Doomsday. With the team only being introduced in the upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps, many assume that the team won’t do much more than cameo in the upcoming crossover film. It’s a subject that the internet has already mourned, lamenting the fact that Reed Richards and Doctor Doom will never have a solid dynamic on the silver screen.
Which is why the internet collectively perked their ears up when Matt Shakman, the director of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, seemingly confirmed that Reed Richards would be playing a leading role in Avengers: Doomsday. Shakman spoke about the character’s evolution from an introvert to a leader, suggesting that he may one day take on the role of head of 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 explained in a statement to Variety. “I realized that the version we were building had to have all of those elements.”
These comments gave some people hope that the team would potentially serve as the faces of the MCU following their debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. However, Matt Shakman has been quick to pump the breaks on the hype train. The director clarified his comments in a chat with Screen Rant, remarking that he was only talking about Reed Richards’ evolution in the comics, not specifically his role in Avengers: Doomsday.
“So I actually didn’t say that… The internet ran with it. So the question asked me about casting Pedro and about, and I was talking about Reed Richards in the comic books and how Reed Richards is sometimes the cerebral scientist. Sometimes he’s off leading the Avengers, sometimes he’s a father, a husband, whatever.”
“So I was talking about him in the comic books and about how there are so many different aspects to that character. Somebody who is believably the smartest man in the universe, somebody who will jump into the action and be believable as a leader.”
“And also somebody who has that emotional connection to their family. And that’s why I was drawn to Pedro, such an incredible actor. So what he does in Avengers Doomsday is not for me to talk about, talk to Joe or Anthony. I was just talking about reading the comic books and how I was figuring out who could play him the best.”
Given that Marvel reportedly doesn’t even have a finalized script locked down for Avengers: Doomsday, it makes sense that Matt Shakman wouldn’t have any inside scoop about what the future holds for Reed Richards. However, these comments do suggest that the character may be much more dynamic in The Fantastic Four: First Steps than first believed, potentially changing quite a bit throughout the course of the film.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps opens on July 25, 2025. Stay tuned for all the latest news regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!
