A new preview of The Fantastic Four: First Steps seems to show a glimpse at the Mole Man's secret lair and the villain himself, giving audiences more to get excited about when it comes to the iconic Fantastic Four foe. This is not the first look at what seems to be Subterranea in the upcoming MCU movie, with a shot in a recent trailer seemingly taking place there. Still, Mole Man's own lair within it has not yet been seen.
Around 40 seconds into a video on the Marvel Studios YouTube channel titled "The Fantastic Four: First Steps | Fantastic First Look," viewers can see a sandy, almost cave-like space, with cluttered desks and a villainous figure working at the center. This draped individual appears to be Mole Man, giving fans their first footage of one of the film's many adversaries.
Though this is not officially confirmed to be Subterranea, the underground world where the Mole Man works, lives, and rules in Marvel Comics, it looks remarkably like it. The lair appears to be underground, thanks to the lighting and the sandy floor, and there is even a staircase at the bottom of the shot.
Assuming this is Subterranea, this would be the audience's second look at the MCU's version of the underground location. Around the 1:38 timecode in The Fantastic Four: First Steps' official trailer, released back in April, there is a shot showing a crowd of people in what looks like a similar, sandy, underground location.
Again, this being Subterranea is not officially confirmed, and it may not be until The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on Friday, July 25, that audiences find out for certain. The movie stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn as the titular Fantastic Four, who play Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Sue Storm (The Invisible Woman), Ben Grimm (The Thing), and Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), respectively.
What Might Mole Man Be Up to in the Fantastic Four Movie?
While the footage doesn't show off the villain in full, a recent Fantastic Four: First Steps prequel comic features the Mole Man in the iconic green costume, indicating that the same comic-accurate suit will be used in the movie.
Interestingly, the prequel comic's Mole Man looks similar to Paul Walter Hauser, who has an officially unconfirmed role in the movie. Hauser has not yet unveiled his role, claiming he does not even know who he is playing via Instagram.
Regardless of who is playing him, the Mole Man will have a role in the upcoming Fantastic Four movie, though what that role is remains unclear. In the comics, the Mole Man is actually the first villain the Fantastic Four are ever shown to fight. As his name suggests, he is the ruler of the underground world and has various vendettas and plots against the surface world throughout his decades of canon.
His role in The Fantastic Four: First Steps is still fairly unclear. However, the shot of the crowd of people in what appears to be Subterranea may offer viewers a clue.
It is possible that, with the looming threat of Galactus, civilians either seek cover underground themselves or are sent underground to protect themselves, bringing them right into Subterranea. Sure, it would not do them much good in reality — it does not matter what surface of the planet you are on if someone eats it whole. But it would make sense as an attempt to keep people safe.
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.
