Reed Richards Hardly Uses His Powers in Fantastic Four – and That’s the Point

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The Return of the Fantastic Four: First Impressions

In simpler terms, it seems to me that director Matt Shakman deliberately chose to limit the stretching abilities of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), not due to oversight or technical/financial constraints, but rather for storytelling purposes. Given today’s advanced computer-generated imagery and Disney’s substantial budget, it is clear that these factors were not the main reasons behind Reed’s reluctance to stretch. Instead, it appears that there are narrative motivations at play, which, upon reflection, make perfect sense.

Reed Richards is all About Brains Over Brawn

To begin with, it’s important to note that Reed Richards is primarily a thinker rather than a fighter. Although there have been instances throughout the 64-year history of Fantastic Four comics where Mr. Fantastic has shown his fighting skills, most fans would agree that he generally opts for smart solutions over physical force. Given this preference, it’s not surprising that Pedro Pascal’s portrayal of Reed spends more time working out problems on a chalkboard than engaging in combat.

Leaving aside the precise depiction found in comic books, there’s a more compelling explanation for why Dr. Richards, as portrayed in the movie “First Steps,” tends not to utilize his powers throughout the film. For those who haven’t watched “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” yet, be advised that we are about to venture into spoiler territory.

Towards the end of “First Steps“, Galactus, the World Devourer, makes an appearance on Earth with the intention of capturing Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) and Reed Richards’ baby Franklin. As Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are away, and options are running thin, Reed Richards finds himself in a desperate situation, resorting to climbing Galactus in a manner reminiscent of Shadow of the Colossus, as a last-ditch effort to delay him. Unfortunately, Reed manages only to provoke the planet-eater, who then picks up Mr. Fantastic and transforms him into his very own Stretch Armstrong action figure.

In this scenario, as Galactus stretches Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards) like taffy, it leaves us, the viewers, concerned for his wellbeing because we’re uncertain about the limits of his powers. If we had seen Reed frequently extending his limbs to extraordinary lengths throughout the movie, this Galactus scene might not have been as impactful. However, even though the scene remains exciting and true to Marvel’s characteristic fun, Reed’s suffering feels genuine due to the film not revealing the full extent of his elasticity capabilities.

The Less Mr. Fantastic Uses His Stretching Powers in Fantastic Four: First Steps, The More He Can Show Them Off Later

By reducing the flexibility of Reed, he has more opportunity to develop as a character. It’s not hard to envision that in a future Marvel movie, Reed might choose to push his boundaries if another Galactus-like crisis arises. This could lead to an exciting scene similar to Captain America lifting Mjolnir, where Reed is forced to extend beyond his usual limits, much like Galactus did, only for him to use his elongated neck to trap his enemy and compel them to release their grip.

As a loyal fan, I can’t help but notice how Marvel movies tend to bring something extra to our beloved characters – Iron Man and Spider-Man sport fresh suits, the Hulk undergoes personality transformations, and so on. In the initial MCU Fantastic Four film, Reed’s powers took a backseat, which sets the stage for some exciting new developments when Marvel revisits the character. Given that Doctor Doom is on the horizon, it seems Reed will need every ounce of his intelligence and strength to rise to the challenge!

In a streamlined style, the movie “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” chose to portray Mister Fantastic in a minimalist manner. This could have left some fans of Mr. Fantastic disappointed, as they were expecting more elastic-like abilities similar to Elastigirl from “The Incredibles”. However, this approach turned out to be beneficial for both the movie and the character’s role within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After all, if the shark’s brief appearances worked so well in “Jaws”, why wouldn’t Reed Richards’ elasticity follow a similar pattern?

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2025-08-07 01:12