Key Takeaways:
- Avengers: Secret Wars will reset the MCU, possibly relocating future stories to Earth 828.
- Franklin Richards may rebuild Earth 828, preserving beloved heroes and recasting others.
- The 1960s setting solves timeline issues for the X-Men and brings Marvel back to its roots.
Kevin Feige has officially confirmed that Avengers: Secret Wars will act as a “reset” for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but fans are already speculating how this reboot might occur. A compelling new Reddit theory suggests that the retro-futuristic Earth 828, introduced in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, could become the new home for future MCU stories.
Earth 828 Sets the Stage for a Marvel Reset
While the Multiverse Saga has spanned years, few Marvel projects have fully explored alternate timelines. The Fantastic Four: First Steps broke that mold by introducing Earth 828, a 1960s-inspired alternate reality where Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards leads the iconic team. According to the theory, this world may be spared or rebuilt during the incursions expected to devastate other realities in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars.
Franklin Richards—introduced in First Steps—could play a major role. Known in the comics for his reality-warping powers, Franklin may restore Earth 828 and create a clean slate for future Marvel stories.
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A Retro-Futuristic MCU with Familiar Faces
Set in a world that echoes the Silver Age of comics, Earth 828 offers a chance to return to Marvel’s roots. The Fantastic Four gained their powers in 1961 (mirroring their comic debut), and the mid-credits scene of First Steps places us in 1969. This timeline would allow Marvel to reboot key characters like Iron Man, Captain America, and Black Widow, while preserving legacy versions of heroes such as Thor, Spider-Man, and Hulk—who could “jump ship” from Earth 616 to Earth 828.
The theory even suggests some beloved actors might continue in the new continuity, while others are recast to match the period’s aesthetic and narrative tone.
X-Men Origins Could Finally Align with History
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this theory is how it solves a long-standing problem: the age of Marvel’s X-Men. Characters like Professor X and Magneto have critical backstories tied to historical events such as World War II and the Holocaust. Placing future MCU X-Men films in a ’60s or ’70s setting would keep them relevant and youthful while preserving their origins.
With Earth 828 currently devoid of other heroes, Franklin Richards’ potential universe-rebuilding powers in Secret Wars could seed a new generation of mutants—and a more historically grounded X-Men saga.
Conclusion: A New Future Rooted in the Past
Marvel’s next phase may not just continue the story—it could reboot it entirely in a vibrant, nostalgic world. As Secret Wars looms, Earth 828 stands as a strong candidate for the MCU’s next chapter.
