Marvel Studios unveils the first trailer forThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, which is currently the final MCU movie on their 2025 slate. Marvel regained the rights to The Fantastic Four back in 2019, when the studio’s parent company, Disney, acquired them and other assets - including the X-Men - from Fox. Now, a new generation of Marvel’s First Family joins the MCU as part ofThe Fantastic Four: First Stepscast, which includes Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
Today, Marvel revealedThe Fantastic Four: First Stepstrailer, showcasing a look at the cast in action. In addition to the four key members of the team, the trailer also introduces HERBIE, a robot sidekick of sorts to The Fantastic Four, as well as a first glimpse of Galactus, the planet-eating Marvel villain from the comics. Notably absent from the trailer is Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer, who will be working with Galactus. Watch the trailer below.
Marvel also released the official synopsis forThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, which reveals how Galactus and Silver Surfer fit into the story, as well as teasing a “personal” threat to their family.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” introduces Marvel’s First Family—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. 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 (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.
Everything The Fantastic Four: First Steps Trailer Reveals
Perhaps the biggest and most significant reveal inThe Fantastic Four: First Stepstraileris the appearance of Moss-Bachrach’s The Thing, which seems to have been done using a mixture of practical and visual effects. Based onFantastic Fourset photos, we know that there was a practical suit made for The Thing, with an actor donning the rock-like prosthetics in order to bring Ben Grimm to life. It’s likely those were touched up with some minor VFX work to make it look as life-like as it does in the trailer footage.
Beyond The Thing, there are also first looks at both Johnny and Sue Storm’s powers in the trailer, with Johnny flying through New York City and Sue going invisible and using her powers to throw up a shield. Interestingly, Reed Richards' powers aren’t on display, which might be because Marvel Studios is still fine-tuning how they’ll look on screen. Arguably, The Thing and Mister Fantastic are the two members of the team who can look the goofiest if not done right, so it’s best for Marvel to verify Reed’s powers look the best they can before revealing them.
As for the overallFantastic Four: First Stepsmovie trailer, it showcases a whole different universe set within the MCU’s multiverse, one with a retro-futuristic look. This is on display a great deal in the footage, with retro-style cars, the clothing that the characters wear, and much of the technology used. Despite the retro feel of the universe, the technology is still quite advanced, as evidenced by Reed Richards' chalkboard, which seemingly shows a multiverse bridge, and might be important for the plot of the movie.
Our Take On The Fantastic Four: First Steps Trailer
The trailer looks quite different to any other MCU movie we’ve seen before, which could be exactly what the franchise needs. After the record-breaking low box office ofThe Marvels, and the negative reception toAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Marvel Studios bounced back last year withDeadpool & Wolverine. But it’s important for the franchise to keep that positive momentum, especially as they head into the upcoming Avengers movies,Avengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars.
Speculation has posited that Robert Downey Jr. could make his debut as Doctor Doom inFirst Steps, which could go a long way in moving the MCU towardDoomsday. But, even more importantly, the studio needs to get Marvel’s First Family right after a handful of so-so adaptations in the past 25 years. HopefullyThe Fantastic Four: First Stepswill be a much more comics-accurate and entertaining take on the classic superhero team.
