‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Director Reveals Who Really Filmed the Post-Credits Scene

Matt Shakman, the director of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, has confirmed that he did not film the movie’s post-credits scene. In an interview with ComicBook to promote the film, Shakman said that the post-credits scene was actually directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, the duo behind Avengers: Doomsday.

This scene was filmed while the Russos were working on Doomsday, which started production earlier this year.

Shakman said he had no problem passing the responsibility to the Russos and spoke highly of their teamwork. “Not at all, especially when I’m handing them off to the Russo brothers who are amazing at what they do and they’re lovely, generous people,” he said.

He added that the Russos were very involved during the making of First Steps, visiting sets and watching scenes to get to know the characters better. “They wanted to visit our sets and watch scenes as they were coming together and get to know these characters so they could treat them well, do right by them in the next movie. They’re really good protectors of these characters as well,” Shakman explained.

He compared working at Marvel to running a relay race. “You pass the baton, you run as hard and fast as you can with it for that section of the race that belongs to you, and then you pass that baton. I passed it on to Joe and Anthony and they’re off and running, and that’s great.”

The way the First Steps post-credits scene was handled is very similar to the one in Thunderbolts. Even though Jake Schreier directed Thunderbolts, the Russos filmed its post-credits scene, which shows the New Avengers seeing the Fantastic Four arriving in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s main Earth-616 timeline. Schreier told ComicBook that this scene was put together very late and filmed shortly before Thunderbolts was released.

Since the Fantastic Four will play an important part in Avengers: Doomsday, it makes sense that the Russos directed the post-credits scene for First Steps. These kinds of scenes often set up future Marvel stories and give fans hints about what’s coming next. The Thunderbolts scene did this by showing the Avengers and other heroes before Doctor Doom arrives.

Also, since the Fantastic Four cast was probably already on set for Doomsday, it was easier to have the Russos film the stinger. It’s possible the post-credits scenes for both Thunderbolts and First Steps are actually scenes from Doomsday itself.

There are also rumors that Robert Downey Jr. might appear as Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four: First Steps. This hasn’t been confirmed yet, but many believe the post-credits scene could include his character.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a new superhero movie from Marvel Studios. It’s based on the classic Marvel Comics team and is set to be the 37th movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by Matt Shakman with a script by Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, and Ian Springer, the film stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn as the Fantastic Four.

The cast also includes Julia Garner, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, and Ralph Ineson. In the story, the Fantastic Four fight to protect their retro 1960s-style world from Galactus, a huge cosmic threat played by Ineson.

The movie will have its world premiere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles on July 21, 2025. It will be released in theaters across the U.S. on July 25, kicking off Phase Six of the MCU. A sequel is already in the works.

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