Four to the rescue!
Strap: The MCU’s future rides on four heroes. Will they deliver? Find out July 25
With Fantastic Four: First Steps hitting theatres next week, anticipation is soaring — and so is the pressure. This isn’t just another superhero flick. This is the long-awaited MCU debut of Marvel’s original team: Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). After a turbulent run at the box office, Marvel is banking on this cosmic quartet to reignite fan excitement.
Unlike past reboots, First Steps doesn’t begin with the team’s origin. Instead, it picks up four years into their super-powered lives. The Fantastic Four are already Earth’s celebrity protectors, navigating battles and fame in a stylish retro-futuristic world. But the film still promises emotional stakes — including a surprise pregnancy and the birth of Franklin Richards. That timeline alone hints at either clever time manipulation or a sprawling narrative arc.
And then there’s Galactus. Voiced by Ralph Ineson, the planet-devouring villain offers a chilling ultimatum: hand over your child, or Earth gets eaten. It’s a bold move for Marvel, blending cosmic absurdity with genuine dread. The trailer even teases a crumbling Earth — a red herring, perhaps, or a multiversal twist in the making?
But the mystery doesn’t stop there. Natasha Lyonne’s role remains top-secret, fuelling fan speculation. Is she Alicia Masters, The Thing’s love interest? Or someone we’re not expecting at all? Meanwhile, Paul Walter Hauser is likely Mole Man, and John Malkovich’s Red Ghost has reportedly been cut. Still, Marvel’s lips remain sealed.
As Avengers: Doomsday looms, the Fantastic Four are already being positioned as major players in the next phase of the MCU — and possibly Secret Wars too. That makes First Steps more than just a reboot. It’s the launchpad for what’s next. Will we glimpse Doctor Doom? Will the team cross over into the 616 timeline, as teased in Thunderbolts’ end credits?
One thing is clear – Fantastic Four: First Steps isn’t just about saving the world. It’s about saving the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Whether they pull it off… we’ll find out next week.