The Fantastic Four: First Steps delivers one of the greatest and most triumphant fight sequences at the end of the film — but do all of the characters make it out alive?
Warning: spoilers ahead for The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
In the 2025 superhero film directed by Matt Shakman, Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) attempt to stop cosmic entity Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and the Silver Surfer/Shalla-Bal (Julia Garner) from destroying the Earth. Galactus tells the foursome that the only way he’ll keep everyone on the planet alive is if Sue and Reed hand over their unborn child.
Galactus insists that the baby is an all-mighty, all-powerful being who will be able to absorb his power so that he can finally go and “rest” after years of wreaking havoc in the cosmos. Reed attempts to barter with Galactus during a high-stakes trip to space but to no avail. He insists that his tests indicate his son will not be born with any superhuman powers, but Galactus begs to differ.
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After the birth of Reed and Sue’s baby, Franklin Richards, while aboard a spacecraft fleeing Galactus’ lair, the group devises a plan to lure Galactus to New York City’s Times Square. Their goal is to trick Galactus into thinking they would give over their son in order to stop the madness and threats. Johnny also makes a desperate plea with the Silver Surfer, offering her a safe return to her home planet and hoping she’ll turn on Galactus and keep the Earth safe.
The superheroes evacuate the city and build a portal to hopefully banish Galactus into the void. Reed creates a bulletproof and fire-resistant baby carrier to help keep Franklin safe.
After the original plan goes awry, Galactus ends up breaking into the Fantastic Four’s headquarters and taking Franklin. Sue is forced to make an impossible decision that has since left a lot of Marvel lovers in tears.
Keep scrolling to find out which character dies in the MCU film:
Who Dies in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’?
Sue dies after pushing her powers to the limit while trying to stop Galactus from leaving New York City with her son. She attempts to force him into the portal with all of her might, while Reed tells her to stop because it’s “too much” on her body. Galactus falls inside of the portal as Reed tries to grab Franklin from the villain’s grasp and Sue goes tumbling to the ground.
Just when it seems like the chaos is over, Galactus re-emerges from the portal, and Johnny decides he is also going to sacrifice himself in the attempt to save Franklin. Just as Johnny prepares to give up his life for his nephew, the Silver Surfer arrives and pushes Galactus into the portal, saving the day.
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Is Sue Storm Revived in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’?
Reed, Johnny and Ben rush over to Sue’s lifeless body as they all break down in tears once they realize she’s dead. Reed places Franklin on Sue’s chest for an incredibly heartbreaking final mother-son moment. But the group is shocked when Franklin places his hands on Sue’s chest and uses his powers to successfully revive her in the ultimate plot twist. After being brought back to life, Sue tells Reed that Franklin can use his powers for good and he’s a lot stronger than they thought.
Is Franklin the Most Powerful Being in the MCU?
Fans may recognize Franklin’s character from the Fantastic Four comic books. He has a vast repertoire of powers, including psionic abilities like reading minds and astral projection, as well as matter manipulation and duplication. Multiple fan outlets consider him to be one of the most powerful heroes in the MCU, as he is able to warp reality with his mind.
The Fantastic Four are set to return in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday, and we’re surely hoping to see more of Franklin’s capabilities front and center.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is out in theaters now.
