"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Official Trailer: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach Unite as a Family to Face a Cosmic Threat in New Retro-Styled MCU Movie

Marvel’s first family is back with a 1960s alternative twist, facing off against Galactus in a fresh new take on the classic superhero story, starring Pascal, Kirby, Quinn and Moss-Bachrach.

Apr 17, 2025

Marvel is betting big on this summer, believing audiences will be eager to see another superhero spectacle—one that puts the idea of family at the forefront. The fact is, Marvel is simply hoping to maintain its reign as box office champions, especially with a packed summer at the movies, featuring Jurassic dinosaurs and a Man of Steel.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel's latest attempt to revive one of their greatest, oldest, and most beloved comic book properties, will be facing an extremely crowded summer. But if there's one movie that holds that much potential to rise above the competition, it's this one.

And the idea of having to unite a family together in their darkest moments, facing great uncertainty, could not only be a winning formula but feels like something quite palpable these days. Who hasn’t talked to a family member in the last couple of months and said, “Hey, doesn't it feel like our world has been marked for death? Doesn’t it feel like we need to unite as a family to face this feeling of impending doom?” Oh wait, maybe that's just us. Come on, we can't be the only ones who feel that way, right?

The hard truth is that Marvel needs a hit, an undeniable smash that will have fans buzzing again. And we’ve got to say, The Fantastic Four: First Steps just might be the one to do it. First off, despite many attempts prior, this latest adaptation of turning Marvel’s first family into a new live-action franchise feels like the closest to its true potential. And this newly-released trailer, offering our best look yet at the upcoming superhero film, seems to confirm those hopes.

You’ve got 1960s retro vibes nailed down, with the story taking place in its own universe, an alternate timeline, and a vintage history that captures the essence of the Space Age era. On the plus side, it doesn’t seem to connect with any other films in the greater MCU (not yet, anyway), which already gives it its own identity. It feels different, it looks different. At a time when the MCU is becoming a bit repetitive and derivative, at least this feels fresh and possibly open to new directions.

In this new trailer, we're getting a better look at the ensemble cast: Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us) takes on the role of Reed Richards, a.k.a. Mr. Fantastic, with Vanessa Kirby (Mission: Impossible, The Crown) as Reed's beloved wife and partner Sue Storm, a.k.a. Invisible Woman. Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things, A Quiet Place: Day One) is here to tackle Sue's younger brother Johnny Storm, a.k.a. Human Torch. And for the most part, Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear) is working a motion-capture suit to bring Ben Grimm, a.k.a. The Thing, to life.

We see that, in front of a live studio audience, during a taping of The Ted Gilbert Show (an Ed Sullivan equivalent), the Fantastic Four are first introduced as the first known superhero team in this alternative world, where heroes like this are not yet part of the public consciousness.

But what does a superhero team mean to the rest of the world? Can the world call on them to protect and defend, or are they simply a curiosity for the masses? As the team begins to establish themselves, the lines between heroism and fame start to blur. Their first real test comes in the form of a female Silver Surfer (played by Ozark star Julia Garner) who arrives on their planet, warning them that death is coming for all. Her ominous message forces the Fantastic Four to confront not only their own role in this new world but also the terrifying force that threatens to destroy everything they’ve come to protect: Galactus (voiced by Ralph Ineson) is coming!

With a baby on the way, Reed and Sue rally their troops as they know there's no one else who can stand against Galactus, the ultimate cosmic devourer—a near-omnipotent force of nature who feeds on the life energy of planets. So, it's going to be a cakewalk, right? Well, not quite. As the Fantastic Four faces the biggest challenge of their lives, they quickly realize that defeating Galactus isn't just about strength or power. It’s about sacrifice, strategy, and the hope that family is stronger than anything the universe can throw at them.

Director Matt Shakman, who earned accolades for his work on WandaVision and Game of Thrones, is the one sitting in the director's chair for this one. A three-time Emmy nominee, Shakman, a former child actor from 80s TV, has become one of the preeminent TV directors working today. With The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Shakman might become one of Marvel's best go-to helmsmen. And if the movie turns out to exceed expectations, we wouldn’t be surprised if Shakman is immediately attached to other big MCU projects on the horizon.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be stretching its way into theaters on July 25. So, mark your calendars—this superhero team is ready to make their big return.

Official Synopsis:

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.