One of the oldest Fantastic Four origin theories for the Marvel Cinematic Universe might have new support thanks to Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's Reed Richards rumors. Even though audiences just saw John Krasinski play Mister Fantastic in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, speculation has run wild that Ant-Man 3 will introduce the MCU's real version of the Fantastic Four's leader. William Jackson Harper's mystery role has sparked rumors that he could play Reed Richards in the sequel. There is so far no evidence to confirm the speculation about introducing the MCU's Fantastic Four team.

The possibility that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania could introduce Reed Richards through William Jackson Harper's role creates room for Marvel to potentially make one old Fantastic Four theory canon. The sequel's story primarily takes place within the Quantum Realm and will fully explore the world that exists inside it. There has long been a theory that the Quantum Realm could be where the Fantastic Four have been trapped in the MCU, which Ant-Man 3 could now prove to be correct. The theory is dependent on the movie featuring Marvel's First Family in some capacity. And while that is merely speculation right now, director Peyton Reed is a huge Fantastic Four fan and could deliver the tease.

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The Quantum Realm Is The Best Answer For MCU’s Missing Fantastic 4

Scott and Cassie Lang being found by Quantum Realm Citizens in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Trailer

The Fantastic Four are coming to the MCU in the near future, as Fantastic 4 is slated to debut in theaters in early 2025. Marvel will have to reveal why the team has been missing during the first 15 years of the MCU. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness teased a 1960s Fantastic Four origin story where they went on a mission but have been missing ever since. This means that the MCU cannot just simply have Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm get powers in the present day. The franchise now has to explain where the Fantastic Four have been for the last 60 years, which is where the Quantum Realm can come in.

Instead of tying the Fantastic Four's origin and powers to space, the Negative Zone, or another Marvel concept, the Quantum Realm is perfectly positioned to explain their absence within the MCU. The franchise has already explored how time works differently in parts of the Quantum Realm, meaning the Fantastic Four could emerge from here without aging decades. Ant-Man 3 taking the time to explore the worlds that exist in the Quantum Realm also supports the idea that people could live here for years. Since Kang and the Fantastic Four are linked in the comics too, both of them having ties to the Quantum Realm makes sense.

How Ant-Man 3 Could Introduce The Fantastic Four

Antman and the wasp quantumania Kang Quantum Realm City

The Fantastic Four will not have a big role in Ant-Man 3 if they appear at all, but it would still be fairly easy for the movie to introduce the characters. The MCU can shift their focus as scientists and explorers to the Quantum Realm. They could even have been working with Hank Pym back in the day or wanted to use his research with Pym Particles to deliberately find out what the Quantum Realm contains. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania could then reveal that the Fantastic Four's studies of the Quantum Realm ended with them getting trapped inside, allowing Ant-Man to help William Jackson Harper's Reed Richards and the rest finally escape.

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