One hero’s powers were significantly weakened in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, making us question what might be next for the iconic father of Marvel’s First Family. First Steps marked the Fantastic Four’s official debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach finally doing the legendary superhero team from Marvel Comics justice in live-action. However, one of the team’s members wasn’t quite what we expected, and may have already become a victim of Marvel Studios nerfing its strongest heroes.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps pitted the titular team against the god-like being Galactus (Ralph Ineson), who sought the Power Cosmic inside Reed Richards (Pascal) and Sue Storm’s (Kirby) newborn son, Franklin. The Four lured Galactus to Earth, fighting the planet-eater in an attempt to push him through a teleportation bridge. During the battle, Mister Fantastic struggled to go toe-to-toe with Galactus, and failed to show off the full extent of his elastic powers – particularly when Galactus almost tore him apart just by stretching him what seemed to be a very small distance.

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Fantastic Four: First Steps Almost Totally Avoids Showing One Character’s Powers

In previous live-action adaptations, Reed Richards has been shown to be able to stretch incredible distances. Marvel Comics has, at times, depicted him stretching up to 1500ft, at which point he starts to feel discomfort, but he can indeed stretch much further. This was not the case in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, as Galactus only stretched Richards a short distance before he started to feel intense pain and his specially-designed costume began to tear. It’s surprising that The Fantastic Four: First Steps depicted Mister Fantastic’s power as so limited, but this could spell good news for the hero’s future.

In First Steps, Galactus is clearly a massive being, so he could have been stretching Reed Richards much further than we think, which could explain the hero’s pain. He could have indeed been stretched over 1500ft, though this does seem unlikely given the fact that Galactus shrunk himself to walk the streets of New York City. This limitation on Mister Fantastic’s power in First Steps, however, does leave the hero with room to grow in his future MCU appearances, which means he can continue a great pattern from previous MCU instalments.

Marvel Studios’ heroes seldom debut in the franchise at their full capacity, and this could be the case for Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. In the same way that Peter Parker’s power was honed, T’Challa gained kinetic energy abilities, Sam Wilson has grown in strength over the years, and Wanda Maximoff unlocked her Scarlet Witch abilities, Reed Richards’ stretching powers could expand. This gives us hope for his appearances in the upcoming Phase 6 crossovers, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, and in inevitable sequels to The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

What did you think of Reed Richards’ powers in The Fantastic Four: First Steps? Let us know in the comments!

The post I’m Still Disappointed The Fantastic Four: First Steps Nerfed One Hero’s Iconic Superpower appeared first on ComicBook.com.

After Pedro Pascal’s debut as Reed Richards’ Mister Fantastic in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, new fan art has teamed him up with his Marvel Cinematic Universe variants. First Steps took us to Earth 828 to introduce a new iteration of Marvel’s First Family, with Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn bringing Marvel Comics’ most iconic superhero team to life in the MCU. This version of the Fantastic Four is the fifth to grace our screens, and the Multiverse Saga creates the opportunity for previous iterations to return.

Pedro Pascal has already been confirmed to be returning in 2026’s multiverse-focused Avengers: Doomsday, which also marks the return of several classic Marvel stars. This could include past iterations of Mister Fantastic, and this team-up has been imagined in striking new fan art shared by @clements.ink on Instagram. This art brings together Alex Hyde-White, Ioan Gruffudd, Miles Teller, John Krasinski, and Pedro Pascal as all previous versions of Reed Richards’ Mister Fantastic, setting the stage for these five stars to join forces in the MCU’s Phase 6.

Alex Hyde-White was the first actor to portray Mister Fantastic in live-action, debuting in the unreleased The Fantastic Four movie from 1994. Hyde-White most recently made a cameo appearance alongside his The Fantastic Four co-stars – Rebecca Staab, Jay Underwood, and Michael Bailey Smith – in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, paying homage to their widely unseen adventure as Marvel’s First Family. It wasn’t until 2005 when Ioan Gruffudd appeared as Mister Fantastic in Tim Story’s Fantastic Four, a role which he reprised in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

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Eight years after Story’s 2007 sequel, Josh Trank and 20th Century Fox attempted a reboot of Fantastic Four in 2015, which took inspiration from the Ultimate Universe version of Reed Richards in Marvel Comics. This iteration was portrayed by Miles Teller, who encapsulated some of Richards’ darker elements, but was wasted in a poorly-written narrative. After the Fantastic Four fell back into Marvel Studios’ hands in 2019, John Krasinski made an appearance as Reed Richards from Earth 838 in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where he was a member of the Illuminati superhero team.

Krasinski had been a popular fan-cast for Mister Fantastic prior to his appearance in Multiverse of Madness, but his debut didn’t go down so well among MCU audiences. This spurred Marvel Studios to search for a new Reed Richards for the MCU’s official The Fantastic Four: First Steps reboot, but it would be great to see these past iterations return to redeem some of their more disappointing qualities and bid a fond farewell to them. Pedro Pascal is the MCU’s permanent Mister Fantastic, so he’ll get the chance to develop his Reed Richards more than any previous incarnation.

