‘The Fantastic Four’ Take Their First Steps in New Trailer

Tickets are now available for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” Marvel Studio’s debut film featuring their iconic superhero team. Seven years and a half since Disney announced its deal to acquire 20th Century Fox, they’re finally unveiling their version of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s famous creation. (Previously, all the “Fantastic Four” films were produced and distributed by Fox.)

The revamped Marvel production is set in an alternate, futuristic 1960s era, the time period that produced Marvel Comics and the initial Fantastic Four comic book series. Contrary to popular belief, this movie isn’t another retelling of the Fantastic Four’s origins; instead, it follows the widely recognized and highly admired team as they unite to prevent Galactus, voiced by Ralph Ineson, from consuming their planet as a late-night cosmic snack.

You can watch the latest Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer below:

As a movie buff, I’m thrilled to share that the Fantastic Four are poised to make a significant impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in the years to come. Although they inhabit an alternate reality in their current film, a hint was dropped in the post-credits scene of Thunderbolts, suggesting their arrival in the main MCU. The principal cast – Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach – are all slated to reappear next in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release in late 2026.

Here is the film’s official synopsis:

Amidst a vivid, 60s-infused sci-fi setting, Marvel Studios presents “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” where we meet Marvel’s original family: Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). They confront their greatest obstacle yet, struggling to maintain their heroic duties while upholding the powerful ties of family. As they battle to protect Earth from a ravenous cosmic deity called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his mysterious messenger, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), their challenges take a personal turn. Not only does Galactus threaten to consume the entire planet, but the danger becomes deeply personal for our heroes.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to open in theaters on July 25.

The Best Performances in Marvel Movies

15. Jeff Goldblum, Thor: Ragnarok

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are numerous extraterrestrial characters, and one that stands out as the most convincingly alien to me is Jeff Goldblum’s Grandmaster in Thor: Ragnarok. His eccentricities, such as his unusual weapons, space DJ equipment, and peculiar way of pronouncing “Asgard,” make him seem casually strange. The way Goldblum delivers lines like “Time works differently around here. On any other world I’d be millions of years old, but here on Sakaar…” is a masterpiece.

Among the many aliens in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Jeff Goldblum’s character, Grandmaster from Thor: Ragnarok, stands out as the most convincing alien due to his quirky traits and unique way of speaking. For instance, his peculiar pronunciation of “Asgard” and lines like “Time works differently around here” are particularly memorable.

14. Iman Vellani, The Marvels

Almost the only factor preventing The Marvels from dwelling in the lower echelons of my Marvel Cinematic Universe movie rankings is Iman Vellani’s captivating portrayal of Ms. Marvel, who finds herself embroiled with her mentor, Captain Marvel, before embarking on a cosmic journey alongside her and space-faring heroine, Monica Rambeau (it’s high time she had a code name). This foundation for a great storyline is strong, but the execution proved tiresome and overly gimmicky, with the heroes frequently exchanging places due to their peculiar abilities. At least Vellani seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself; in a movie as chaotic and disorganized as this one, that’s a genuine acting triumph.

13. Stanley Tucci, Captain America: The First Avenger

As a devoted Marvel fan, I’d like to share my admiration for the exceptional ensemble cast in “Captain America: The First Avenger.” Among the stellar performances, the one that truly stood out for me was Stanley Tucci as Dr. Erskine. While Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, and Toby Jones were all impressive, Tucci’s portrayal of the wise and morally grounded scientist was a breath of fresh air in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Dr. Erskine is unlike other Marvel scientists, who often lean towards recklessness or madness. Instead, he serves as the moral compass of the film and perhaps even the entire universe. His poignant speech on the distinction between goodness and power remains one of the most moving quiet moments in the MCU.

12. Michael Peña, Ant-Man

In the first two Ant-Man films, the most memorable scenes aren’t tied to the main character or his shrinking abilities. Instead, they feature Michael Peña as Scott Lang’s friend Luis, who delivers captivating monologues that halt the narrative flow. When Peña embarks on one of these intricate storytelling tangents, it’s hard not to laugh as other characters lip-sync his words with exaggerated timing. His performance throughout is equally engaging, and Quantumania noticeably missed having him present.

11. Sam Rockwell, Iron Man 2

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we haven’t seen Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer since a short film in 2014. It’s unfortunate because he was one of my preferred villains from Phase One, mainly due to Rockwell’s unique portrayal that embodied the essence of a true villain – an off-putting spray tan and amusing dance moves. Let’s hope Justin Hammer makes a comeback!

10. Andrew Garfield, Spider-Man: No Way Home

As a die-hard Marvel fan, I wasn’t entirely shocked when Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield graced the screen in “Spider-Man: No Way Home”. What took me aback was the extent of their involvement. Garfield, in particular, seemed passionately determined to provide a sense of resolution for his portrayal of Peter Parker, who didn’t get a chance to explore the aftermath of Gwen Stacy’s death in a third “Amazing Spider-Man”. He channeled all that unrealized emotion into “No Way Home”. The moment he saves Zendaya’s MJ and then gets visibly emotional… well, that’s some top-notch storytelling right there.

