Marvel President Kevin Feige has confirmed that the Thunderbolts* (The Avengers) post-credits scene is related to The Fantastic Four: First Steps. He confirmed that the Fantastic Four’s ship is called the Excelsior.
In a recent interview with Empire, Feige hinted that there is a connection between the post-credits scene in Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Feige said, “Their ship is the Excelsior, and there is a Fantastic Four ship entering the MCU… But I’m not sure they’re the same ship.”
In the post-credits scene of Thunderbolts, while the new Avengers are discussing the trademark infringement feud with Sam Wilson, an Excelsior suddenly appears in Earth’s atmosphere with a large “4” emblem.
Speaking to Variety, Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier revealed that the Russo Brothers directed and filmed the second post-credits scene of Thunderbolts on the set of Avengers: Doomsday.
Schreier said, “That was shot maybe four weeks ago, and I did not direct that. That’s the Russos on the set of Avengers: Doomsday. I got to be there, which was very fun — to watch your buddies go on to this grander scale.”
Speaking to Empire Online, Feige said that the Fantastic Four is “Marvel’s First Family, and I really wanted to do them justice.”
Feige added, “I think that there are no four characters more important to the history of Marvel.” He continued, “When Disney bought Fox, it was really an unexpected dream come true. It came at the perfect time to help us launch into a new era. They are Marvel’s First Family, and I really wanted to do them justice.”
Thunderbolts* (The Avengers) is now playing in theaters, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps will hit theaters on July 25, 2025.
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