Do you want to see the former Mister Fantastic actors reprise their superhero role in the MCU? Let us know in the comments!

The post Pedro Pascal’s Mister Fantastic Meets His Pre-MCU Variants in Brilliant Fantastic Four Art appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Robert Downey Jr. has finally returned to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with an uncredited cameo appearance as Doctor Doom in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and the supervillain is taking Downey back to his Marvel Studios roots in the best possible way. Downey was confirmed to be bringing Victor Von Doom to life during 2024’s San Diego Comic-Con, and was then teased to be starring only in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday and 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars. Since this announcement, there has been speculation about how Doom will connect to Downey’s previous role of Tony Stark’s Iron Man.

Theories have been rife suggesting Doctor Doom could be a Tony Stark variant from Earth 828, or Marvel Studios could finally be bringing Stark’s adoption storyline from Marvel Comics to life in the MCU. While it’s unclear how Marvel will explain why Doom looks like Stark, there is another thing connecting these iconic characters that deserves exploration in Avengers: Doomsday, too. Both Iron Man and Doctor Doom wear metallic armored suits, which prompted Downey’s “new mask, same task” comments last year, and these suits may be more similar than we originally expected.

Doctor Doom Doesn’t Use Nanotech for His MCU Costume

The bulk of The Fantastic Four: First Steps saw Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm battle Galactus (Ralph Ineson), who sought the Power Cosmic contained inside Reed and Sue’s newborn son, Franklin. They eventually succeeded with the help of Shalla-Bal’s Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), enabling Franklin to grow up into an intelligent young boy. The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ mid-credits scene reflected this, taking place four years after Galactus’ attack on Earth, but this scene debuted yet another terrifying villain.

It was Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom who showed up in The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ mid-credit scene – making his first uncredited appearance in the MCU. We didn’t see Doom’s face, but Franklin Richards did, as the hooded supervillain held his metal mask in his hand while Franklin reached out to Doom’s presumably-scarred face. This proved one crucial detail about Doom’s suit of armor – it won’t be made using nanotechnology. This means that Robert Downey Jr will be returning to his MCU roots by bringing Doom to life, as Tony Stark’s first few suits weren’t nanotech either.

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The fact that Doctor Doom will have a physical suit that needs to be put together in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars will make him an even more terrifying and realistic villain. He may have forged this armor himself, just as Tony Stark did in the early days of the MCU, which may give the armor a handmade and authentic feel. This is the best choice for Doctor Doom, and will remind audiences of Iron Man’s original adventures, during which he sported suits he needed to physically suit-up in, before he turned his attention to nanotechnology in his later years.

Why Iron Man Became So Reliant On Nanotech in the MCU’s Infinity Saga

2008’s Iron Man marked Robert Downey Jr.’s debut as Tony Stark, and cemented him as the face of the MCU for the next decade. The first Marvel Studios movie included several scenes of Stark physically suiting up in his initial bulky Iron Man suits, and also struggling to get out of them – in one memorable moment joking that Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) had caught him doing worse things in his workshop. Audiences loved watching Stark get in and out of the Iron Man armor, and subsequent movies found new and interesting ways to accomplish this.

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2010’s Iron Man 2 saw Stark suit up in armor that sprung from a briefcase, 2012’s The Avengers suited Iron Man up in a geo-locked suit during his fall from the top floors of Stark Tower, and 2013’s Iron Man 3 saw Stark test his new microchip-locating armor to the tune of “Jingle Bells.” 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron took this one step further by suiting up Iron Man in an even bigger suit of armor, the Hulkbuster, which proved capable of taking on the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) himself. Since then, however, Stark upgraded to using nanotech armor.

Stark’s nanotech Iron Man suits in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame certainly provided a sense of futurism and sleekness, but lost a lot of the magic of these previous, celebrated suit-up scenes. Nanotech provided more ease when suiting up, and provided Stark with more weapons and gadgets than ever before – many of which proved helpful during the fight against Thanos (Josh Brolin). Even so, we can’t wait to see Doctor Doom bring physical armor back to the MCU, especially with Robert Downey Jr. in the driver’s seat, so we’re even more excited for Doomsday now.

Are you excited to see Doctor Doom in his suit of armor in Avengers: Doomsday? Let us know in the comments!

The post I’m So Glad the MCU is Returning to Iron Man’s Roots for RDJ’s Doctor Doom Debut appeared first on ComicBook.com.

2025 is Pedro Pascal‘s year. The actor has become one of Hollywood’s most in-demand stars, leading several projects and building a varied career that flows easily between drama, action, comedy, and even sci-fi. With a totally charismatic and memorable presence, he’s won over audiences in both big productions and small ones, showing he can bring depth to any kind of role. Pascal has made his mark on pretty much everything he’s touched lately – whether he’s standing out in a movie, carrying a show on his back, or elevating a simple scene with subtle moves and smart choices.

