Fantastic Four First Steps post-credits scene explained: Is Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom going to kidnap a baby?

Marvel’s latest hit, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, has landed in cinemas, and as expected, the post-credits scenes are already stirring excitement about what’s next for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, the film follows the Fantastic Four as they confront the cosmic threat of Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his herald, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).

The Fantastic Four set the stage for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, which will release next year.

There are two post-credits scenes to catch, and if you’re eager to know what happens, here’s a detailed spoiler alert—proceed with caution.

The first scene jumps ahead four years, showing the Fantastic Four still residing in their iconic Baxter Building. Sue Storm (Kirby) reads The Very Hungry Caterpillar to her baby, Franklin, before handing him another book, ignoring the robot assistant H.E.R.B.I.E.’s suggestion of a Charles Darwin book.

Suddenly, a mysterious cloaked figure appears, holding Doctor Doom’s silver mask, as Franklin looks on intrigued. Though brief, this hints at the arrival of the villain, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., who seems drawn to Franklin’s extraordinary reality-bending powers. Given the online leaks, this seems in tandem with what the theories said: Doctor Doom will kidnap the child. This is Downey Jr's comeback to the MCU. His original much-loved Iron Man had died after sacrificing himself in Avengers Endgame.

The second post-credits scene offers a nostalgic twist: a retro-style Fantastic Four cartoon intro where the heroes face classic villains like Red Ghost, Puppet Master, and Diablo.

This is followed by a quote from Jack Kirby, the creator of the Fantastic Four: “If you look at my characters, you will find me...” The scene concludes with a nod to Earth‑828—an homage to Kirby’s birthday, August 28.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps has received mostly positive early feedback.