9. Hugh Jackman, Deadpool & Wolverine

In Deadpool and Wolverine, there’s a constant jesting of superhero films, including self-mockery. However, this film showcases an exceptional performance by Hugh Jackman, who is widely regarded as the best actor in comic book movie history. He delivers another profoundly emotional portrayal of Logan, a mutant burdened with immortality and a conscience laden with regrets that he believes makes him irredeemable. Although this may not be Jackman’s finest performance as Wolverine (that might still be Logan), the fact that his acting seemed genuine rather than a mere cash grab is truly remarkable, given the nature of the movie.

8. Clark Gregg, The Avengers

In the initial phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it wasn’t one of the superheroes who shone brightest; instead, it was the human-like S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Agent Coulson, who appeared in most of their films to assemble them into the Avengers Initiative. Clark Gregg’s portrayal of Agent Coulson added a refreshing touch of humanity to every scene, offering viewers a relatable perspective character to witness Marvel’s gods, iron men, and liberty defenders. It’s no surprise then that Marvel made Gregg the main focus of its first television series, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., even after his demise in The Avengers.

7. Tom Hiddleston, Thor

Tom Hiddleston delivers consistently exceptional performances in Marvel movies, making him one of the most reliable actors in their ensemble. His portrayal of Loki dates back to the initial Thor film in 2011, where he brought Loki’s deceitfulness, jealousy, lust for power, and desperate need to gain his father’s approval into the spotlight. Since then, the character has grown more complex, reappearing frequently to cause trouble for his thunderous brother.

6. John Brolin, Avengers: Infinity War

As a movie enthusiast, it’s important to acknowledge that the creation of Thanos was a collaborative effort, not just the work of Josh Brolin who brought him to life through motion capture and voice acting. The visual effects artists played a significant role in shaping his performance, and the scriptwriters were instrumental in crafting this intriguing villain who seeks god-like power to eliminate half the universe for the sake of its survival. Together, they’ve produced Marvel’s most captivating antagonist – one who is not only terrifying but also complex in his motivations. While I may not agree with his methods, there’s no denying that he presents a compelling argument.

5. Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther

There’s a specific explanation for why Marvel opted against replacing Chadwick Boseman following his untimely demise due to colon cancer in 2020. Replicating the essence of T’Challa, the wise ruler of Wakanda and the iconic superhero Black Panther, is an impossible task since no other actor could step into Boseman’s footsteps. In the stellar ensemble cast of Black Panther, Boseman stood out with unwavering strength. Regardless of who takes over as the Black Panther in future productions, there will only ever be one T’Challa and one Chadwick Boseman.

4. Bradley Cooper, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

In the span of the Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, the character Rocket Raccoon transformed from a secondary figure to a scene-stealing favorite, eventually becoming one of Marvel’s most emotionally profound heroes. His backstory is so heart-wrenching that it makes Spiderman’s complaints seem trivial. A significant factor contributing to our affection for Rocket, even at his grumpiest, is the voice acting by Bradley Cooper, which injects this small space creature with a remarkable depth of wounded humanity, particularly in Guardians Vol. 3, where we learn about Rocket’s harrowing past and see him take center stage in the Guardians’ narrative.

3. Florence Pugh, Thunderbolts*

Marvel will carry on as long as it discovers fresh, gifted actors to succeed its initial cast. The departure of Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow was tough, but it hurts less now that Florence Pugh’s Yelena has stepped into the role of the MCU’s new Black Widow. In her portrayal of Yelena, Pugh injects a tremendous amount of emotion into Yelena’s transition from disheartened mercenary to leader of a band of morally ambiguous outlaws. She also adds a sharp wit to her character that fits perfectly with the quick-witted humor typical of Marvel dialogue.

2. Michael B. Jordan, Black Panther

In collaboration, Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan often produce exceptional outcomes. In the movie ‘Black Panther’, Jordan portrays the antagonist, yet his captivating charm and intricate character make it difficult not to become engrossed in his mission to seize the Wakandan throne from T’Challa as part of a quest for vengeance. Remarkably, Jordan plays this multidimensional role under the character name Erik Killmonger, even insisting that we address him as “Erik”, emphasizing their familial bond with the line, “Mr. Killmonger was my father. Call me Erik!

1. Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man

Is it reasonable to wonder: If director Jon Favreau hadn’t successfully persuaded Marvel to cast Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark (and they initially resisted his casting for a considerable period), would the movie have succeeded at all? And if the movie had failed, would that have marked the end of the Marvel Cinematic Universe on the spot? Downey played a pivotal role in establishing the tone for the entire MCU, using his witty dialogue as a shield to hide his troubled soul throughout Tony Stark’s journey from selfish arms dealer to selfless superhero. Although Tony is no longer present, Downey continues to be the benchmark against which all MCU actors are compared.

2025-06-04 17:25