Here are 10 of Pedro Pascal’s best movies and TV shows, ranked not just by the production, but mainly by his performance. More than just a fan-favorite actor, he’s proven to be someone who truly transforms whatever material he’s given – and this list breaks down exactly how and why that happens.

10) Eddington

Pascal tries hard here, and it’s not a bad performance, but there’s just not much to save in Eddington overall. Playing Mayor Ted Garcia in a messy political satire, he delivers something safe and controlled, which ends up being a problem given how over-the-top everything else around him is. It’s one of those cases where the acting itself is fine, but the project just doesn’t hold up, whether because of the script, direction, or overall tone. Pascal does his best to keep some dignity in the chaos, but he’s stuck in a role with no real arc and zero room to shine.

On top of that, audiences basically ignored Eddington. There were a few reviews, but nothing strong enough to generate any kind of real buzz (even with Ari Aster directing). Unlike other roles where Pascal steals the scene even with limited time, here he’s just there – and that’s it. The impact is close to none.

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9) Prospect

Perhaps one of Pascal’s most underrated works is Prospect, an indie sci-fi movie that some people only checked out after finding out he was in the cast. In the film, he plays Ezra, an opportunistic mercenary, and gives a solid performance – especially considering the limited budget and the more stripped-down style of the production. He does a nice job balancing a threatening presence with a bit of vulnerability, landing somewhere between villain and reluctant ally. Still, it’s a role that calls for restraint, and there aren’t any big dramatic moments or standout lines.

The only issue here is that Pascal isn’t really the centerpiece of Prospect, since the focus stays on the main character, and he ends up more in a supporting role. Most people who watched it liked what he did, but it’s not the kind of performance that caught on with fans or helped push his career forward. It’s a decent watch for anyone curious about his range, but it doesn’t stand out as one of the must-see roles in his filmography.

8) Materialists

Materialists isn’t a film that landed the way it was supposed to, but one thing that really stands out about Pascal’s casting is how it highlights something people don’t always notice: he knows how to shift gears. Here, he takes a different route: a modern romantic comedy (or at least, that’s how it was marketed) filled with fast-paced dialogue and a charismatic lead with just the right amount of mystery. As Harry, a billionaire tangled in a love triangle, he’s consistently relaxed and likable. He also happens to be the only one in the cast who seems at ease, especially when others get stuck in overlong monologues and pointless detours.

The response to Materialists was lukewarm, and that dragged the movie down a bit. Still, Pascal walked away without a scratch. A lot of people didn’t care for the film, but pretty much everyone agreed that he was the only one who looked like he knew what he was doing. It’s not a complex role by any means, but it’s another example of how he can lock into a tone and elevate it, even when the material isn’t great. In the context of his filmography, it’s a solid middle-of-the-pack performance – enjoyable, versatile, but ultimately forgettable.

7) The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The plain truth is that playing Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps was a tough gig: hardcore fans, the legacy of the franchise, and the danger of falling into a flat, flavorless version of the character. But Pascal avoided disaster by giving Reed a more grounded and emotionally mature take, far from the generic “brilliant but cold” scientist from earlier iterations. There’s a quiet sensitivity in his performance, especially in scenes where the character wrestles with doubt, even if the script doesn’t fully commit to digging deeper (especially with more attention going to Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm).

What holds First Steps back in this ranking is that Pascal’s version of Reed just didn’t connect with audiences in a big way. It’s a solid performance, but also a little too safe. There’s no big standout moment, no burst of charisma that defines his take as the definitive one. He does his job well, but the movie seems more focused on setting up future MCU plans than on making these characters shine in the present. It works for what it is, but it won’t be the first thing people remember when talking about his best roles.

6) The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Stealing the show – that’s exactly what Pascal does here. In The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, he’s up against a chaotic and self-aware Nicolas Cage, and still manages to stand out with ease. His character, Javi, could’ve easily become a walking stereotype as the eccentric superfan with too much money and not enough sense, but Pascal gives him charm and depth. He doesn’t overplay the humor, instead grounding the role with an oddball sincerity that ends up making Javi more likable than Cage’s exaggerated version of himself.

The chemistry between them is a huge part of why the movie works, and why so many people ended up loving it. Their bromance gave the internet plenty to meme, but also showed that Pascal has untapped comic timing that deserves more screen time in his career. It’s not a role that demands emotional range or heavy drama, but it proves he can carry a weird concept and make it feel natural. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent was an offbeat project, but Pascal nailed exactly the energy it needed – and that’s what made it land.

5) Gladiator II

It would have been easy for Gladiator II to fall into the trap of grandiose action without emotional depth, but Pascal manages to avoid this. As Marcus Acacius, a traumatized general with divided loyalties, he brings a quiet gravitas to the film. His performance is controlled, almost minimalistic, but effective – he lets silence and posture do the heavy lifting in most scenes. Rather than trying to steal the spotlight, Pascal plays into the weight of the story, adding tension through subtle choices and a constant sense of inner conflict that grounds the spectacle around him.

