Fantastic Four may have just been referenced in the new WandaVision episode

(Image credit: Disney)

Marvel may have introduced its First Family to the MCU sooner than anyone could have possibly imagined.

One WandaVision theory suggests that the origins of Fantastic Four has been slyly referenced during the show’s fourth episode (H/T Den of Geek).

The first five minutes of WandaVision episode 4 references an ‘Astronaut Training Program’ that, brilliantly, is failing to get off the ground. As SWORD acting director Tyler Hayward put it, they “Lost half of [their] personnel in The Blip and half of those remaining have lost their nerve.”

How does that tie into Fantastic Four? Their comic origins have them, too, looking towards the stars. There, they are astronauts who made their way into space after an unauthorized flight and were exposed to cosmic radiation. Thus, as with most radiation-based accidents in Marvel’s universe, four new superheroes – Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and Thing – were born.

Of course, it could be nothing – but Marvel has previous for laying down breadcrumbs for future projects early. After all, everything from Doctor Strange to Black Panther’s home nation of Wakanda was introduced years before finally coming to fruition on the big screen. This is also the first major mention of astronauts since Disney hoovered up the rights to Fantastic Four in its merger with Fox, which is certainly eyebrow-raising in itself.

Marvel has only recently officially confirmed a Fantastic Four movie is in the works, so it’ll be some time yet before we see whether this was a deliberate tease or a complete misdirect. Still, it speaks to the show’s desire to have its audience question even the tiniest lines of dialogue. It could be nothing; it could be everything – and that’s half the fun.

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I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.