Marvel Studios has released the first trailer for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” The long-awaited film about Marvel Comics first family may be a bit different from the rest of the MCU fanfare considering the film isn’t even set in the MCU that we all know and love but set in a completely seperate universe all together. And that change may be just the thing it needs to get The Multiverse Saga back on course.

(L-R) Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing and H.E.R.B.I.E in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 MARVEL.
As soon as the trailer starts, you’ll get a sense that this is unlike any other MCU film that came before it. Considering it is set in the 60s, it’s going for a space-race vibe. And it achieves it successfully, with the asethetics, retro space suits, and vintage cars. There’s even an emphasis on family as noted by Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic and Vanessa Kirby’s Susan Storm aka The Invisible Woman giving a tour of the Baxter Building to a journalist and talking about how they make a point of having family dinners every Sunday at 7:00 PM, no matter what.
Then Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimmm speaks asking H.E.R.B.I.E. how the sauce is coming. Although, Grimm is already taken the form of the rocky hero The Thing. And it seems as though he hasn’t quite let go of his Cousin character since he tells H.E.R.B.I.E. that the sauce needs some garlic for a little bit of zip. Even H.E.R.B.I.E.’s look embraces the 60’s vibe it is going for as he has reels for his eyes.
Soon, we see the 1960s style footage many space race audiences saw. “Before you went up the first time, you couldn’t turn invisible,” Reed says to his wife. And we get to see a little bit of that invisibity in action with Reed trying to touch Susan’s face.
“…Ben wasn’t a rock,” Reed then says as we see him hide is rock like form with a hat and large trenchcoat. Ben sees himself, in human form, saying he’s one of the best looking pilots in old news reel footage from an appliace store. As soon as clip fades to black, he then sees himself as the Thing.
“… and Johnny never caught fire.” It’s about this time that we get our first look at Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch. In it, he literally leaps into action and turns into The Human Torch. Although he doesn’t say his signature catchphrase “Flame On.”
Susan assures Reed that Ben has always been a rock – for the family – as we see her give him a comforting smile. She then says Johnny has always been Johnny, who is just acting like a kid who enjoys having the ability to reach beyond the atmosphere. And that she is always going to be here, making a reference to her powers of invisibility but never actually being invisible to the family. And that they will face whatever is thrown at them, together, as a family.
The trailer then closes with “Whatever life throws at us, we will face it together.” The scene then shows us the sky ablaze, kids taking off The Thing masks – much like that one kid did in “Iron Man 2,” the Fantasti-Car racing through the streets, Johnny flying through a maze of building, The Thing running through some city rubble, John Malkovich’s mysterious character, and our first look at the planet eating villain, Galactus.
Directed by Matt Shakman, it is the first Fantastic Four film to fly under the Marvel Studios banner since Disney acquired Fox. The film also stars Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles.
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” has seen its fair share of fits and starts ever since Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige first announced the development of the film back in 2019. Originally, Jon Watts, director of the MCU Spider-Man trilogy, was tapped to helm the film. Watts then stepped down, leaving Marvel to search for a new director, one who who could oversee the filming process without him being present for the entire shoot. Additionally, fans were hoping that John Krasinski’s casting as Mr. Fantastic in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would open the door to him being in the Fantastic Four standalone.
Here’s the official plot 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.
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps”—in theaters July 25, 2025.