"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Final Trailer: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach Lead Marvel’s Retro-Futurist Romp in a Bid to Rekindle MCU Magic
Set in a stylish alt-'60s universe, Fantastic Four reinvents Marvel's First Family with cosmic powers, emotional baggage, and a looming threat named Galactus.
When Marvel Studios kicked off Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the world was different. The year was 2008. Obama was on the verge of becoming the first Black U.S. president in American history. The nation was still recovering from the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the subprime mortgage crisis. Audiences were primed for bold escapist cinema, as it offered a welcome distraction—yet instilled our belief in heroism and the power of individual resolve in the face of overwhelming odds. In a lot of ways, Obama benefited from this collective notion of a savior as someone who could swoop in and save us like a real-life Superman.
So, when Iron Man came along—a brash, genius billionaire who builds his own high-tech armor to right the world’s wrongs—it wasn’t just entertainment. It was emblematic of a cultural yearning for someone, anyone, to take control, rebuild, and protect us from all the uncertainty that seemed to define this era. Marvel Studios soon built its cinematic empire on the backs of The Avengers, a supergroup of superheroes who, despite their differences, united to face threats no single hero could handle alone. Those films tapped directly into the idea of technocracy—the belief that society’s greatest problems and threats could be solved by highly skilled individuals armed with advanced technology, intellect, and specialized knowledge.
And so, Marvel Studios got fat from their riches, establishing an incredible win streak with a continuous rollout of interconnected blockbusters that not only dominated the box office but reshaped the very architecture of mainstream cinema. For a moment there, it seemed Marvel couldn’t lose—nor did they know how. Impervious to failure.
Well, fast forward to 2025—seventeen years after the launch of Iron Man—and, well, Marvel ain’t doing so good. The box office numbers aren't what they once were. And this year, in particular, the studio has already seen two lackluster releases. Both Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts have failed to generate the kind of buzz—or revenue—the studio used to count on.
So what gives?
Well, we have our theories: the world has changed considerably since Phase One. Superhero escapism doesn’t represent the same cultural release valve it once did. Saviorism has been replaced by a deep cynicism. Those heroes we once looked up to now feel like relics of a more hopeful time. Remember when Elon Musk was celebrated as the real-life Tony Stark? Now it feels like that comparison aged about as well as a glass of milk left out in the sun. Which is to say, this shit no longer resonates in a world increasingly defined by disillusionment and fatigue.
Now add rising political polarization, a pandemic hangover, overwhelming economic anxieties—and suddenly, the cultural landscape is less about aspirational heroes and more about burnout and skepticism. In short, Marvel needs to come up with a new game plan... and fast.
Now, we aren’t saying this new Fantastic Four movie is the answer to all their problems. But if there’s ever been a moment to reboot a legacy title with fresh energy and purpose, this might be it. Certainly, it seems the upcoming film will be redefining what heroes look like. It seems less about perfection and more about resilience. The flaws will be front and center, and finding family in a world of uncertainty might be the real superpower this time around.
With an ensemble cast led by Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us) as Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic; Vanessa Kirby (Mission: Impossible films) as Sue Storm aka Invisible Woman; Joseph Quinn (A Quiet Place: Day One) as Johnny Storm aka Human Torch; and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear) as Ben Grimm aka The Thing, it would seem the true magic will lie in the camaraderie between this unlikely quartet.
While recently talking to Vanity Fair (watch the video above), Pascal spoke about how much it has been a “dream” to join the MCU before singing the glowing praises of his “Fantastic” family. He conceded, rather modestly, that he might rank as number four if someone were to count up the most talented, the funniest, and the most intelligent actor on set.
“I have never been around such... how dare they! I have never been around such talented fuckers in my life,” Pascal shouted jokingly. He continued, “Joe is astonishing to me. Ebon is one of the funniest... Ebon, to me, is a writer in the way his mind works. And the zingers that just come out in conversation. And Vanessa Kirby is a force of nature.”
Pascal also talked about how closely he worked with Kirby, noting how she led the way in their collaboration to form a genuine human “marriage story.” Pascal revealed the goal was “keeping a family together, starting to expand on that family. And the fear of that.”
In the upcoming film, set in an alternative 1960s-style retro-futuristic world—one that stands apart from the greater MCU (at least for now)—Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm, four of the greatest scientific minds in the world, return to Earth from a space mission. After being exposed to cosmic rays, the molecular structure of their bodies is altered, imbuing each of them with extraordinary powers. The team is reintroduced to the world as superheroes. They’re the “First Family” of super-powered defenders.
But when a God-like, planet-devouring cosmic being named Galactus suddenly arrives on Earth’s doorstep, this fab four must live up to their name... or risk watching their world be consumed. And in turn, they must prove to a now more cynical audience that sometimes, despite the odds, one must still stand up and fight. That in the face of such adversity, standing up for what you believe in might be the only thing that keeps the darkness at bay.
Directed by WandaVision’s Matt Shakman and also co-starring John Malkovich, Julia Garner, Paul Walter Hauser, and Ralph Ineson, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is arriving in theaters July 25th.
Expect an onslaught of promotional press in the weeks ahead, as Marvel truly needs a win. They just might be facing their own Galactus in the shape of a superhero-fatigued audience.
Could Fantastic Four be the movie to redirect the MCU ship, reignite the spark, and remind us why we fell for these stories in the first place? Well, we’ll know soon enough... in just a month’s time. Watch the final trailer, above.
