Marvel Studios has just dropped an exciting teaser for their upcoming film, *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*. A brief clip titled 'PREPARE 4️⃣ LAUNCH' captures the essence of anticipation, showcasing a group of children eagerly rushing towards a shop window. Inside, a crowd is engrossed, watching retro television sets displaying a rocket launch, the Fantastic Four donning space suits, and a bold 'Prepare 4 Launch' message. While some screens are partially obscured by the onlookers, the visual style hints at the movie's setting in a 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic world.
Marvel has announced that 'launch coverage' for the debut trailer will begin at 7am ET on February 4, which translates to a challenging 4am PT. The teaser is accompanied by an enticing message from the Future Foundation: "The Future Foundation invites you to take your first steps into a fantastic new era."
Set to hit theaters on July 25, 2025, *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* boasts an impressive cast. Pedro Pascal takes on the role of Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby plays Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn is Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach portrays Ben Grimm/The Thing. The film also introduces Ralph Ineson as the formidable Galactus and Julia Garner as the enigmatic Silver Surfer. Additional cast members include Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles. Directed by Matt Shakman and produced by Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige, this film promises to be a thrilling addition to the MCU.
The official synopsis reads:
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First 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) as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.
At New York Comic Con (NYCC) in October, fans got a sneak peek with artwork featuring key MCU characters, including the first live-action glimpse of The Fantastic Four's Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics, better known as H.E.R.B.I.E.
Speculation is rife that Robert Downey Jr. might return to the MCU as the iconic villain Doctor Doom in *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*, or at least be teased in some capacity. Kevin Feige has confirmed that the Fantastic Four will play significant roles in both *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Avengers: Secret Wars*.