The script clearly favors the younger leads and the large-scale set pieces, limiting his arc to something more functional than fully fleshed out. Still, Pascal leaves a mark. Even with less screen time, critics noticed him, and his role ended up being one of the most praised aspects of Gladiator II. It’s not one of the most iconic performances in his career, but it proves again that he knows how to make the most of what he’s given, especially when working within the machinery of big studio productions.

4) Narcos

Pedro Pascal as Javier Peña is what really gave soul to the last seasons of Narcos. His performance is marked by a slow, impressive evolution, starting out as the typical tough agent but gradually showing exhaustion, guilt, and frustration. It’s a slow burn where each episode chips away at the character, making his choices more complicated. The show has a lot of strong characters, but Peña is one of the few who actually gets real emotional depth.

Narcos is probably one of the series that boosted Pascal’s career the most, giving him way more visibility (and audiences really connected with the character). He ended up carrying a big part of the plot in the final seasons, but more than that, the production was the turning point that moved him from “supporting actor” to leading man. If he’s dominating Hollywood now, a big part of that is thanks to his journey on this show. It’s not his most explosive role, but it was key in showing what he’s capable of and getting him where he is today.

3) Game of Thrones

How does such a minor character manage to stand out so much in a huge show with a strong main cast? In Game of Thrones, Oberyn Martell only appears in one season, but Pedro Pascal made such an impression that it’s still remembered as one of the best character introductions in the whole series. He shows up with this mix of arrogance, sensuality, and self-righteousness that takes over every scene he’s in. From the very first moment, it was clear he owned the role; and his physical and emotional commitment in the fight with The Mountain (Hafthór Júlíus Björnsson) became one of the show’s most unforgettable moments.

Even with limited screen time, Pascal built a fully rounded character who had a big impact on both the story and the fans. If Narcos put him on the map, Game of Thrones made him an international name – and for good reason. Oberyn is so memorable because Pascal played him with intensity, style, and perfect timing. Few characters in the show got introduced and written off with such impact that people still talk about them years later.

2) The Mandalorian

At this point, we’ve reached one of the most special projects in Pedro Pascal’s career. His work as Din Djarin in The Mandalorian is basically a masterclass in how acting under restrictions can reveal a truly great performer. For most of the series, he’s stuck behind a helmet with no facial expressions (even though parts of it were performed by a stunt double), yet he still manages to communicate complex emotions using just his voice and body language. The character became a Star Wars icon not just because of Baby Yoda, but because Pascal brought real humanity to someone who could’ve easily been just another action figure with robotic lines. That’s a rare skill.

Every long-running show has its ups and downs, and yes, The Mandalorian isn’t exempt from that, but Pascal has been the steady constant throughout. He kept his performance solid even when the scripts faltered, building a silent, empathetic, and layered lead. This role showed off a surprising range in his acting and helped him become a familiar face for a whole new generation. It’s definitely one of the standout moments of his career so far.

1) The Last of Us

The number one spot has to go to The Last of Us. As Joel, Pascal delivered the most complete and emotional performance of his career so far. Right from the first episode, he brings a raw mix of pain, coldness, and buried affection to the role. Sure, the chemistry with Bella Ramsey holds a big part of the story together, but Pascal shows that silence and introspection can be just as powerful as any action scene. You connect with him right away, even when the show’s second season starts dividing opinions.

Critics aren’t wrong in calling his performance one of the most impactful on TV in the last few years. Unlike other roles where he leans more on charisma, here Pascal gives Joel real vulnerability. It’s not an easy character, since he’s complex, morally gray, and emotionally fragile, but the actor handles it all so naturally that it feels like the role was made for him. It’s safe to say The Last of Us is the peak of his career, and probably the role he’ll be best remembered for years to come.

What is your favorite Pedro Pascal role? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 10 Best Pedro Pascal Movies and TV Shows, Ranked From Worst to Best appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s a strange time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Over the past couple of years, the franchise has struggled to win over critics and fans, with many projects receiving negative reviews on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes. A major issue was that everything felt disconnected after Avengers: Endgame, as Marvel Studios took advantage of the streaming boom by releasing TV shows on the Disney+ streaming service. Series like Loki and WandaVision found success early on, but the good times didn’t last forever. Thankfully, Kevin Feige and Co. came to their senses and realized they had their hands in too many pots and started to pull back a bit, focusing on quality over quantity again.

The sample size of the new strategy isn’t huge, but there’s enough evidence to say that the MCU is on the right track again. After all, in 2025 alone, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps were universally praised for their interesting stories and big swigs. However, despite all the goodwill Marvel Studios is earning, a new problem has been unearthed that isn’t going to go away anytime soon.

The MCU Isn’t Focused on the Right Audience

Marvel Studios played it safe at the beginning of 2025 by releasing Captain America: Brave New World. Movies starring the Star-Spangled Man had been kind to the powers that be, and even with Chris Evans out of the picture, Anthony Mackie had been preparing for his big moment for years; Harrison Ford even joined the project to provide a bit more star power. Brave New World didn’t hit as hard as many expected it to, though, and audiences didn’t rush out to see it. By the end of its theatrical run, it grossed slightly over $400 million, which would be great for most movies but not for one in the MCU.

