Marvel has released the trailer for their Fantastic Four project, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” After a long period of not having the rights to the team, the studio is finally ready to tell the origin story of Marvel’s First Family.
The film will be released on July 25, 2025, with a star-studded cast. Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays Ben Grimm, aka “The Thing,” who is at the movie’s heart. This theme tracks with the original comics, where the tragedy of his mutation is a source of much of the group’s drama.
Joseph Quinn will star as Johnny Storm, the Human Torch. Johnny retains his more immature personality traits from the comics and will likely provide comedic relief for the film.
Vanessa Kirby will play Johnny’s sibling, Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman. In the trailer, she tours the Baxter building and supports Reed Richards in his journey through the film.
Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic, is the last of the Fantastic Four and the one with the least amount shown in the trailer. From what could be seen, his arc will be coming to terms with what has happened to the First Family in space. Pedro Pascal will play Mr. Fantastic, complete with his lovely mustache.
There wasn’t much revealed about the plot, but a few conclusions can be drawn from what has been shown. The most significant and crucial conclusion might be that Galactus is the main villain.
Galactus, played by Ralph Ineson, is a being from the comics who comes to planets to consume their life essence to fuel himself. He is also commonly heralded by The Silver Surfer, played by Julia Garner, who will make an appearance.
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The plot will likely involve the Fantastic Four facing off against Galactus to save the world and grappling with the ramifications of their mutations resulting from their adventure into space.
There are rumors that Robert Downey Jr.‘s Doctor Doom could appear in a post-credits scene, teasing future conflicts.
Something not likely to appear in the movie proper but still noteworthy is Victor Von Doom. Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Junior, will most likely occur in a post-credits scene.
One of the most striking aspects of the trailer is its visual effects. The Fantastic Four movies have always had a visual impact that ranges from decent to excellent, with Michael Chiklis’s “Thing” being a specific standout. This time, however, the special effects are at the top of their game.
Two specific effects that appear to be especially noteworthy are the Invisible Woman’s Force Fields and The Thing as a Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) character. The light spectrum on the Invisible Woman’s force field lends to the idea that she creates an invisible force that exists in space, and the Thing looks as though he leaped directly from the comics to the screen.
The visual direction will also be a strong point as the film is set in a fantastic retro-futuristic setting that genuinely feels like a throwback to the original Fantastic Four comics. A few noteworthy examples are the brief shots of New York in the trailer and Herbie, whose face looks like a vintage tape player.
Overall, the movie is a significant first step into the new phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It’s also a good jumping-on point for people who want to get in on the hype but don’t want to catch up on 15 years of movies. With its fresh take on Marvel’s First Family, this film is a must-watch for both longtime fans and newcomers.
Andrew Barnes, Staff Writer