Summary
- Fantastic Four: First Steps offers a refreshing departure from MCU's recent complex Multiverse storylines.
- The trailer hints at a darker twist with the possibility of The Fantastic Four failing to defeat Galactus.
- Reed Richards' potential betrayal to save his unborn child may lead the team to abandon their universe's Earth.
Fantastic Four: First Steps is shaking things up in the MCU. Its retro-futuristic 1960s style and unique universe promises to make this one of the most interesting aesthetic switch-ups since Guardians of the Galaxy. But the new trailer may be hinting at a much darker twist that is yet to reveal itself.
First Steps is one of the most anticipated Marvel projects coming out this year. The decline of the MCU post its Infinity Saga is well-reported at this point. Phases 4 and 5 have struggled to retain audiences, with their overly complex, overarching Multiverse storylines. That's probably why viewers are so drawn to First Steps; it feels like such a breath of fresh air. It's a production that isn't bogged down by previous major plot points. The story takes place in its own separate timeline, where The Fantastic Four are the only superheroes. First Steps' director, Matt Shakman, has also voiced his relief at this fact, claiming that it was liberating to pen a script that didn't rely upon crossovers or returning Marvel characters.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps: Why Silver Surfer Works As A Woman
A female Silver Surfer is both canon to the comics, and can offer story dimensions that a male counterpart might not.
Fantastic Four: First Steps may have just given audiences another clue as to how it's going to take the Marvel formula and turn it on its head. The Official Trailer has given fans a closer look at what to expect from its story. Galactus' footsteps are featured walking the streets of New York, and the Silver Surfer is on full display. But amidst all the exciting fanfare, one prevalent theme within the trailer seems to be stirring up speculation online: that Reed Richards seems to have failed in some way.
Are The Fantastic Four About To Lose To Galactus And Fail Their Earth?
During the trailer, viewers can hear Richards saying:
It's my fault. I stretched the bounds of space. And they heard.
Has Mr. Fantastic somehow summoned Galactus, and marked his planet for destruction? Fans seemed to think so, as a conversation exploded on social media following the trailer. Many fan theories seem to suggest that The Fantastic Four may actually fail to defeat Galactus. Most of the marketing for First Steps has slowly laid into the minds of viewers that The Fantastic Four are renowned heroes, celebrities that are adored. So, in the greatest, yet unseen, twist of this story, is the famed superhero team going to fall from grace?
At the very end, Richards states to the public: "We will protect you." But throughout the trailer, that certainty begins to wane quite a bit. A group of reporters asks "Are we safe?", to which Mr. Fantastic replies, "I don't know." Marvel comic fans and viewers old enough to remember the second onscreen Fox outing, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), will have watched this trailer and assumed that, overall, First Steps is shaping up to be a pretty similar story. In that film, the Silver Surfer arrives on Earth, and starts to prep it for Galactus' arrival, who seeks to devour the planet and consume its energy.
Now, fans are beginning to realize that First Steps' greatest twist may be that Galactus will succeed in his plan. That not only will they lose, but The Fantastic Four will also abandon their universe's Earth, and flee to a safer timeline. Perhaps they will travel to the MCU's Sacred Timeline, the main continuity containing Earth 616 and the many characters fans have come to know and love since Iron Man. This would make First Steps the most interesting film since Avengers: Infinity War, as audiences would be left with a story where the antagonist actually accomplishes their nefarious scheme.
Sue Storm's Pregnancy May Change Everything For Reed Richards
There is one element of the trailer that shouldn't be overlooked when supporting this theory: Sue Storm's pregnancy. When considering what might push Reed Richards to abandon his ill-fated world, it's hard to conceive a scenario in which he would betray his heroic values. However, saving his unborn child would be a pretty strong motivator for Richards to take a selfish course, sacrificing his planet to save his family.
It's interesting to note that while he has been singing a reassuring tune to the public, in the moments where he reveals his true concerns, he is conversing with his wife, Sue Storm. The trailer is cut together to give viewers the impression that Storm's pregnancy will be playing a large role in both her and Richards' decision-making. As the two of them stare at their child's empty crib, Storm reaffirms her convictions: "I'm not giving up." On that line, Mr. Fantastic looks up at a child-sized planetary display, hanging over the cot. Could this be the inspiration for Richards to devise a plan to hop between worlds, or multiple Earths, to find a safe haven for them?
Even if he were able to do this, it would be surprising and impractical for the team to take the entire population of their planet with them. Earlier shots in the trailer show Richards at a chalk board, clearly devising theories on wormholes, possibly links between dimensions. They have a slightly sinister tinge to them — mainly because, immediately afterward, Richards states: "There's not enough time." This could imply that Galactus' threat is too great, and there's simply not enough time to take humanity with them to a new world.
This is shaping up to be Marvel's most interesting film ever, conceptually and stylistically. Fantastic Four: First Steps' greatest reveal may be that the looming birth of their child will push Reed Richards to make an unthinkable choice: abandoning their Earth entirely to ensure his child’s safety.
- Release Date
- July 25, 2025
- Runtime
- 115 minutes
- Director
- Matt Shakman
Cast
-
Pedro PascalReed Richards / Mister Fantastic -
Vanessa KirbySue Storm / Invisible Woman
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson, Kat Wood, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee
- Producers
- Kevin Feige
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
