The upcoming film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, marks a significant reboot of the beloved franchise, set to hit theaters on July 25, 2025. Marvel Matt Shakman directs this thrilling surprise through Marvel’s expansive Multiverse Saga. It will be a new take on the classic superhero team’s origin story. Despite those previous missteps, First Steps takes an exciting new turn by not having the villain Doctor Doom be the lead antagonist. No, instead it will be introducing the mighty Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.
While the story picks up on a wholly different Earth, the environment provides both literal and figurative ground zero for new stories and heroes to grow. The casting of a quartet of actors known for their work in prestige television brings a unique blend of talent to the project, further raising expectations among fans. Shakman pointed out that Doctor Doom is one of the top tier characters in Fantastic Four lore. The problem is, at times his strong presence overpowers the team’s internal dynamic.
“Doom’s a great character, but he takes up a lot of air,” – Matt Shakman
In The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the team will confront challenges unlike any they have faced before. And Galactus is the kind of threat on a cosmic scale that even the smartest guy in the universe, Reed Richards, a.k.a., Mr. Fantastic, has never faced. This new adversary will test the team in unprecedented ways, shifting the focus from traditional villains to more cosmic and existential threats.
One of the stars of the ensemble cast—Pedro Pascal, who plays Oberyn Martell—talked to THR about the pressure he feels. Stepping into such an iconic franchise is HUGE pressure! He articulated the perfect tension that exists between fulfilling the desires of fans and honoring one’s muse and artistic integrity.
“They’re all scary because you really want to make people happy, especially if it’s something that’s widely known with particular expectations around it because you want those expectations to be met,” – Pedro Pascal
Pascal further discussed the nature of Galactus as an antagonist, emphasizing the depth and complexity of this new threat:
“It is definitely a scale of threat which Reed has never experienced. Even the smartest man in the world is awestruck by a being that outdates his understanding of time.” – Pedro Pascal
The decision to pivot away from Doctor Doom makes sense both creatively—to try to breathe new life into what has become a stale franchise—and financially. Check out the trailer and see what this film brings audiences a totally new look at the fantastic four. It dives into their backstory and humanizes their brotherly relationship within a fresh narrative structure.
As part of the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), The Fantastic Four: First Steps will release alongside other films within the Multiverse Saga, promising to expand the interconnected storytelling that has become a hallmark of Marvel productions. The film’s inclusion in this broader context suggests that viewers can expect intricate plots and character arcs that resonate with existing MCU narratives.
With its unique approach to storytelling and character development, The Fantastic Four: First Steps seeks to redefine how audiences perceive this iconic team. The movie gives us Galactus, but not in the traditional sense. By breaking from the well-trodden tropes of Doctor Doom, it hooks audiences old and new in a place they’ve never been.