Thunderbolts* found itself in the opposite situation. Starring a roster of B-list MCU characters, the expectations were much lower for the movie. Well, it beat the odds by receiving incredible reviews. The only problem was that it couldn’t get butts in seats, even with good word of mouth. In the end, Thunderbolts* brought in less than Brave New World. While it would be easy to blame MCU fatigue for both movies’ lack of success, there may be another factor that Marvel Studios never saw coming.

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The marketing for both Thunderbolts* and Brave New World made it clear that the projects would have serious tones and tackle issues that may not be suitable for children. With that being the case, parents may have left the kids at home or skipped a trip to the theaters altogether. Fantastic Four: First Steps let it be known that it would have something for everyone, but by that point, countless people might have jumped off the MCU train. The proof is in the pudding because, despite good reviews and a generally family-friendly vibe, the Fantastic Four’s first solo outing in the MCU is failing to meet box office expectations. Some point to the more mature themes about birth and parenting, or the heavy sci-fi tropes in the reboot film; meanwhile, the DC Universe is rolling in dough, thanks to its ability to embrace its most important demographic.

Superman‘s Light Tone Is a Breath of Fresh Air

Thunderbolts* has better reviews than Superman, and First Steps is keeping pace with the Man of Steel. However, James Gunn’s latest movie isn’t having any trouble making waves at the box office. It continues to break records and enter territory the DC Extended Universe had to scratch and claw to reach. What Superman does differently from its competition is provide a green light to families with children. While there is mature subtext in the movie, it’s easy for kids to ignore all that due to the adorable dog flying around with the man in the bright-colored suit. Supergirl is sure to aim for a similar tone in 2026, and while it’s going to be tough for the DCU to get the same results, it’s hard to bet against the new franchise, right now.

As for the MCU, it’s going to be more of the same next year. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is going to be successful, there’s no doubt about it, but it’s not doing itself any favors by including the Punisher, a character who enjoys killing people. Avengers: Doomsday is also sure to feature its fair share of death and tragic moments, which won’t help put parents’ minds at ease. Until the MCU realizes that young people are the key to its future successes, it’ll continue to try to fit square pegs in round holes. Bring on those Young Avengers.

Do you think the MCU’s tone has become too serious? Are you glad that the DCU is taking things in a different direction? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Marvel’s 2025 Movies Reveal the MCU’s Biggest Problem (And It’s Not Getting Fixed Anytime Soon) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In the vast landscape of superhero cinema, The Fantastic Four have been a puzzle over the years. Marvel’s First Family, a quartet of cosmic adventurers whose relationships among one another are as crucial as their powers, has struggled to find consistent footing on the big screen since 2005. While the individual members have shone in comic book pages for decades, translating their complex relationships and unique talents into a compelling story on the silver screen has proven to be a recurring challenge. Past attempts have often leaned heavily on familiar tropes – Reed Richards as the sole scientific genius, Johnny Storm as the impulsive hothead, Ben Grimm as the lovable brute, and Sue Storm as the often-underestimated anchor. These portrayals have become tropes and frequently fallen short of capturing the true essence of The Fantastic Four as a collective of brilliant minds pushing the boundaries of science and exploration.

However, the arrival of Fantastic Four: First Steps has cracked the code, delivering a version of the team that not only honors their rich comic history but elevates them to new heights. This iteration stands out not for groundbreaking special effects or the villainous spectacle that is Galactus, but for a far more fundamental and enduring reason: First Steps finally treats each member of The Fantastic Four as the exceptionally intelligent and capable individuals they are outside of the group, creating a dynamic of true intellectual equality that has been sorely missing in previous adaptations.

By Showcasing Each Member’s Specific Talents, the Film Establishes a Family of True Superheroes

Previous Fantastic Four films have often prioritized Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, leaving the other members to supporting roles. Because of this, Sue, Ben, and Johnny’s intelligence and skills are either downplayed or simply taken for granted. First Steps consciously and deliberately subverts this trend. The film dedicates significant screen time to showing the unique intellectual contributions each member brings to the team.

Johnny Storm, for instance, is not merely the fiery, wisecracking heartthrob. First Steps portrays him as a highly skilled astronautical engineer with a surprising aptitude for linguistics; a talent that proves invaluable during their showdown with Shalla-Bal, the Silver Surfer. His ability to decipher an unknown alien language from three foreign words he only heard once becomes a crucial plot point, highlighting his intellect in a rarely seen before.

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Similarly, Ben Grimm’s legendary piloting skills are not just referenced; they are put on full display in a breathtaking sequence where he expertly flies their spacecraft through the treacherous cosmic currents as Sue is giving birth. The dangerous maneuver will slingshot the ship, that does not have enough fuel, back to earth with the gravity from a neuron star and also ensare Shalla-Bal in the gravity. This moment firmly establish Ben as more than just a powerhouse; he’s a seasoned and intelligent professional whose piloting skills are essential to their survival.

