The highly anticipated reboot of “The Fantastic Four,” titled “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” is set to hit theaters on July 25, 2025. Mattson’s film has a killer cast. Pedro Pascal might be relying on that issue of luck as he plays the role of the MCU’s Reed Richards aka Mister Fantastic. Vanessa Kirby plays Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, and Joseph Quinn plays Johnny Storm, the Human Torch. Ebon Moss-Bachrach completes the principal cast as Ben Grimm / The Thing. Directed by Matt Shakman, this film serves as a big sweet cherry on top of the cake that is bringing audiences a whole new MCU era.
“Fantastic Four: First Steps” offers a unique storyline that will see the titular heroes defending Earth from Galactus, a ravenous space god portrayed by Ralph Ineson. The new, looming threat of Galactus will not only challenge the team’s skills but go to the root of testing their family ties. Julia Garner will deeply color the cosmic character, the Silver Surfer. Within this cosmic, high-stakes story arc, the Silver Surfer becomes a Herald of Galactus.
First and foremost, the film acts as a heavy reboot of the Fantastic Four franchise. Additionally, the show hopes to introduce some of these iconic characters to a new generation. Notably, the movie’s aesthetic draws inspiration from the retro-futuristic designs of the 1960s, providing a visual backdrop that complements the story’s themes. Just as they learn what it means to be superpowered heroes, the Fantastic Four have to balance that with challenges directly in their very familial relationships.
Pedro Pascal, fresh off of fiery turns as Joel and grunt-Santa Claus, opened up about the fascinating approach he took to showcasing Reed Richards. He emphasized the character’s intellectual depth, stating, “With Reed, his body may stretch, but this is a brain character.” What this statement points out though, is just how vital intellect and strategy were to Reed’s heroism.
Pascal opened up about his process for creating Reed’s powers. He mentioned the inspiration he drew from nature, specifically the octopus: “I guess I’ll just give it completely away. It made me think of the brilliance of an octopus. Not in any literal actual physical joined-up way, but I sucked it into my collective unconscious. Yeah. That’s the sweetest character spoiler reveal that I’ve shown you. This fascinating comparison implies that Reed’s powers are more than just physical elasticity. They could be a marker of increased flexibility and cleverness.
The film’s trailer has generated excitement among fans by showcasing Reed Richards utilizing his powers, effectively quelling speculation surrounding his abilities. This opportunity to see a bit about what Leonardo’s character can do lays a great framework for some exciting action set pieces and character arcs.
As part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), “Fantastic Four: First Steps” will not only stand alone but play a crucial role in upcoming films such as “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.” This linkage in the MCU means that the Fantastic Four are going to play an important role going forward.