Fans got their first look at next year's Fantastic Four movie during the MCU Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con, along with a brand new title for the movie.
This is not the first visualization of the team. The casting announcement in February 2024 revealed artwork of the four together in the iconic blue suits. A selfie of the four actors (Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn) captioned "Our first mission" was also recently posted to Pascal's Instagram.
With Marvel teasing the team's icons and other castings like Ralph Ineson's Galactus announced already, fans are excited to see all the pieces come together in 2025.
First Fantastic Four Pre-Shoot Footage Revealed With New Title
At the MCU Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con, the first pre-shoot footage of next year's Fantastic Four was released, along with a brand new title: The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Marvel announced that production on the movie will begin on Tuesday, and re-confirmed its July 25, 2025 release date.
The footage (per DiscussingFilm and PopVerse) features Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards teaching a science class called "Fantastic Science with Dr. Richards," speaking in "an old school accent."
The footage comes from the Future Foundation, depicted with a "retro logo." Adding to the retro vibes is a version of the Fantasticar, which DiscussingFilm described as "an old Cadillac that looks straight out of 'The Jetsons.'" The car made an in-person appearance at the event.
The footage then shows both Ben Grimm (The Thing, played by Ebon Moss Bachrach) and Sue Storm (The Invisible Woman, played by Vanessa Kirby). They are playing a fake "Let's Make A Love Match" game, still in retro style, showing silhouettes of the team's male members.
On the reveal of Joseph Quinn's Johnny Storm, his sister Sue tells the camera, "Ladies, he is very single."
The footage ended with none other than the Devourer of Worlds himself, Galactus, looking into the Fantastic Four's Headquarters, The Baxter Building.
Interestingly, and seemingly unconnected so far to The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the biggest Fantastic Four villain, Doctor Doom, was announced for his own Doom-centric Avengers movie — Avengers: Doomsday — and will be played by Robert Downey Jr.
What Will Fantastic Four: First Steps Be About?
It is becoming clearer with every continued look at Fantastic Four: First Steps that this will, at least in part, adapt the beloved comic arc The Coming of Galactus.
Not only will both Galactus and a version of the Silver Surfer appear, but the set-up of the movie's alternate universe provides a lot more room in the sandbox for Marvel to play in.
In the comics, this is a three-issue story about how the Devourer of Worlds has chosen Earth as his next meal. The Fantastic Four learn of his plans, and (with the help of The Silver Surfer) threaten Galactus with a device called the Ultimate Nullifier, scaring him away.
What is particularly interesting in this case is the fact that Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place in an alternate universe. It is possible that the FF could actually lose and end up transported to the MCU in a last-ditch effort at survival. Or not; this is all speculation.
As The Coming of Galactus is such an iconic piece of Fantastic Four lore though, it would be a really solid starting point to bring new fans into their stories as they join the MCU proper.
Fantastic Four: First Steps will hit theaters on July 25, 2025.
Read more from Hall H on The Direct:
Marvel Hall H 2024: Panel Time, How To Watch & Every Announcement
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Gillian Blum has been a writer at The Direct since 2022, reporting primarily from New York City. Though she covers news from across the entertainment industry, Gillian has a particular focus on Marvel and DC, including comics, movies, and television shows. She also commonly reports on Percy Jackson, Invincible, and other similar franchises.
