Here we go again: a second reboot of the “Fantastic Four” film series. Our JP gives his take on the latest incarnation, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” with Pedro Pascal (Mister Fantastic) and Vanessa Kirby (Invisible Woman) leading the cast.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Marvel / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Directed by Matt Shakman
- Screenplay by Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer
- Story by Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer, Kat Wood
- Based on Fantastic Four by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
- Produced by Kevin Feige
- Starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Sarah Niles, Mark Gatiss, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, Ralph Ineson
Studio 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 action adventure also stars Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne and Sarah Niles. Directed by Matt Shakman, produced by Kevin Feige and executive produced by Louis D’Esposito, Grant Curtis and Tim Lewis, Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” opens in theaters July 25, 2025.
JP’s Take:
Fans and novices alike know all too well that superhero movies are a dime a dozen these days. Still, Marvel continues to churn them out without losing any steam or charm.
Marvel’s latest interaction, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” feels almost prophetic. As they are Marvel’s first superhero family, they’ve taken extra care to ensure their debut is a success under their banner.
To start with, you won’t find yourself bogged down by the typical origin story that takes ages to introduce its main characters as if nobody knows who they are. This particular outing hits the ground running, with news outtakes of their accomplishments, leading to their heralded feats. The most enjoyable aspect is its retro-futuristic vibe from the ’60s, which perfectly matches its hip, lively, and timelessly stylish character.
At the center of the narrative lies motherhood, with Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), taking on a pivotal role. When she and her husband Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) choose to start a family, her maternal instincts don’t just activate, …they dominate. Even though the story allows for some breathing room as we thoroughly understand the essence of the Fantastic Four, it also highlights how they have redefined what it means to be a hero. When the planet-eating titan, Galactus (Ralph Ineson), makes his way to their home world, they are faced with a moral dilemma. Sue, with the help of her “marvelous” family, strategizes rather than simply brutalizes their enemy.
Visually, “First Steps” is a whimsically fun fest to view. The colors pop, and the costumes are period-appropriate, with a touch of high-tech gadgetry to set the atmosphere off just right. The set pieces, vehicles, and devices look quite natural in their environment, without looking cheesy or childish.
I was elated to see that the filmmakers did Galactus some justice. Instead of the space cloud of dust in the first two “Fantastic Four” movies, we’re awestruck by his titanistic form here. When he trampled through the city, I got chills.
The entire cast clicked well together, and it’s clear they enjoyed every moment of bringing this project to fruition. Kudos to Kirby (Invisible Woman), Pascal (Mister Fantastic), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm / The Thing), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm / Human Torch), Julia Garner (Shalla-Bal / Silver Surfer), Paul Walter-Hauser (Harvey Elder / Mole Man), Ineson, and Natasha Lyon (Rachel Rozman, school teacher and Ben’s love interest) for fully fleshing out their roles.
As “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is primed to set up the next installments or several new Marvel entities, this is one of those events not to miss; as towards the end, you catch a glimpse of one of the most compelling and evil villains in Marvel history. This is no spoiler, because I know many people already know who I’m talking about. DR. DOOM is coming.
I had a blast with this outing.
Official Site: The Fantastic Four: First Steps
