During the highly anticipated Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Marvel Studios officially announced the title of its upcoming film: “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” The reveal was made by director Matt Shakman, who also presented an exciting teaser reel that gave fans a glimpse of what to expect from this new installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The audience was treated to a surprise when Shakman introduced the film’s main cast, which includes Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Initially, Shakman had indicated that the cast would not be present due to their imminent departure for production in the UK, set to begin shortly after the convention.
The teaser reel showcased the core Fantastic Four members in astronaut suits, hinting at a space adventure. It featured a thrilling rocket launch and concluded with a dramatic shot of the formidable supervillain Galactus looming over Earth. This early look at the film has fans buzzing with excitement.
Pedro Pascal, who will portray Reed Richards, also known as Mr. Fantastic, expressed his enthusiasm for joining the Marvel family. He described the experience as feeling like a “new family,” sharing a personal connection with Shakman, as they have known each other for over two decades.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who plays Ben Grimm, also known as The Thing, shared his thoughts on donning the superhero suit. He recounted receiving supportive advice from Mark Ruffalo, which helped demystify the motion capture process for him.
The panel was brief, as the cast had to return to the UK for filming. In a light-hearted moment, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige joked about their “fantastic car” that would whisk them away. This was punctuated by the appearance of a large blue vehicle on stage, delighting the audience.
While specific plot details remain under wraps, the cast lineup is impressive. Alongside Pascal, Kirby will portray Sue Storm (the Invisible Woman), Quinn will take on the role of Johnny Storm (the Human Torch), and Moss-Bachrach will embody Ben Grimm (The Thing). Additionally, Julia Garner has been cast as Shalla-Bal, a version of the Silver Surfer, while Ralph Ineson will portray the menacing Galactus. Paul Walter Hauser and Natasha Lyonne are also part of the cast in undisclosed roles.
In a recent interview on The Official Marvel Podcast, Feige described “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” as a “period film,” confirming that filming would commence on July 29, 2024. He expressed his excitement about exploring these iconic characters, stating that they are legendary pillars of the Marvel Universe that have not been fully explored in previous films.
Shakman, known for his work on “WandaVision,” is directing the film from a script co-written by Eric Pearson, Josh Friedman, Jeff Kaplan, and Ian Springer. The film is set to be produced by Feige and is scheduled for release on July 25, 2025.
This announcement comes at a pivotal time for Marvel Studios, which is recalibrating its production strategy. The studio has shifted its focus to a new mandate of releasing two films per year, following a series of successful releases including “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” and “The Marvels.” Upcoming films include “Captain America: Brave New World” and “Thunderbolts,” which will conclude Phase 5 of the MCU.
“The Fantastic Four” will kick off Phase 6, which will also include highly anticipated titles such as “Blade,” “Avengers 5,” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.” The excitement surrounding the Fantastic Four is palpable, especially given the franchise’s tumultuous history in film adaptations.
The first attempt to bring the Fantastic Four to the big screen in 1994 was a notorious failure, with the film never officially released. Fox later produced two films in the 2000s that, while commercially successful, received mixed to negative reviews. A 2015 reboot was widely panned, leaving fans hopeful that this new iteration will do justice to Marvel’s First Family.
As the excitement builds for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” fans are eager to see how this new film will blend retro-futurism with the beloved characters and stories from the comics. The film promises to deliver a fresh take on the Fantastic Four, with a focus on optimism and adventure, reminiscent of the 1960s era.
With the film’s release date set for July 25, 2025, fans can look forward to more updates and teasers as production gets underway. The anticipation for this new chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is at an all-time high, and the Fantastic Four are ready to take their first steps into a new era.
Source: Deadline, IGN
