When Does the Third Film "Fantastic Four" (2015) Take Place?
"Fantastic Four" is a science fiction superhero film written by Josh Trank with Jeremy Slater and Simon Kinberg [adapting "Ultimate Fantastic Four" #1-#4 (2003-2004) by Mark Millar with Brian Michael Bendis as well as "Ultimate Fantastic Four" #7-#9 (2004) by Warren Ellis] that released August 7th, 2015. So when is "Fantastic Four" set?
It takes place on an alternate timeline of the fictional Marvel Cinematic Universe in the year:
We know this because about a tenth into the movie Reed Richards is looking at a display case in the Baxter Institute and a small trophy clearly reads "Coalition of Genetic Engineers Research Laboratory of the Year 2009" at the bottom. So it must be during or after 2009 AD.
2014 AD - 2015 AD
We know this because about a tenth into the movie Reed Richards is looking at a display case in the Baxter Institute and a small trophy clearly reads "Coalition of Genetic Engineers Research Laboratory of the Year 2009" at the bottom. So it must be during or after 2009 AD.
Furthermore, at the end of the 2007 AD prologue a white-on-black title card appears reading: "7 YEARS LATER". So it is 2014 AD at the beginning.
2007 + 7 = 2014.
Then, there is a one year time-jump– making it 2015 AD at the end.
2014 + 1 = 2015.
Additionally, there is a prologue that includes a time and place setting title card superimposed over the footage that reads, "OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK 2007". So presumably, it is 2007 AD at this time. Though this doesn't seem to be confirmable by context.
It is a midway chronological film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline (a chronologically first film to feature the Fantastic Four) and it can be watched at its timeline point but is best watched later, at almost any point, but before "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" (2007), before "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" (2025), or entirely separately.
