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Potential spoilers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps follow.

There's a moment in 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer where we see some of the pressures of fame getting to Marvel's First Family. In a very quick shot, two issues of People Magazine are shown with tabloid-leaning headlines, scandalously discussing Reed Richards and Sue Storm. Now, nearly two decades later, it appears that the popular US rag is still vexing the FF - as a recent in-universe ad published in the latest issue appears to tease a major cameo in this year's Fantastic Four: First Steps.

That cameo? None other than Robert Downey Jr.'s Victor Von Doom.

Let's back up a bit. The People Magazine issue in question is not actually about the Fantastic Four, but is part of Marvel Studios' marketing for the film, with in-universe inserts too make it appear published in whatever reality to which the MCU Fantastic Four belongs. One of those inserts is a retro-futuristic ad for the film's housebot (and beloved Marvel side character) H.E.R.B.I.E..

As seen in these photos of the insert (posted to Twitter by user @syriangeekvibes), the insert acts as an advertisement for people to buy their own H.E.R.B.I.E., who is pitched as a "state-of-the-art personal assistant" that can help with everything from "homework" to "planning interdimensional travel." But it's one of the promised features of the little robot that has the internet buzzing. Click here and see if you can spot it yourself

Right at the bottom of the ad: H.E.R.B.I.E. is said to include a 30-Day trial of something the Fantastic Four are calling their... "Doom Detection??"

Now look, there's no way that we can positively say that this is proof that Robert Downey Jr.'s upcoming MCU big bad will debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. It could just be a knowing jab at the fanbase or even just a very poorly worded piece of copywriting. In any case, it's fascinating to see that, even in our world, the heroes of the MCU must bow to the might of celeb gossip. 

The Fantastic Four: First Steps comes to theaters July 25. Maybe it'll even feature Doctor Doom, even if Marvel has repeatedly said the opposite. Then again, they said that Thunderbolts was called Thunderbolts, and we know how that turned out.

Consider this a meta post-credits scene for Marvel fans - the four key articles you need to read next to continue the thrills:

• How to watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe in release or chronological order
• The best Marvel Comics stories of all time
• All the MCU movies ranked from best to worst
• Our weekly Marvel insider's column, Marvel Matters