Marvel’s First Family is set to make a grand return to the silver screen with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, a film that transports audiences to a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. Save the date for July 25, 2025, when this movie comes out in theaters! It introduces different takes on the classic characters Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm as played by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. The short film is set to push the team further than ever before as they face their greatest enemy…so far.
In this new movie adventure, the Fantastic Four must battle … Mole Man’s terrible creation! Supplementing the film’s story is an in-universe comic book illustrating the heroes’ epic clash with this powerful new opponent. This one-shot comic, titled Fantastic Four: First Steps, will be published by Marvel Studios and Marvel Comics on July 2, 2025. Prolific comic book scribe Matt Fraction, noted for his groundbreaking work on Hawkeye, teams up with Fables artist Mark Buckingham. Individually, all three are immensely talented, but in collaboration, they’ve created something magical.
Director Matt Shakman helmed the project, collaborating with Josh Friedman, co-writer of Avatar: The Way of Water, and Cam Squires from WandaVision to craft the screenplay. Eric Pearson, who worked on the screenplay for Black Widow, came on board the development for a last pass. Production Designer Kasra Farahani had a profound influence on the film’s look, including designing spaceships and landscapes.
The movie has lured some major talent for its undisclosed, mystery characters. Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, and Natasha Lyonne round out the cast. Adding to the excitement surrounding the project is the rumored appearance of Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, a character that has captured fans’ imaginations for years.
Galactus, voiced by Ralph Ineson, along with his enigmatic Herald, the Silver Surfer, portrayed by Julia Garner. These characters will be front and center as the primary antagonists in this highly anticipated film.
C.B. Cebulski, Editor-in-Chief at Marvel Comics, shared his excitement that this collaboration and synergy between Marvel Studios and Marvel Comics is finally happening. He mentioned the importance of the Fantastic Four to the Marvel Universe overall.
“As Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four and their stories have always been at the very center of the Marvel Universe. With The Fantastic Four: First Steps coming later this summer, we at Marvel all felt this was the perfect opportunity to bring our teams together in honor of their legacy in both the world of the film and within our comics.” – C.B. Cebulski
The next comic will be a kid-friendly retelling of the Fantastic Four’s first adventure. It will be a key, stand-alone piece to accompany and deepen the film narrative. To Cebulski, reconnecting the two forms is an important step for fans.
“It’s been a blast to have our teams in Publishing and Studios bounce ideas back and forth to create something truly special and one-of-a-kind, and we can’t wait for fans to be able to dive in to this comic—squarely in the world of the MCU—and experience the Fantastic Four like we’ve never seen before this summer.” – C.B. Cebulski
With its retro-futuristic aesthetic and compelling storyline, The Fantastic Four: First Steps aims to capture both longtime fans and new audiences alike. Returning seasoned actors and an experienced creative team combine to produce magic on the stage. Complemented by an exciting tie-in comic book, this project has the potential to be one of Marvel’s most delightful releases in decades.
“The heart of Marvel has always stemmed from the comics, and Kevin and the team have been bringing those pages to life in extraordinary ways with each and every film. With this comic, we’re bringing those two worlds together in a way we think fans will love.” – C.B. Cebulski
With its retro-futuristic aesthetic and compelling storyline, The Fantastic Four: First Steps aims to capture both longtime fans and new audiences alike. The combination of seasoned actors, an experienced creative team, and an engaging tie-in comic book sets the stage for what could be one of Marvel’s most exciting releases in years.