Fantastic Four: Fan Spots Possible Clue To The Exact Year The Film Takes Place In

The Fantastic Four MCU cast announcement may contain a clue about the exact year the Marvel Studios film is set.

The Fantastic Four MCU cast was announced in a Valentine's Day photo featuring animated versions of Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic/Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing. The image gave fans the impression the Fantastic Four reboot would be set in the ‘60s, but eagle-eyed fans have spotted a potential clue revealing the precise year.

In the Fantastic Four cast photo, Moss-Bachrach's The Thing sits in a chair and reads a magazine. While few details are animated into the magazine, there are enough visual similarities between the fictional cover and a real-world Life Magazine cover featuring United States President Lyndon B. Johnson. As noted by several fans, including Reddit user coolmandragon, the Life issue in question is dated December 13, 1963, potentially meaning Marvel Studios'Fantastic Four is set in the same year.

While Marvel Studios has not confirmed any Fantastic Four plot details, the 1963 setting would align with fan wishes for the project to be a period piece. Many fans have long claimed the Fantastic Four are products of their time, arguably more so than other Marvel characters, and that a feature film starring the team would be best served by being set in the '60s. Ant-Man director Peyton Reed's Fantastic Four project, which was developed when the film rights were at Fox, was going to be set during this period. However, Fox ultimately passed on Reed's pitch and instead moved forward with a 2005 Fantastic Four movie directed by Tim Story. Although the movie had a sequel, both failed with audiences. Fox later attempted a Fantastic Four reboot in 2015, which was even more poorly received.

Consequently, fans clamored for a proper Fantastic Four movie and rejoiced when Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, placing the film right to the team in