With Disney set to close its acquisition of 21st Century Fox early next year, fans are clamoring to see what unfolds over the next few years. It’s likely we won’t see anything major develop in the immediate future, but a new theory argues that Avengers 4 could set the stage for the Fantastic Four.
According to Reddit user mushbert, the snap from Thanos didn’t just wipe out half of the universe, but opened up a fault in space that’s pretty close to Earth. Avengers 4—in a post-credits scene or otherwise—will apparently see a team of scientists investigate the fault, only to return with strange powers.
The government decide to send a team of scientist/astronauts to investigate and monitor this unusual anomaly, seeing as the Avengers [are] busy fighting Thanos and also are wanted criminals, at least in the eyes of General Ross, the anomaly appears to be emitting some form of gas which is slowly making [its] way toward earth. Four brave volunteers enter the anomaly and emerge in an area beyond recognition, “The Negative zone,” after crash landing, eventually they figure out a way to return home, but they will never be the same, they emerge forever changed as the superhero team known as The Fantastic Four.
The same theory points to an image from Thor: The Dark World in which Erik Selvig is giving a lecture with “The Fault” written on the board behind him. It could just be confirmation bias on our part, but the evidence lines up nicely.
Although Selvig hasn’t featured in any recent Marvel films, he frequently commented on different universes in his appearances. Marvel might finally make good on his crazy mutterings in Avengers 4 by not only further exploring the multi-verse but by introducing the Fantastic Four.
The theory goes on to say that the newly opened fault will be more directly addressed in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which will see the team attempt to contain the fault from expanding further.
Perhaps the first trailer for Avengers 4 will give us clues as to what happens beyond next year.
Avengers 4 hits theaters on May 3, 2019.