Each Member Actively Contributes Their Unique Intellect and Skills to Solve Complex and World-Ending Challenges

Sue Storm’s portrayal in First Steps is perhaps the most significant departure from previous iterations. Rather than solely focusing on her being able to turn invisible and her role as the emotional center of the team, the film establishes her as a formidable and respected political leader and diplomat. We see Sue frequently addressing the United Nations and learned she neogtiated a peace treaty with Mole Man, who deeply distrusts humans who live on the surface. Her intelligence and strategic thinking are evident in her articulate speeches and her ability to navigate intricate global and local politics. Her understanding of international relations and public perception becomes an indispensable asset, particularly when she makes the choice to address protestors outside of The Baxter Builder with her infant, Franklin, in her arms, explaining that she will not sacrifice her child or the Earth. First Steps firmly positions Sue as an intellectual force in her own right, capable of wielding influence on a global scale, but also puts her physical powers on full display as well, solidifying her as a powerhouse of mind and body.

Of course, Reed Richards remains the preeminent scientific mind, but First Steps cleverly avoids isolating him as the sole source of progress. Instead, the film showcases how the team collaborates, each member bringing their unique expertise and perspectives to the table. Scientific breakthroughs are often the result of their collective brainstorming and experimentation, with Johnny’s engineering insights, Ben’s practical understanding of mechanics, and Sue’s grasp of broader societal impacts all playing crucial roles. This emphasis on shared intellect and collaborative problem-solving is what truly elevates First Steps above its predecessors. It finally presents The Fantastic Four not as Reed Richards and his supporting cast, but as a true ensemble of brilliant individuals who, together, are far greater than the sum of their already impressive parts.

This nuanced and respectful portrayal of each member’s intelligence and skills is the key reason why Fantastic Four: First Steps is not just a good Fantastic Four movie; it is, unequivocally, the best.

The post First Steps Is the Best Version of the Fantastic Four (And for One Major Reason) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

With The Fantastic Four: First Steps, composer Michael Giacchino reaffirms his status as the most prolific composer in the history of Marvel Cinematic Universe. Having done three Spider-Man films, plus a Doctor Strange and Thor movie for good measure, in addition to the company’s current logo theme music (not to mention directing and composing the Werewolf by Night TV special), Giacchino is everywhere in this multimedia saga. Some younger moviegoers may even just associate him with his work in these comic book adaptations.

Of course, that’s very much not so. Giacchino has been composing all forms of media (theme parks, TV shows, video games, etc.) for decades. His exploits in film have ranged across every genre imaginable and consistently deploy such impressive imagination, especially in the instruments they utilize. In honor of First Steps, let’s look at Giacchino’s five best scores as a film composer and the immense artistic virtues that make them such all-time classics.

1) Spider-Man: No Way Home

A chief complaint about MCU film scores is that they rarely utilize pre-existing themes for characters in movies like Captain America: Civil War. Giacchino’s Spider-Man: No Way Home is a spry assemblage of tracks that makes no bones about upending that norm. Since this film calls upon two decades of Spider-Man movie history, No Way Home’s score similarly gets some crowdpleasing fun out of exploiting pre-existing themes carved out by composers like Christopher Young, James Horner, and Danny Elfman. Giacchino even returns to his own Doctor Strange leitmotifs for the production.

Not only is it fun to hear an MCU score with a multitude of musical influences, but they all help to solidify this score, reflecting a teenage Peter Parker dwarfed by other imposing worlds. Giacchino’s work here builds on the past to create a terrific new soundtrack.

2) Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

Though Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol was Giacchino’s second go-around in this franchise (following 2006’s Mission: Impossible III), it was his first time working with his frequent collaborator director Brad Bird in the world of Ethan Hunt. Bringing these two together always produces cinematic magic and Giacchino’s lively, energetic Ghost Protocol tracks were no exception.

Impressively, some of this composer’s greatest accomplishments on Ghost Protocol were in his restrained tendencies. “Love the Glove,” most notably, set Hunt’s ascent up the Burj Khalifa to a track that often relied on softer instruments (namely, a playful flute). In the process, the score subverted expectations for how an action movie could sound and let the towering imagery do the talking.

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3) The Batman

Many of Giacchino’s best scores have been for lighter, bouncier movies like The Incredibles, Star Trek, or Super 8. He might not sound like the ideal person on paper to do the score for the grittier mystery movie The Batman.

In execution, though, Giacchino’s Batman score was an absolutely masterful marvel. Tracks like “Highway to the Anger Zone” rumbled with real vicious verve and angst, while other pieces nicely accentuated the ominousness of The Batman’s most tense, ominous set pieces. Even after Elfman and Hans Zimmer set the bar so high for Batman movie scores, Giacchino’s The Batman work was exceptional.

4) Speed Racer

Speed Racer is an old-school movie that makes no bones about its exciting, straightforward impulses. Michael Giacchino’s score is all too happy to back up those ambitions with a delightful collection of music full of bold, maximalist orchestral sounds.

