The Marvel Cinematic Universe is gearing up to introduce its latest superhero team. On Tuesday, February 3, Marvel unveiled the first official look at The Fantastic Four: First Steps, featuring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, and Ben Grimm/The Thing, respectively.
In the newly released trailer, the four heroes gather for a Sunday dinner, reflecting on how much their lives have changed. Reed recalls their time before they gained their powers, setting the stage for Sue to affirm, “Whatever life throws at us, we’ll face it together. As a family.”
What sets this iteration apart from previous Fantastic Four adaptations is its setting—the 1960s. Unlike past films, which took place in contemporary times, this version embraces a distinctly retro aesthetic, giving the franchise a fresh yet nostalgic feel.
A day before the trailer’s release, Marvel Studios teased fans with a short clip showing children gathered around a TV store window, watching as the team embarks on a mission. The caption accompanying the post read, “The Future Foundation invites you to take your first steps into a fantastic new era. Launch coverage begins at 7 AM ET | 4 AM PT.”
Alongside the teaser, Marvel also revealed a new poster featuring a button emblazoned with the characters’ last names, circling a large number four at the center. The tagline read: “PREPARE 4 LAUNCH.”
Casting Marvel’s First Family
The film’s leading cast was officially announced on Valentine’s Day in February 2024. Marvel shared an illustrated poster of the characters in classic-style super suits with the caption, “Happy Valentine’s Day from Marvel’s First Family! Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn are The Fantastic Four.”
One week after the casting reveal, Moss-Bachrach, 47, shared a fun behind-the-scenes detail about the group. During a February 2024 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Bear actor disclosed that Pascal, 49, had already created a group chat for the four of them.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Photo: Marvel Entertainment)“I have [Pedro’s] number, so it says ‘Pedro Pascal,’ and then there’s two +44 [UK country code] numbers,” he joked. “I don’t know which one’s Vanessa and which one is Joseph.”
The film’s official title, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, was confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con in July. The movie, directed by Matt Shakman, boasts a star-studded supporting cast, including Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal/The Silver Surfer, Ralph Ineson as Galactus, and additional appearances by Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, and Sarah Niles.
The Fantastic Four’s Cinematic History
This marks the third time Marvel’s iconic superhero team has been brought to the big screen. The first live-action adaptation debuted in 2005, featuring Chris Evans as Johnny Storm alongside Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, and Michael Chiklis.
Evans reprised the role for the 2007 sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, before transitioning into the role of Captain America in the MCU. In 2024, Evans made a brief return as The Human Torch with a surprise cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine.
A decade after the original films, the franchise was rebooted in 2015 with Michael B. Jordan taking over as Johnny Storm, starring alongside Miles Teller, Kate Mara, and Jamie Bell.
When Disney acquired 21st Century Fox in 2019, the rights to The Fantastic Four, X-Men, and other Marvel properties were officially brought under the MCU umbrella. This allowed the team to finally be integrated into the larger Marvel Universe, joining established heroes like The Avengers.
Before Pascal’s casting, John Krasinski became the first actor to portray Reed Richards in the Disney-owned MCU, appearing as an alternate version of Mister Fantastic in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).
When Will The Fantastic Four: First Steps Be Released?
Fans won’t have to wait much longer to see Marvel’s First Family in action. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to hit theaters on July 25.