1. Thunderbolts’ Post-Credit Ship Mystery: Fantastic Four or Something Else?
The post-credit scene in Thunderbolts has sparked intense speculation among MCU fans, particularly due to the sudden appearance of a mysterious spacecraft. Many initially believed it belonged to the Fantastic Four, given Marvel’s upcoming reboot of the iconic team. However, upon closer inspection, key discrepancies suggest otherwise. The ship in Thunderbolts features four fins, while the Fantastic Four’s known vessel, the "Exelsior" (as seen in promotional material and confirmed by Kevin Feige in Empire Magazine), only has three. This subtle but crucial difference has led to debates, could Marvel be intentionally misleading fans, or is this a completely different faction entering the MCU? With Feige himself expressing uncertainty about whether the two ships are the same, the mystery deepens. If not Reed Richards and his team, then who—or what—is arriving in that ship? The answer could hint at a major new threat, a returning hero, or even an unexpected twist in Marvel’s multiverse saga.
2. The Four Fins vs. Three Fins Mystery
Thunderbolts’ Ship Design
The mysterious ship seen in the Thunderbolts post-credit scene has stirred heated debate among MCU fans, especially given its strong resemblance—but important differences—to the Fantastic Four's iconic spacecraft. On closer study, the Thunderbolts ship has four distinct fins, which contrasts with the Fantastic Four's "Exelsior" spacecraft, which, according to promotional video, only has three fins. This disparity has prompted many to question whether the two ships are genuinely connected. In an interview with Empire Magazine, Kevin Feige, the head of Marvel Studios, acknowledged that the Fantastic Four's ship is called Exelsior but remained unclear about whether the spacecraft featured in Thunderbolts is the same. This added gasoline to the speculation. His hesitation suggests that Marvel may be intentionally leaving room for doubt, either as a misdirection or to hint at a deeper narrative twist.
Could It Still Be the Fantastic Four?
Despite the differences in design, some fans argue that the ship could still belong to Marvel’s First Family. One possible explanation is that the Exelsior underwent a redesign between its appearance in the Fantastic Four trailer and its potential cameo in Thunderbolts. Alternatively, the four-finned ship might be a different model used by the team, perhaps an older prototype or a secondary craft. Another theory is that Marvel is deliberately misdirecting audiences, using a similar but distinct ship to build intrigue before revealing its true origin in a later project. Feige’s comments leave the door open for interpretation, but if this isn’t the Fantastic Four’s arrival, then the bigger question becomes: Whose ship is it, and why is it appearing now? The answer could set the stage for a major new storyline in the MCU.
3. If Not the Fantastic Four, Then Who?
A New MCU Threat?
If the mysterious ship in Thunderbolts isn’t the Fantastic Four’s Exelsior, then its arrival could signal something far more dangerous. Given the MCU’s expanding cosmic landscape, one possibility is that the vessel belongs to a new antagonist, perhaps even a Kang variant making an unexpected return. After Loki Season 2’s finale, Kang’s timeline manipulations remain unresolved, and a hidden faction of his variants could be preparing for war ahead of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. Alternatively, Marvel might be subtly introducing Galactus’ heralds, such as the Silver Surfer or Terrax, laying the groundwork for the Devourer of Worlds’ eventual debut. Another compelling theory ties into Secret Wars, where incursions and multiversal chaos could bring in a ship from a doomed universe, foreshadowing the impending collapse of realities. Comic book lore offers plenty of inspiration: the Brood, Annihilus, or even the Shi’ar Empire could be making their move, setting up future conflicts beyond Earth’s heroes.
The Return of a Familiar Hero/Villain?
On the other hand, the ship might belong to a known character returning in a surprising new role. Doctor Doom is a prime candidate, Latveria’s ruler has his own advanced technology in the comics, and his arrival could explain the ship’s imposing, militaristic design. If Marvel is accelerating Doom’s introduction before the Fantastic Four film, this could be our first glimpse of his rise to power. Another possibility is the Silver Surfer, whose sleek, cosmic aesthetic aligns with the ship’s mysterious aura. His early appearance could hint at Galactus’ looming threat, mirroring his Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer role. Alternatively, the vessel might belong to a shadowy organization like SWORD (Sentient Weapon Observation Response Division) or a reformed SHIELD, deploying a new team in response to the Thunderbolts’ actions. Given SWORD’s ties to space in WandaVision, and Nick Fury’s off-world adventures in Secret Invasion, the ship could be part of a larger, government-backed initiative, possibly even introducing Alpha Flight or another covert ops squad. Whoever’s inside, one thing is clear: Marvel is playing the long game, and this ship is more than just a tease, it’s a doorway to the next big MCU saga.
Why Marvel Might Be Teasing a Bigger Story
The MCU has a long history of using post-credit scenes to misdirect audiences while subtly setting up future storylines. A prime example is Eternals’ post-credit stinger, where Blade’s voice (off-screen) interrupts Dane Whitman before he can touch the Ebony Blade, a moment that initially seemed like a straightforward tease for Blade (2025) but may now tie into Midnight Sons or supernatural threats in Avengers 5. Similarly, the mysterious ship in Thunderbolts could follow this pattern: appearing to hint at the Fantastic Four while actually introducing a different, yet equally significant, player in the Multiverse Saga.
Marvel Studios is currently building toward Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, which will likely involve incursions, alternate realities, and legacy characters crossing over. If the ship isn’t the Fantastic Four’s, it could belong to a variant of Kang, an early herald of Galactus, or even Doctor Doom, whose rise to power is inevitable in the lead-up to Secret Wars. Another possibility is that the ship is tied to SWORD or the reformed SHIELD, setting up a government-backed cosmic storyline akin to Secret Invasion (but hopefully executed better). Given Kevin Feige’s reluctance to confirm the ship’s identity, it’s clear Marvel wants to keep fans guessing, possibly because its true significance won’t be revealed until Fantastic Four or another Phase 5 project.
This kind of misdirection isn’t just for shock value; it’s a strategic way to expand the MCU’s interconnected storytelling. By introducing an ambiguous element now, Marvel can retroactively link it to a later reveal much like how Shang-Chi’s Ten Rings were later tied to the multiversal war in Doctor Strange 2. Whether the Thunderbolts ship is a red herring or a crucial piece of the Multiverse Saga, one thing is certain: Marvel is playing the long game, and this tease is just the beginning.
Conclusion – What’s Next for the MCU?
The mysterious ship in Thunderbolts’ post-credit scene has sparked intense debate, but the evidence suggests it’s not the Fantastic Four’s iconic "Exelsior." With four fins instead of three, along with Kevin Feige’s own uncertainty about the connection, Marvel seems to be playing a clever game of misdirection. If this isn’t Reed Richards and his team arriving, then who—or what—is coming? Could this be an early hint of Galactus, a hidden Kang variant, or even Doctor Doom making his grand entrance ahead of Fantastic Four? Or perhaps Marvel is introducing an entirely new cosmic player, setting the stage for Avengers: Secret Wars. The MCU has mastered the art of post-credit teases, and this one feels especially deliberate, leaving fans with more questions than answers. With Phase 5 building toward a multiversal war, this ship could be the first domino in a much larger story. So, what do you think? Who’s piloting that ship, and what does their arrival mean for the future of the MCU? Drop your wildest theories below, because in the Marvel Universe, nothing is ever as simple as it seems.
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