New Fantastic Four Poster Reveals Hidden Hulk Easter Egg and Tribute to Stan Lee!

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In the upcoming movie “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” directed by Matt Shakman, it’s possible that Stan Lee won’t make an appearance as a cameo. However, even though he’s not in the film, his legacy as one of Marvel’s founders remains strong. Tickets for this adaptation of the iconic comic book series created by Lee and Jack Kirby will be available starting June 4th, along with a new poster that features the main characters: Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/the Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). Interestingly, there’s a subtle reference to another Lee-Kirby creation from the 1960s – The Hulk – included in the poster as well.

Nestled within an updated ’60s New York-inspired landscape of this Marvel Cinematic Universe alternate reality, a billboard showcases Stanley’s – seemingly a deli in this version. This is a reference back to 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, which itself paid tribute to Lee through the Stanley’s Pizza Parlor.

The pizza restaurant located in Virginia that Stan Markowitz Lieber, a character inspired by Lee’s real name Stanley Martin Lieber, runs and manages served as a secret hideout for Bruce Banner, also known as the Hulk (played by Edward Norton), before he reconnected with Betty Ross in the main Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Marvel Easter Eggs in The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The trailers for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” feature a Stanley’s Service Center on Yancy Street, a familiar setting to Ben Grimm, where we see the Thing lifting a Volkswagen Beetle aloft. Adjacent to this is Kirby’s Electrical Supplies, seemingly a nod to the iconic artist who often incorporated advanced technology in comics such as “Fantastic Four,” “Strange Tales,” “Machine Man,” and DC’s “New Gods.” Lastly, fans will recognize that the Fantastic Four’s spaceship is called the “Excelsior,” a name derived from Lee’s well-known catchphrase.

In the film’s previews, there are Easter eggs related to retail that you might notice. For instance, Westview Appliances, a nod to Westview, the New Jersey town where the Avengers characters Scarlet Witch and Vision resided in the Disney+ series “WandaVision” directed by Shakman. Additionally, an office for Timely Comics is visible, a precursor to Marvel Comics’ publisher, which introduced notable characters such as Namor the Sub-Mariner and the original Human Torch.

Lee’s last traditional role was a posthumous appearance in the film “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019. Marvel honored Lee again in the 2024 movie “Deadpool & Wolverine,” where he made a brief appearance on a bus advertisement for Stanlee Steamer, a cleaning service that traces its roots back to 1922, which was also the year of Lee’s birth.

The Fantastic Four: Initial Leaps

This upcoming movie features Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Natasha Lyonne, Sarah Niles, and Julia Garner portraying the Silver Surfer, while Ralph Ineson takes on the role of Galactus. The film will debut exclusively in theaters starting July 25.

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2025-06-04 03:40