Preview:
- The latest full trailer for ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ has arrived.
- Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach star.
- We also see a proper look at Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer.
Even with ‘Thunderbolts*’ on the way, Marvel has been kicking up its promotion for ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ a few notches over the last couple of months.
Following the teaser launch shortly before the Super Bowl, we’ve had a couple more trailers and now the latest, which offers some clearer looks at Julia Garner’s Shalla-Bal, AKA the Silver Surfer. Oh, and the giant, city-stomping boot of Galactus (Ralph Ineson).
(L to R) Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Pedro Pascal, and Joseph Quinn in 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps'. Photo: Marvel Studios.
And naturally, more from Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the titular Four. In this case, we see how they’re viewed as heroes by the population of New York and the wider world, and celebrated on a TV show hosted by a character played by UK actor Mark Gatiss.
Not only that, but it would appear that Reed Richards (Pascal) and Sue Storm (Kirby) are expecting their first child, to the surprise and (mostly) delight of her brother Johnny Storm (Quinn) and friend Ben Grimm (Moss-Bachrach).
There’s an upbeat tone here, though with the hint of lurking menace when the Surfer shows up to announce that the Four’s planet –– sat in an alternate chunk of the multiverse from the regular Marvel location –– is marked for death.
Who are the Fantastic Four?
(L to R) Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios' 'Fantastic Four: First Steps'. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 Marvel.
Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/The Human Torch and Ben Grimm/The Thing are key players in the pages of Marvel, known as the “First Family”, and introduced in 1961. They are among most anticipated characters (alongside the X-Men) to be included in the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe.
They’re canonically exposed to galactic radiation and end up cursed/blessed (depending on how you view it) with strange abilities. Reed can stretch his body in a variety of ways, Sue can turn invisible and generate forcefields, Johnny’s body becomes engulfed in flame (and he can fly), while Grimm becomes a rock-covered, incredibly strong creature.
They’ve been brought to screens before –– an unauthorized Roger Cormanversion floats around the internet after being traded on bootleg videos years ago, and then there were the Fox efforts, 2005’s ‘Fantastic Four’ and 2007 sequel ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer’. They were followed by the dark, gritty and unsuccessful reboot in 2015.
What’s the story of the new ‘Fantastic Four’ movie?
Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios' 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps.' Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025.
Here’s the official logline:
“Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ introduces Marvel’s First Family as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ineson, as mentioned above) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.”
The movie will cover both some of the team’s origin story –– they get their powers during an accident in space while on a scientific mission –– and have them fully set up in their world.
Which, given everything we’ve heard about the movie so far, takes place outside of the MCU, but they’ll be headed there soon enough, since they’ll be interacting with other heroes going forward (especially in next year’s ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’)
Who else is in the new ‘Fantastic Four’ movie?
H.E.R.B.I.E in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios' 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps.' Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025.
The cast for the new movie also includes Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne and Sarah Niles, plus the aforementioned Gatiss.
We don’t see the others in the new trailer, so their roles are a mystery for now, though Malkovich has been rumored to be playing Ivan Kragoff, also known as the Red Ghost.
Though it seems likely that he’ll be adapted in some way from the comic books, there is some part of us that would love to see him pull off one of his biggest evil schemes from the pages –– creating a group of super apes who mirror our heroes’ abilities!
And given the tie-in to ‘Doomsday,’ might Marvel be planning to deploy one of its trademark mid- or post-credit scenes and introduce Robert Downey Jr., back in the MCU as Dr. Doom, a classic antagonist for the Fantastic Four?
Who is making the ‘Fantastic Four’ movie?
(L to R) Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios' 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps.' Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025.
Matt Shakman, the key director on ‘WandaVision,’ is overseeing the new film.
This one has been in development for a long time now, with Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer among those who have worked on drafts of the script. ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ co-writer Josh Friedman crafted the latest version.
The score, meanwhile, comes from Oscar winner and occasional Marvel music-maker Michael Giacchino, who has also directed for the company, producing TV movie ‘Werewolf by Night’ for the MCU and Disney+ in 2022.
When is ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ in theaters?
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ will finally bring Marvel’s First Family into the MCU on July 25th.
(L to R) Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman and Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios' 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps.' Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025.
List of ‘Fantastic Four' Movies and TV Shows:
- 'Fantastic Four' (1967 - 1968)
- 'The Fantastic Four' (1978)
- 'The Fantastic Four' (1994)
- 'Fantastic Four' (1994 - 1996)
- ‘Fantastic Four' (2005)
- 'Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes' (2006 - 2007)
- ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer' (2007)
- ‘Fantastic Four' (2015)
- 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' (2025)
Buy 'Fantastic Four' Movies on Amazon
