Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, has expressed his excitement about introducing the Fantastic Four into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). He considers it a "dream come true" and is determined to do the characters justice, acknowledging their importance in Marvel's history. The upcoming film, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," set to release on July 25, 2025, is generating considerable buzz, especially with the inclusion of iconic villains like Galactus and Silver Surfer.
Feige is aware of the previous unsuccessful attempts to bring Marvel's First Family to the big screen. He produced Tim Story's "Fantastic Four" films two decades ago, during a time when comic book blockbusters were in a different phase. Reflecting on those films, Feige admitted there was "still a bit of fear of being silly." However, he is now ready to embrace the "classic Fantastic Four energy" with a retro-futuristic 1960s-inspired setting.
The acquisition of Fox by Disney, which brought the Fantastic Four rights back to Marvel Studios, was described by Feige as "an unexpected dream come true" that "came at the perfect time to help us launch into a new era." This new era will see the introduction of Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet.
One of the most significant ways "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" embraces the comics is through the introduction of Galactus. Unlike previous cinematic interpretations, Galactus will not be portrayed as a mere cloud but as a "humongous, 14-billion-year-old, planet-devouring cosmic vampire." Ralph Ineson, the actor playing Galactus, describes him as a "cosmic force" and "a God, of sorts," emphasizing the character's immense power and complexity. This portrayal aligns with the comics, where Galactus can alter his size and is a formidable foe.
Director Matt Shakman, known for his work on "WandaVision," aims to tap into the "classic Fantastic Four energy" while taking some risks. Feige believes that in another time, the idea of "somebody with a big, angular helmet walking through a city" might have been considered goofy, but he now considers it "awesome." Shakman worked with Josh Friedman (co-writer of "Avatar: The Way of Water") and Cam Squires ("WandaVision") on the screenplay, with Eric Pearson ("Black Widow") providing a final polish.
The film's synopsis reveals that the Fantastic Four will have to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond as they defend Earth from Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (played by Julia Garner). The stakes are high, with Galactus's plan to devour the planet and everyone on it. The cast also includes Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, and Natasha Lyonne in mystery roles, adding to the anticipation. There are also rumors of Robert Downey Jr. appearing as Doctor Doom.
"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is set to be the first film of Phase Six of the MCU. Following its release, the Fantastic Four cast are expected to reprise their roles in "Avengers: Doomsday," slated for December 18, 2026, and "Avengers: Secret Wars," scheduled for December 17, 2027.
