Marvel Just Replaced The Fantastic Four Before Their MCU Debut

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Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Secret Invasion episode 2.
In a shocking turn of events, Marvel Studios has replaced the Fantastic Four before the team's debut in Secret Invasion. While there is yet to be any movement on 2025's Fantastic Four, other than the announcement that WandaVision director Matt Shakman has assumed directing duties from Marvel Cinematic Universe's Spider-Man trilogy helmer Jon Watts, it appears as if the MCU has already found a way to replace Marvel's First Family before the Fantastic Four have even had their chance to debut. All that comes from Marvel's expansion on Disney+, with the ongoing Secret Invasion series.
Many fans might miss the MCU's seemingly attempt to replace the Fantastic Four, as Secret Invasion's premiere viewership was among the MCU's worst. The Disney+ Marvel series focuses on Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury, with the character returning to Earth to stop a Skrull invasion on the planet. The alien race has shape-shifting powers that allow the invaders to take on anybody's identity, keeping characters and the audience guessing at every moment of the series. The Skrulls have a specific plan to help them take over control of the Earth, and Secret Invasion's second episode revealed that plan replaces the Fantastic Four in the MCU.
Related: MCU Phase 5 Tears A Confusing Plot Hole In The Avengers 11 Years Later
Secret Invasion Replaced The Super Skrulls' Fantastic Four Origin

Among Secret Invasion episode 2's many Easter eggs and references was a big Fantastic Four nod. Emilia Clarke's G'iah was snooping around the Skrulls' base to learn more about Gravik's plans. The character eventually finds scientist Rosa Dalton, and upon a computer search on what Dalton was working on, it was seemingly revealed that the Skrulls' plan to dominate the Earth hedges on the creation of Super-Skrulls, which share connections to the Fantastic Four in the pages of Marvel Comics.
In the comics, the original Super-Skrull was Kl'rt, who was imbued with the power of the members of the Fantastic Four and sent to Earth to conquer it as an answer to Marvel's First Family stopping the Skrulls' previous attempt to take over the planet. Secret Invasion episode 2 came up with replacements for the Fantastic Four's powers in the Super-Skrulls' creation. In the MCU, the Super-Skrulls will get their powers from samples taken from the following characters:

Strength - Cull Obsidian rather than The Thing.
Stretch - Groot instead of Mr. Fantastic.
Fire - Extremis (virus) in place of the Human Torch.
Invisibility - The Frost Beast from Thor: The Dark World rather than the Invisible Woman.

Why Secret Invasion Didn't Use The Fantastic Four

It is clear to see why Secret Invasion decided not to use the Fantastic Four as the source of the Super-Skrulls' powers. John Krasinski's multiverse version of Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is the only appearance of a Fantastic Four member in the MCU. The team's debut will be an impactful moment, with Marvel wanting to save the heroes' first MCU adventure for 2025's Fantastic Four movie. While Secret Invasion replaces the Fantastic Four's role in the origin of the Super-Skrulls, the team could trade blows with some of the enhanced villains when the Fantastic Four finally debut in the MCU.
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