Warning: SPOILERS ahead for WandaVision episode 4, "We Interrupt This Program"

WandaVision episode 4 switched perspectives to shed more light on MCU peacekeeping agency S.W.O.R.D. — and may have subtly set up the introduction of the Fantastic Four to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Phase 4 has promised an array of new creative directions. As the inaugural Disney+ offering from Marvel Studios, WandaVision has been a testament to that. Blending traditional superhero thrills through a mysterious sitcom lens, the show has been like nothing else. Though WandaVision wasn't originally designed to kick things off overall, it was previously confirmed that it would set up several future MCU adventures.

Despite that, WandaVision had been content to focus on its titular heroes until now. Having settled in Westview, Wanda has forcefully embraced her new sitcom life. Meanwhile, Vision has increasingly noticed that something is amiss in the town. After the expulsion of Geraldine (in reality S.W.O.R.D. agent Monica Rambeau) from the pocket reality, however, fans were treated to a brief prequel in WandaVision episode 4. Revealing that Monica had been a victim of Thanos' snap, she returned to a dramatically different world. Regardless, she immediately returned to her job with S.W.O.R.D. There, Monica was brought relatively up-to-speed by the acting director, Tyler Hayward. In the process, the origins of the Fantastic Four may have been subtly referenced — adding them to the list of stories that WandaVision could directly set up.

Related: WandaVision: SWORD's MCU History Explained

One of Monica's primary questions was, "How are the numbers for the astronaut training program?" Given Monica's connection to the events of Captain Marvel, it's an understandable query for her to have. However, looking deeper, the use of numbers and astronaut in the same sentence could actually be a shrewd bit of subtle writing, particularly in a show that has so much innuendo and double meaning as WandaVision. After all, Marvel's first family was known as the Fantastic Four and famously trained as astronauts. Therefore, it's not too much of a leap to infer that Reed Richards and the others may have worked with, or even for, the MCU's space-focused organization.

Fantastic Four in MCU Shows

Hayward's answer may have even backed up that potential Fantastic Four allusion. "Dismal," he replied. "Lost half my personnel in The Blip and half of those remaining have lost their nerve." Of course, losing crew members could have a wealth of connotations. It's important to note, however, the Four's origin in the comics was that they got blasted with cosmic radiation – referred to as "cosmic microwave background radiation" in the episode – while on an unauthorized mission in space. It would be a reasonable way to explain the Fantastic Four's absence and (presumably) new powers upon their return. And if the group was indeed blipped, one of the new consequences of Thanos' actions in Infinity War may be that they're still stranded in space. That would prime them to make a dramatic return in the future.

Ben Grimm and the rest returning to Earth drastically changed would explain why many agents hesitated to return to space. Likewise, it would explain why S.W.O.R.D had "shifted away from manned missions" while Monica was gone. With both cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) and the Infinity Stones being tied to the Big Bang, their shared energy signatures would explain how S.W.O.R.D may have conflated the team's accident with Thanos. What was most telling, however, was that Hayward immediately knew what CMBR was — almost as though he'd heard it described often in recent history. The mention of it also prompted a need to return to headquarters, for some as-yet-unknown reason. It's already confirmed that a Fantastic Four movie will be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With everything presented in WandaVision, though, their origin story might already be set up.

More: Why Movies Keep Getting Fantastic Four Wrong (& How Marvel Can Fix It)

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