Lengthy third-act track “Grand Ol’ Prix,” for instance, bolts and dashes through so many musical influences (including click-clacking espionage melodies to big, brash sonic reflections of emotional distress) in just over six minutes. Even the opening track, “I Am Speed,” is an eclectic number quickly running through whimsical sounds before ending on some triumphant horns. It’s all just the kind of ambitious, fun, and memorable score that a movie like Speed Racer needed.

5) Up

This entire list could’ve just been Giacchino’s Pixar scores. After he broke through as a film composer with The Incredibles, Giacchino has been a reliably excellent musician for Pixar in films like Ratatouille, Inside Out, Coco, and others. Up, though, is his magnum opus as a composer, Pixar-centric works or otherwise. That entire dialogue-free prologue that’s become so iconic for its poignancy gets so much power out of Giacchino’s “Married Life” track.

Director Pete Docter often jettisons dialogue for key Up scenes, allowing the animator and Giacchino’s animation to really step into the spotlight. It’s a smart maneuver that informs some of the film’s most effective tearjerker moments. Giacchino’s Up score is also a delight when it’s channeling old-school adventure movie influences. However, it’s in the pathos department that Giacchino’s Up work really finds its voice.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters now.

What’s your favorite Giacchino score? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 5 Greatest Scores From Fantastic Four: First Steps Composer Michael Giacchino appeared first on ComicBook.com.

As of end of day Sunday August 10, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has accrued $230.7 million domestically and $204.6 million internationally for a worldwide total of $435.3 million. It still has some time on the big screen before making its video on demand debut, provided it follows the Captain America: Brave New World release strategy (two months between debut in theaters and debut on digital retailers). However, even with those few more weeks, First Steps will nonetheless end up a bit below what Disney and the film’s creatives hoped for. But it’s still not quite one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s lowest grossing films. In fact, at this point of time, it has already beaten eight other installments in terms of worldwide gross. However this means 28 other movies are ahead of it.

We’re going to go through all eight of them, but the question is, could it overtake any of the others? Furthermore, is it the highest-grossing MCU movie of 2025? In short, yes and yes. As for the others it could overtake, Thor‘s $449.3 million and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania‘s $476 million without a doubt seem in reach. As for Ant-Man‘s $519.3 million and Iron Man‘s $585.8 million…never say never, but they’re not sure things.

1) The Marvels

In 2019 Captain Marvel made a massive $1.1 billion against a budget of $160 million. That same year, Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers then appeared in Avengers: Endgame, which was a genuine pop culture juggernaut.

Four years later, The Marvels became the first MCU film to not even cross $100 million domestically. It didn’t do much better overseas, either. All in all, it grossed just $206 million worldwide. Worse yet, its budget was double that of Captain Marvel, possibly even more. This will almost certainly always be the MCU’s biggest bomb. It’s a shame, too, because it’s one of the MCU’s more underrated efforts.

2) The Incredible Hulk

The one MCU movie to come from Universal Pictures, The Incredible Hulk showed that the budding franchise was far from infallible. It couldn’t even double its $150 million budget. Specifically, The Incredible Hulk netted $265.6 million, which wasn’t even much more than Ang Lee’s Hulk from five years prior. Until The Marvels, it looked like this fun but hollow film would remain the MCU’s lowest grossing. It doesn’t even particularly feel like a part of the overarching saga, even if there have been attempts over the years to further incorporate it.

3) Captain America: The First Avenger

Of all the MCU A-listers, Captain America without a doubt has the toughest time drawing in audiences overseas. This was especially true of the original film, Captain America: The First Avenger, even if it is one of the absolute best movies of the overarching franchise.

2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier scored $714.4 million against a price tag of about $170 million. The reason for that was the fact that 2012’s The Avengers solidified the MCU as an umbrella of sorts. If a movie fell under that umbrella, it was an event, even if the character’s name had America in it and you did not live in America (also, The Avengers exposed people to Cap who did not meet him in his debut movie one year prior). Captain America: Civil War was as much an Avengers movie as it was a Captain America solo film, hence it taking off with nearly $1.2 billion against $250 million. The First Avenger, however, was pre-Avengers and introducing a character who had never been in a mainstream motion picture. It was also a period piece, so there were factors working against it. It made only $370.6 million against a budget upwards of $216.7 million. It was an integral component of Phase One, but not a particularly profitable one.

4) Thunderbolts*

If there’s a true failure among the three MCU movies of 2025 it is, quite unfortunately, Thunderbolts*. It didn’t even look like it would end up as such, given how it experienced a lighter drop from first weekend to second than Captain America: Brave New World. But it also didn’t open as high as Brave New World, and the end result was a concerning $382.4 million against an MCU typical $180 million budget. It’s hard to know what exactly happened here. For one, the reviews should have helped more than they did. It’s also not likely that the film’s title change shortly after hitting theaters really confused anyone.

