Everything we know About MCU’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps
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Marvel’s First Family is beloved by comic readers and also by those who adored the 2005 Fantastic Four film starring Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, and others. The sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, isn’t as loved but it has still made a special place in the hearts of the fans.
However, the first attempt to reboot the franchise through the Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, and Kate Mara starrer FANT4STIC (2015) fell through. It flopped at the box office and garnered poor critical and audience reception. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the second attempt to reboot the franchise.
Also, the film is hoping to boost Phase 6 of the MCU. But what is this film about? Will we see Doctor Doom in it? In this article, we will discuss everything we know about the film. Also, we will keep updating this space with new promos, trailers, interviews, and more as and when they get released. So, stay tuned!
Release date and Where to Watch
The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be released in theaters on Friday, July 25, 2025.
What is the plot of The Fantastic Four: First Steps?
MCU’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set in the 1960’s retro-futuristic world. Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ben Grimm/The Thing have to defend Earth against Galactus, who plans on devouring the planet.
In this fight with a space god and his herald, the Silver Surfer, their family bond will be tested and things will get more personal than they thought. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, director Matt Shakman revealed that the film won’t address the origin story of the heroes.
He said, “One of the ways we're making it our own thing is we're not telling the story of them going up and being changed, and starting our story [there]. There's a lot of well-known narrative that leads into that moment, right? And then you're making up your new story starting basically at the end of the first act, and we thought, 'Well, let's just start this thing off on a completely new foot. So we are beginning after that.'"
He also said that he hadn’t seen the other Fantastic Four films. Shakman revealed, "I haven't seen those movies. When I got hired to do this, it didn't feel like that would be productive to watch those movies. People ask me about 'How is this different from those other ones?'”
What does the Title of The Fantastic Four: First Steps mean?
The “First Steps” part of the title could be a reference to the famous quote of astronaut Neil Armstrong, “One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” After all, director Matt Shakman has confirmed that the space race served as a big inspiration for this film.
He said, “The comic was created in the early '60s, really at the same time that the space race was starting, so it is infused with that idea of looking to the stars and dreaming of a future where we would be space travelers.”
The director further explained, “And so I really wanted to take all of that great stuff from Apollo 11 and just imagine that instead of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, it was the Storms and Ben Grimm and Reed Richards heading off into space.” However, it could also hint at multiple comic storylines where the Fantastic Four play major roles.
Will Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Appear in The Fantastic Four: First Steps?
It has been rumored that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will appear in a post-credits scene in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. But that hasn’t been confirmed yet.
Who is in The Fantastic Four: First Steps?
- Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic (an intelligent scientist who can stretch any of his body parts to great lengths)
- Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm / Invisible Woman (Johnny's sister who can create force fields and make herself and others invisible)
- Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm / Human Torch (Sue's brother who can douse himself in flames and fly)
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm / Thing (a former astronaut and Reed’s best friend whose skin transformed into orange rock, making him durable and strong)
- Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal / Silver Surfer
- Ralph Ineson as Galactus
- Natasha Lyonne
- Paul Walter Hauser
- John Malkovich
- Sarah Niles
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Trailer
The teaser trailer showcases the retro-futuristic interiors of the Baxter building where the robot Herbie makes the team's food. The video shows the space accident that gave the group their powers and also teases Galactus. Check it out below:
A short teaser was released that hinted at what’s to come. We see small children laughing as they all gather around multiple TV screens in a shop that says, “Prepare 4 Launch.” This hints that maybe the space mission that gave the team their powers will be televised instead of hidden.
Afterall director Matt Shakman said, “Our movie is set in the '60s, kind of a retro-future '60s, and it's a lot about the space race and about voyaging out there.” Check out the teaser trailer below:
Filming Details
Filming of The Fantastic Four: First Steps began on July 30, 2024, at London’s Pinewood Studios. On-location shooting was done at Durdle Door in Dorset and Middleton mine in Derbyshire Dales, England. Apart from this, filming also took place from November 19 to 22 at the Palace of Congresses in Oviedo, Spain. Shooting wrapped in November.
Behind the Scenes
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is directed by Matt Shakman with screenplay from Peter Cameron and script from Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, and Jeff Kaplan. Grant Curtis, Louis D'Esposito, and Tim Lewis have executive produced the film. Mitchell Bell is the co-producer.
Michael Giacchino has given the music and the cinematography is by Jess Hall while Kasra Farahani is responsible for production design. It is produced by Marvel Studios and 20th Century Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
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