'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' final trailer teases epic cosmic reboot ahead of July premiere

 

With one month to go for the release of Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the studio has released the film's final trailer. Featuring the iconic Marvel superhero team Fantastic Four, the film marks the beginning of the MCU’s sixth phase. In the movie, the Fantastic Four goes against Galactus, the Planet-Eating Cosmic Titan, in an attempt to save their 1960’s inspired retro-futuristic world. It is set in an alternate universe from the main MCU within the same multiverse. Directed by Matt Shakman ("WandaVision") and written by Josh Friedman ("Avatar: The Way of Water"), the film promises a blend of character-driven storytelling and large-scale spectacle.

 

 

 

The big bad in the movie, Galactus (voiced by Ralph Ineson), varies from his depictions in the previous Fantastic Four films, with him having a giant, physical form this time, similar to the comics, in contrast with the cloud-like design in Rise of the Silver Surfer. Accompanying him is the Silver Surfer (played by Julia Garner), who delivers the haunting line, “I herald his beginning… I herald your end.” This also marks the first time the Silver Surfer is portrayed as female in live action.

 

At the heart of the film, however are the titular team themselves — The Fantastic Four:

 

·      Reed Richards/Mr Fantastic (Pedro Pascal)

 

·      Susan Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby)

 

·      Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn)

 

·      Ben Grimms/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach)

 

Although grand large-scale cosmic action sequences and Marvel’s signature humour can be expected from the film, there are also deep emotional themes of family, responsibility, identity and legacy.

 

 

 

The film’s visual design takes strong inspiration from Jack Kirby’s iconic cosmic art, featuring clean geometric architecture, analogue technology, and stylised costumes that fuse mid-century aesthetics with futuristic innovation. This distinct look sets the film apart from other MCU entries and reflects its setting in an alternate timeline, a concept previously explored in previous projects like Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

 

 

 

Although largely self-contained, the movie is already deeply connected to other Marvel projects, notably the much-awaited Avengers: Doomsday. This is because Dr Doom, the main villain in Doomsday, was originally a Fantastic Four antagonist. He will be played by Robert Downey Jr, who will return to the MCU. The movie had also previously tied in with *Thunderbolts where (spoiler alert) a post-credits scene revealed the Fantastic Four’s ship bearing a glowing “4” insignia entering Earth’s atmosphere through an interdimensional rift. This could take place after the events in the upcoming Fantastic Four movie, as a way to integrate the characters into the main timeline, possibly setting up events for Avengers: Doomsday. Although this is mere speculation and exact plot details are still unconfirmed.

 

 

 

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is scheduled to be released on July 25, 2025, in IMAX, ScreenX, and 4DX, and a sequel is reported to be in development.

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