When Chris Evans showed up inDeadpool & Wolverine, it was a fun moment, but it may have also hinted at something more significant for theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)’s Fantastic Four. The Multiverse Saga has struggled to maintain the momentum of the Infinity Saga. However, thanks to the presence of the multiverse, it’s opened the door to including dozens of incredible cameos that would not work anywhere else in the MCU.
This was best seen in films likeSpider-Man: No Way Home, andDeadpool & Wolverine. Both movies made great use of bringing back characters from outside the MCU and making them a part of the story. Sure, it may be nostalgia bait on the surface, but Marvel Studios also did a great job of making them important to the narrative. And this could also be especially true in the case ofChris Evans' brief but poignant appearance inDeadpool & Wolverine.
Deadpool & Wolverine’s Chris Evans Cameo Was Surprising For More Than One Reason
The Human Torch Was A Delightful Surprise In Deadpool & Wolverine
Chris Evans was one of the original Avengers during the Infinity Saga. In 2011, Evans debuted as Captain America, and his role in the MCU began to snowball into becoming the leader of the Avengers team. But when the Infinity Saga concluded, Steve Rogers, aka Cap, decided to retire from hero duties, and spend his life with his beloved Peggy Carter. With this in mind, there wasvery little reason to expect Evans would be returningany time soon.
However,Deadpool & Wolverinecleverly used the actor in a very different way, having him reprise an earlierMarvel role as The Human Torch. Back in 2005, Evans was cast as Johnny Storm in a live-action film, and while the movie performed adequately, the team was retired after the sequel came out in 2007. But beyond being a fun cameo, thisreturn could have hinted at something much biggerfor the MCU.
The Human Torch’s Comments About His Mister Fantastic Make One MCU Theory Possible
The Human Torch Ended Up In The Void For A Reason
Johnny Storm is trapped inside the Void by the time he meets Deadpool in the MCU. However, the Void is a place for variants, and those who stray from their intended timeline. So, the fact that he is here suggests something happened in his reality to knock things off course. And the fact thatJohnny mentions Reed’s theories about the Voidand what it was could suggest that the entire team was sent to the Void, or that Reed’s research had led him to discover more about the multiverse itself.
This is significant because it appears to reflect what is due to happen inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, withReed Richards trying to discover more about the multiverse, and causing major issues for his timeline. In this way, the presence of Evans as The Human Torch may have hinted at the consequences for the MCU’s Fantastic Four. Reed’s research could spell disaster for not only their world, but their entire reality, and lead to attacks from characters like Galactus and even Doctor Doom.
The MCU Theory Would Explain Why The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Plot Looks So Intense
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Is Set To Shake Up The MCU
The stakes have never been higher for a single team of heroes than they are about to be for The Fantastic Four. Colossal world-eating monsters are on the warpath to destroy them, and their reality is in danger. Not to mention, The Fantastic Four are the only heroes in their timeline, so they have no backup to call on. And it makes sense that all of this chaos anddisaster was something that characters likeChris Evans' Johnny Stormhad already seen happen in his timeline, or that could have occurred if they weren’t pruned and placed into the Void.
The TVA’s entire purpose is to ensure the timelines don’t spiral out of control, and if Reed’s research into the Multiverse could have caused the literal end of his timeline, that may have been reason enough for the TVA to intervene. However, the TVA is under new management in the MCU, and they may no longer be in the position to help avoid disasters like the one that Johnny Storm suffered through to wind up in the Void inDeadpool & Wolverine.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Cast
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
