The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be the first movie in a series of superhero movies that Marvel Studios is very excited about. This movie is the 37th in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a new beginning for the Fantastic Four series. A lot of articles talk about theme park appearances and tie-in goods, but this guide goes into great detail about the movie itself, including its cast, plot, and bigger effects on the MCU.

Fans have been waiting a long time for the First Family of Marvel to come out. The movie wants to give these popular characters a fresh look by combining a retro-futuristic style with big superhero stories.

Fantastic Four (2025) Release Date and Where to See It

The United States will get The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25, 2025. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion will host the movie's first showing on July 21, 2025. It should be a big deal at the movies, starting Phase Six of the MCU.

There hasn't been a formal announcement about an OTT platform for its streaming release yet, but it will probably be available on Disney+ Hotstar after its theatrical run, which is how Marvel usually releases movies.

Meet the Cast: Who Will Play Marvel's First Family?

There has been a lot of talk about who will play the roles in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. In February 2024, Marvel Studios confirmed the primary cast. A group of skilled actors brings these famous figures to life in the movie.

Mr. Fantastic: Reed Richards

Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, is played by Pedro Pascal. Pascal, who is famous for his parts in The Mandalorian and Game of Thrones, plays the brilliant scientist whose quest for knowledge starts the plot. Reed's intelligence is sometimes his best quality and sometimes his worst.

Sue Storm: The Invisible Woman

Vanessa Kirby plays Sue Storm, who is also known as the Invisible Woman. Kirby, known for her roles in The Crown and Mission: Impossible—Fallout, plays a character who is said to be the most emotionally sophisticated person on Earth. Sue is a key member of the squad because she can make force fields and become invisible.

Johnny Storm is the Human Torch.

Joseph Quinn, who became famous for his performance in Stranger Things, plays Johnny Storm, the Human Torch. Johnny's fire powers and self-assuredness add a lot of energy to the group that is both exciting and hard to predict.

Ben Grimm: The Thing

Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays Ben Grimm, The Thing, rounding out the main four. Moss-Bachrach, who is most known for his part in The Bear, plays a rough, faithful friend who turns into a rock-covered powerhouse. Ben is trying to figure out what he has lost and what he still needs to safeguard.

Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal, the Silver Surfer, and Ralph Ineson as Galactus are two further cast members who have been confirmed. John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, and Paul Walter Hauser are also in the cast, but their roles have not been made public. Hauser is said to be playing Mole Man.

The Director and Creative Team

The movie is directed by Matt Shakman, who is recognized for his work on the Disney+ series WandaVision for Marvel Studios. Shakman has a distinct vision for the project that combines high-concept ideas with stories about people. Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, and Ian Springer wrote the screenplay. The movie is being made by Kevin Feige.

The Story and Theories Behind "Fantastic Four: First Steps"

The official summary says that the movie takes place in a retro-futuristic planet that looks like the 1960s. The Fantastic Four must protect Earth from the cosmic being Galactus and his herald, the Silver Surfer, while still keeping their family together.

People say that the movie skips the usual origin tale and instead drops viewers right into the universe they already know. This method lets the movie focus on how the team works together and how they fight Galactus, a creature that eats planets.

Sue Storm's pregnancy is a major storyline component that trailers and early reports have verified. This is an essential point since Franklin Richards, Reed and Sue's oldest kid, has powers that can change reality. Some fans think that Galactus's coming on Earth has something to do with Franklin's birth. They think he might want to get rid of a tremendous cosmic menace or possibly be a version of Franklin from the future.

Some ideas even say that the Fantastic Four might not be able to stop Galactus from destroying their Earth. This failure might be why they are sent to Earth-616, the main MCU timeline. This sets the groundwork for their roles in future Multiverse Saga events like Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

Villains that have been confirmed and those that are still up in the air

It is confirmed that Ralph Ineson will play Galactus, the cosmic creature that eats planets. Julia Garner's Shalla-Bal will be the Silver Surfer's herald. Galactus's presence is a cosmic menace that the MCU has never encountered before, which makes the movie feel even bigger.

People say that Paul Walter Hauser will play Harvey Elder, who is also known as Mole Man. Although he hasn't been confirmed as a primary villain, his presence might connect to the team's early exploits or provide a second battle.

Connecting to the MCU: the Multiverse, the X-Men, and more

Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, said that the movie's unique look lets it be its own world. This way of doing things avoids queries about why the team wasn't there for past MCU events.

Kevin Feige told the Hollywood Reporter, "We didn't want to deal with the Eternals problem of 'Where were they, where have they been, and why didn't they help with Thanos?'" We wanted them to be separate from our world so we wouldn't have to remark, "Oh look, they were hiding over here."

Kevin Feige said, "It had a unique look that made it seem like it could be its own world, its own reality." And when we show it to people throughout the screening process that we do before it comes out, they just embrace it straight away and feel free to appreciate what's coming. There is no homework to do.

The movie takes place in a different version of the 1960s called Earth-828. This scenario lets them start over without having to fit them into the already established Earth-616 history right away. But the post-credits sequence of Thunderbolts and the casting news for Avengers: Doomsday make it seem like the Fantastic Four will eventually join the main MCU.

The Fantastic Four's arrival also makes room for the X-Men. Disney bought 21st Century Fox in 2019, and Marvel Studios got the movie rights back to both teams. The MCU's ongoing Multiverse Saga gives these characters a way to fit into the main story.

Gizmodo says, "The MCU's seven-year plan includes recasting, X-Men, finally bringing Blade to the big screen, and staying away from a certain Spider-hero."

People think the movie will be a stepping stone for future Avengers movies. Some people think that Doctor Doom, a key enemy of the Fantastic Four, could be the main bad guy in Avengers: Doomsday.

The Fantastic Four: From Comics to Movies

Stan Lee and Jack Kirby made the Fantastic Four for Marvel Comics in 1961. People often nickname them Marvel's First Family because of how they mix science fiction with family drama.

People have had conflicting reactions to past movie versions. This new MCU movie wants to retain the spirit of the original comics, but with a retro sci-fi twist and a concentration on cosmic aspects.

In March 1966, Galactus made his initial appearance in Fantastic Four #48, which was part of "The Galactus Trilogy." He is a being from space who eats planets to stay alive. His character shows themes of survival and the moral issues that come with having a lot of power.

Outside of the movie: merchandise and future appearances

There are a lot of things you may buy to commemorate the movie's premiere. This contains clothes like t-shirts and hats with the famous "4" emblem on them. There are also limited-edition pins for collectors.

A big Galactus popcorn bucket with LED eyes, an H.E.R.B.I.E. concession vessel, and a Fantasticar popcorn container are among of the rare items that can only be bought at the movies.

Disney Parks Blog: "Beginning July 25, all four members of the first family of Super Heroes will be in the area with their cute, loyal robot helper H.E.R.B.I.E."

Starting on July 25, the Fantastic Four and H.E.R.B.I.E. will make special appearances at Disneyland Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. From July 25 to September 21, Space Mountain at Disneyland will also have special projection effects based on the team. Disney Parks will have themed food and drinks, like the "Fantastic Elastic Mozzarella Stick" and the "Invisible Indulgence" dessert.

Gizmodo says, "The Fantastic Four have finally joined the MCU, and it sounds like their new movie is part of Marvel's 'We're Back' era."

The gang will definitely be back in Avengers: Doomsday and maybe even Avengers: Secret Wars, which means they will play a big part in the MCU's future.