Marvel Reveals Official Photo of The Fantastic Four’s First Villain

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In the build-up to the latest Marvel Studios project, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”, an initial snapshot of one of the film’s antagonists, Mole Man, portrayed by Paul Walter Hauser, has been unveiled. This image was published in a feature on USA Today that showcases the array of adversaries encountered by the Fantastic Four within the movie. The scene offers limited context, yet it appears that Mole Man is subterranean and engaged in an undisclosed activity with his colleagues. Director Matt Shakman characterizes his interpretation of Mole Man as a figure more akin to a labor union leader than a typical supervillain, given his focus on the welfare of others.

Shakman described him as dwelling somewhat covertly, much like a villain might, yet he’s simultaneously looking after an entire race and striving for peace. He values community above all else, which is why Sue and Harvey share a strong bond and get along well. They have a mutual understanding.”

[Sue and Harvey](https://example.com/image-of-sue-and-harvey.jpg)

Earlier this month, it was officially announced that Hauser would be portraying the character of Mole Man. This is significant because images from a prequel comic for the upcoming movie “Fantastic Four: First Steps” were shared online, which hints at the character’s inclusion in the film. The Mole Man is a nod to Marvel Comics history as he was the very first villain that the Fantastic Four faced, making his initial appearance in the 1961 issue #1 of “The Fantastic Four.” In other words, this is the first time the Mole Man will be shown in a live-action film.

In the promotional materials for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” there’s been no sign of the character known as Mole Man. Instead, these materials have emphasized the looming dangers of Galactus and the Silver Surfer. However, creator Shakman hinted that the storyline would contain a segment featuring notable adventures of the Fantastic Four, involving clashes with several villains. Originally, it was intended for John Malkovich’s character, Red Ghost, to appear in this segment; but unfortunately, his role ended up being removed from the final film.

It’s quite probable that the character Mole Man will play a secondary part in the movie “First Steps,” contributing to the backstory of the Fantastic Four before the arrival of Galactus. Since the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Mole Man is portrayed differently from his comic book counterpart (who is often malevolent), it’ll be intriguing to see how they adapt him. It seems that Mole Man and Sue Storm share an intriguing relationship, collaborating to resolve various challenges within Harvey’s subterranean community. Instead of engaging in a violent action scene, the scenes with Mole Man might focus on the Fantastic Four attempting to find peaceful resolutions for conflicts, setting up a pattern for their (unsuccessful) negotiations with Galactus.

In the upcoming integration of the Fantastic Four into the main Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) on Earth-616, the movie “First Steps” might be the last chance we get to see this portrayal of Mole Man on the big screen. Reports suggest that a sequel for the Fantastic Four is currently in development by Marvel Studios, but it won’t arrive until after the releases of “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.” Given the intense experiences the Fantastic Four may face, such as the potential destruction of their home reality, Earth-828, there may not be space for even a brief appearance by Mole Man. Here’s hoping that Hauser capitalizes on his screen time and leaves a lasting impression.

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2025-07-17 22:15