MCU’s Phase 4 has been an upsetting foray equated by the potential excitement of Phases 5 and 6. In the midst of the chaotic end with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and the beginning of the Multiverse Saga, Deadpool 3 makes a subtle yet explosive announcement along with its accompanied X-Men and Wolverine entry. Even as Marvel gears up in full steam for the upcoming tumultuous event, theories abound as to the potential repercussions of what the future holds for the fandom and the in-universe characters.
MCU Plans on Introducing Kang’s Descendant in Deadpool 3
Gone are the days of easter eggs and simplistic cameos. Given that the MCU has become a full-fledged multiversal universe exploring multiple possibilities, often in the span of a single character’s story, it’s not surprising to assume that each project here onwards may include visits from parallel dimensions, altering of histories, erasure of worlds, and a spider-web of interlinking narratives within superhero groups. One such group that has now come under microscopic scrutiny is Fantastic Four.
The entry of the infamous superhero team has been a question of “when” rather than “how” ever since Marvel tied up the Infinity Saga storyline. The “how” of it has been made clear since Kevin Feige intends to pick up the F4’s story mid-narrative without going into the already established origin arc. The “when” of it is somewhat trickier considering the multi-dimensional facets that now play into the world-building of MCU. And one theory is inclined to believe that a multiversal variant of the group leader, Mister Fantastic, is likely to be brought in who also happens to have a familial link to one of the Kang variants.
So far, we have witnessed numerous iconic portrayals of Reed Richards on screen, including Ioan Gruffudd, Miles Teller, and the most recent and short-lived among them all, John Krasinski. Although the latter was more contributory toward Doctor Strange 2‘s star power and ensemble casting, Krasinski’s short-lived role also embodied enough brilliance to make him even more of a fan favorite than he already was. The MCU fandom then quickly jumped on board to call for Krasinski’s return and even though it is a far-fetched dream, Marvel might have something else cooking on the sidelines.
How is Reed Richards’s Variant Essential in Secret Wars Arc?
Recent rumors suggest that one of the Mister Fantastic actors aka Ioan Gruffudd might return to pick up the mantle of Reed Richards once again in Deadpool 3. The Phase 6 film that is already making waves for being the first to officially transition the Foxverse over into MCU is again finding a place among the headlines for suggesting the possibility of a multiversal crossover. If Ioan Gruffudd indeed makes it onto the sets of Deadpool 3, the film will be the first ever MCU x Foxverse x Fantastic Four crossover event in the history of the CBM franchise.
But stepping into the intricacies of that theory, it is also important to navigate why Phase 6 would bring in a variant of Reed Richards that also has a connection to Kang into the mainstream narrative just before the launch of the original MCU Fantastic Four. In the comics, Mister Fantastic does have a familial link to the Conqueror. A variant of Kang who lived in the 31st century Earth (and was also a brilliant scientist) discovered the multiple universes stacked on top of his own and eventually having met all of his variants gave way to a multiversal war. This 31st-century Kang variant, namely Nathaniel Richards, happens to be a direct descendant of Reed Richards.
Considering that a multiversal war with Kang the Conqueror at its center is brewing in the MCU, and the Fantastic Four are soon to land in the middle of it all, it would make sense why a variant of Mister Fantastic, who according to the MCU’s digressive arc is also a descendant of a Kang variant, might play an essential role in lighting the first fuse in the coming war.
Deadpool 3 premieres on November 8, 2024.
Source: Twitter
