ABC has scheduled a network television broadcast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps for December 13, 2026. This airing serves as a strategic lead-in to the theatrical release of Avengers: Doomsday on December 18, 2026.

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The five-day countdown to Robert Downey Jr .'s Doctor Doom

The decision by ABC to air The Fantastic Four: First Steps on December 13, 2026, is a calclated move to maximize momentum for Avengers: Doomsday. As the report notes, this broadcast occurs just five days before the highly anticipated theatrical release of Doomsday on December 18. By placing the film on network television during the prime-time slot of 8:33 to 11:00 p.m., ABC is leveraging the star power of Robert Downey Jr., who returns to the MCU in a transformative role as the tyrannical Doctor Doom.

This scheduling aligns with the broader rollout of MCU Phase Six, where individual character arcs are increasingly being used to build toward massive ensemble events. The broadcast provides a prime-time opportunity to re-engage audiences with the cosmic staakes established by Marvel's First Family before they head to the cinema to witness the next chapter of the multiverse.

A retro-futuristic bridge from Earth-828 to Earth-616

The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces a unique aesthetic to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, utilizing a sci-fi, retro-futuristic setting inspired by the 1960s. According to the source, the film features a central cast of heroes originating from Earth-828:

  • Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic): Played by Pedro Pascal
  • Sue Storm (Invisible Woman): Played by Vanessa Kirby
  • Johnny Storm (Human Torch): Played by Joseph Quinn
  • Ben Grimm (The Thing): Played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach

    • These characters will face off against the planet-devouring Galactus, played by Ralph Ineson, and his enigmatic herald, the Silver Surfer, played by Julia Garner. The narrative complexity increases when considering the multiverse implications for Avengers: Doomsday. While the Fantastic Four operate from Earth-828, the upcoming Doomsday film is expected to weave together heroes from Earth-616—including the Avengers and Wakandans—and the original X-Men from Earth-10005.

    Will the ABC broadcast clarify the Earth-10005 connection?

    While the broadcast provides a way to revisit the Fantastic Four's battle against Galactus, several narrative threads remain unverified. The source mentions that Avengers: Doomsday will feature the original X-Men from Earth-10005, but it remains unclear how much the Fantastic Four film—and by extension, its ABC broadcast—will explicitly bridge the gap between Earth-828 and the X-Men's universe.

    Furthermore, while Marvel president Kevin Feige has stated that The Fantastic Four: First Steps leads directly into the plot of Doomsday, the specific nature of that transition is still under wraps. fans are left wondering if the ABC airing will serve as a mere refresher or if the film contains subtle clues regarding the arrival of Doctor Doom that have yet to be fully explored in public marketing. There is also the question of how much the presence of the Wakandans and the New Avengers from Earth-616 will be foreshadowed in this specific broadcast.