MARVEL Studios intensified fans’ excitement for phase six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), as it finally introduced its “First Family” in the debut teaser of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”
The cast of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”—Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach—joined a live audience at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama on Tuesday to launch the teaser.
The celebrities portray members of the First Family, also known as the Fantastic Four: Pascal as Reed Richards a.k.a Mister Fantastic, Kirby as Sue Storm a.k.a Invisible Woman, Quinn as Johnny Storm a.k.a Human Torch, and Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm a.k.a The Thing.
The teaser opened with Sue and Reed giving a tour of the Fantastic Four’s headquarters—the Baxter Building.
“We make a point to do family dinner every week. Sunday at 7, on the dot, no matter what, we’re all here,” said Reed.
The next scene showed Ben in his The Thing form, making sauce with their robot companion named H.E.R.B.I.E.
Quinn was also featured in the teaser transforming from Johnny to Human Torch as he flew into the sky.
Interestingly, fans saw how the First Family members, once regular astronauts, gained their superhuman powers and abilities after being exposed to cosmic radiation during a scientific mission to outer space.
Meet the villain, mystery character
Adding to the fans’ excitement is the short appearance of Galactus, played by Ralph Ineson, facing the Statue of Liberty.
For those wondering, Galactus is a cosmic being that consumes planets to sustain his life force and is a formidable threat to the quartet.
Notice an old man with long white hair? That’s actor John Malkovich, though not much information about his role is revealed. Fans, however, have different theories, with some speculating he could be portraying Ivan Kragoff, or the Red Ghost.
The teaser ended with the Fantastic Four wearing their iconic blue and white suits, ready to face challenges coming their way “as a family.”
The film will also feature Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles.
Directed by Matt Shakman, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” will premiere in theaters on July 25, 2025.
Debut in the MCU
The Fantastic Four is called “Marvel’s First Family” because they were the first superhero team introduced in Marvel Comics in the 1960s.
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” marks the debut of the First Family into the MCU after Disney acquired the film rights to the superhero characters in March 2019.
To recall, 20th Century Fox produced three “Fantastic Four” movies in the past: “Fantastic Four” in 2005, “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” in 2007, and another “Fantastic Four” in 2015.
In 2022, a version of Reed, played by actor John Krasinski, appeared in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” as a member of the Illuminati.
Chris Evans, who portrayed Steve Rogers a.k.a Captain America until “Avengers: End Game,” also appeared as Johnny in “Deadpool & Wolverine” in 2024.
Evans passed the Captain America role to Anthony Mackie, who portrays Sam Wilson, for the forthcoming “Captain America: Brave New World.”
