The Fantastic Four’s First Family Reunion in a decade.
The Future Foundation
Marvel Studios debuted the first teaser for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The much-anticipated teaser offered a glimpse at a 1960’s setting, Marvel’s first family, and the looming threat of Galactus. Announced in 2019 with Jon Watts (Spider-Man: No Way Home, Skeleton Crew), the current project is being helmed by Matt Shakman (WandaVision, Monarch: Legacy of the Monsters) and features Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as her brother Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm. The Fantastic Four: First Steps will kick off Phase Six of the Multiverse Saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and serves as another stepping stone towards both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers Secret Wars. Robert Downey Jr. will play Victor Von Doom and will likely appear in some capacity.
A Little Bit Of Zip
The teaser opens (literally) with elevator doors. Two gentlemen receive a tour through the Baxter building, and Reed tells the duo that the family has dinner promptly at 7 PM every night. The trailer transitions from a 4:3 aspect ratio to 16:9, leading into the first look at Ben Grimm and H.E.R.B.I.E. It’s interesting to note that the footage of the men entering the building is test footage from SDCC ’24. One thing this trailer smartly does is integrate test footage mostly as flashback material while present-time scenarios indicate principal photography. Fans of The Bear may see this instance of Ben cooking as a nod, it’s also pertinent to Ben Grimm being the main chef of the family. Surprisingly, H.E.R.B.I.E. did not speak at all. Rumors of Paul Walter Hauser or Natasha Lyonne voicing the iconic robot have been circulating for some time since both people joined the cast.
Mr. Fantastic
Reed Richards is often considered to be one of the most brilliant minds in the Marvel universe. The trailer showcases the lengths of his intelligence requiring a large chalkboard. The rest of this scene may involve the use of his elastic powers, but those VFX shots are likely not finalized. Reed confides in Sue about how the events of their launch changed them forever, indicating a sense of regret. This is cut with a scene of Ben Grimm in a trench coat looking at his former self on a TV in a shop while on a walk in the city. We also see Sue turn invisible after the rocket launch for the first time, and Johnny turning ablaze.
Sue Storm
Sue comforts Reed, reiterating that Ben has always been a rock while Johnny is who he is. Previous iterations of the relationship between Sue and Reed often show the relationship in the early stages, whereas this time things feel further along. Sue tells Reed that whatever life throws at them, they will face it as a family. This is intercut with a few different shots, like Johnny flying into the atmosphere, the Fantasticar, children looking up whilst wearing merchandise for the Thing, and a first look at John Malkovich.
Galactus, The Devourer of Worlds
In the final moments of the teaser, the mightiest Marvel character in existence arrives. While only two shots showcase the galactic menace, it is enough to make longtime fans gleeful. Galactus’ inclusion in the film feels earned and in line with the trajectory of the multiverse saga, as many fans are theorizing Galactus will ultimately end this current world which would give the Fantastic Four a reason to find another home or universe. However, the Silver Surfer (this time played by Julia Garner) was noticeably absent from the teaser, likely also needing additional time for VFX work. Despite a brief appearance, the fact that Galactus is shown in full armor no less is sure to please fans who were disappointed by the cloud from Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
First Steps
Michael Giacchino’s score for The Fantastic Four: First Steps utilized in the teaser harkens back to the whimsical nature of 60’s era television coupled with stoic fanfare. With over 200 million views in the first 24 hours of release, and a distinct tone and vision the latest incarnation of Marvel’s first family may be the version fans have longed to see in live action. Between a star-studded cast, a story set in a counterculture era, and one of the biggest baddies in the Marvel library, this rendition has the potential to be the most memorable. July’s schedule for releases including Jurassic World: Rebirth and Superman arriving only weeks earlier may seem competitive. However, given the film is the last one to release, and comes out the same weekend as San Diego Comic-Con, it could receive a boon from fans if the word of mouth mirrors the quality of this trailer.
Overall, the reception to this variation on Marvel’s first family seems to be the most anticipated and has a very high chance of winning over audiences in a way the previous versions could not.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives in theaters on July 25th, 2025.