If anything, the reveal of it being The New Avengers should have resulted in an even lighter drop from first weekend to second. What it really comes down to is the fact that none of its characters were carryovers from particularly revered projects. Overall, people thought Black Widow was fine, and that’s three of the six teammates right there (though one of them lasted only a few minutes). Furthermore, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier didn’t entrance many Disney+ subscribers, Ant-Man and the Wasp hit theaters seven years prior to the release of Thunderbolts*, and Winter Soldier has always hovered just below the A-list of the MCU roster. Not to mention, if looking at the marketing materials, one would think it was an event MCU film, but it’s actually far more intimately psychological than much of the catalogue, which simply may not have been what people were looking to spend money on at the beginning of the summer movie season.

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5) Black Widow

If anything underscores just how much of a failure Thunderbolts* ended up being (in terms of box office receipts, not quality), it’s the fact that it barely beat Black Widow. Their worldwide tallies are about as close to tied as multi-hundred million dollar worldwide hauls for multi-hundred million dollar movies can be.

Bear in mind, Black Widow hit theaters in June of 2021, when COVID-19 fears were keeping audiences from theaters. Undoubtedly, its worldwide haul was substantially dinged by it being the one MCU film that was released in theaters and on Disney+ (with Premier Access) simultaneously. With a surprisingly massive budget of $288.5 million, Black Widow only generated $379.8 million in revenue. So, at the end of the day, at least Thunderbolts* had a substantially more reasonable price tag.

6) Eternals

All due credit to Chloé Zhao, as she had a tough task in bringing the Eternals to the big screen. With the Guardians of the Galaxy, James Gunn had quirky material to work with, and his quirkiness resulted in the right voice bringing the right characters to screen. The Eternals aren’t nearly as quirky or endearing or entertaining. The result is a pretty dry film, and while pre-release hype was adamant on saying this would be the MCU’s second major Oscar contender, the release week reviews told a different story.

Phase Four was the point where audience interest was beginning to show troubling drops, and Eternals was arguably the point where quite a few of the remaining viewers checked out. It’s ironic because the primary complaint with the MCU these days is that it’s too content to repeat what has worked for it in the past. Eternals is far more of a curveball than a repetition, it just wasn’t quite the right curveball. If anything, it’s pretty depressing for a superhero movie. By the end of its run, it only accumulated $402 million with a price tag of $236.2 million.

7) Captain America: Brave New World

Even though Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson had been in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and a few Avengers movies, Brave New World felt like the introduction of a new character. All told, it was never going to hit the highs of Winter Soldier or Civil War. But it still should have netted more than $415.1 million (against $180 million).

As mentioned, Mackie was an established MCU presence, but it was also the debut of Red Hulk. Unfortunately, the (fair) reviews didn’t do it any favors, mostly informing the audience that there wasn’t anything here the MCU hadn’t already done better in other places. Furthermore, it was more of a continuation of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and The Incredible Hulk than to the whole Captain America franchise. One of those was a Disney+ series that didn’t really take off with audiences and the other was a mostly fine installment that hit theaters 17 years earlier. It felt like a placeholder film instead of an event, and that’s exactly how it played in theaters.

8) Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Marvel has had overall solid success bringing lesser known characters to the big screen and getting audiences interested. And, while it wasn’t a Guardians of the Galaxy level of success by any stretch of the imagination, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings did quite well for itself.

It certainly did better than Eternals, which was marketed as more of an event film than Shang-Chi. The difference is that Shang-Chi is actually a fun movie. The result was the highest-grossing MCU movie of 2021, beating both Eternals and Black Widow with $432.2 million worldwide against at most $200 million.

The post All 8 MCU Movies Fantastic Four: First Steps Has Defeated at the Box Office appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The latest entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Fantastic Four: First Steps, is earning praise for its grounded approach to such a sprawling cosmic story that Hollywood has tried to tell through various iterations. While the film is full of the spectacle and super-powered action fans have come to expect, there is a quiet, intensely human moment that resonated most deeply with audiences. A recent Reddit thread has exploded with discussion centered on a single scene, one that subverts the typical superhero formula and offers a powerful statement on heroism and humanity. The scene in question features Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm, also known as the Invisible Woman, confronting a panicked crowd of protestors outside the Baxter Building. With her infant son, Franklin, in her arms, she delivers a speech that is arguably the emotional core of the film. It’s a moment that trades explosions for empathy, and CGI for raw, unflinching emotion, leaving many viewers shaken and deeply moved.

The fan conversation points to this as a pivotal scene, defining not just Sue Storm’s character, but the very soul of the film.

This Is a Story That Asks Difficult Questions Instead of Providing Easy Answers

In a genre often defined by its clear-cut battles between good and evil, Fantastic Four: First Steps dares to explore the uncomfortable gray areas of heroism and how it impacts not just a team, but an entire family. The scene with Sue Storm and the protestors is a prime example of this. The crowd, driven by fear, believes that the only way to save Earth from the cosmic threat of Galactus is to sacrifice Franklin. It’s a classic “greater good” dilemma, but the film refuses to solve it with a convenient plot device or a last-minute change of heart moment. Instead, the answer to the problem is Sue and her raw emotional state.

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She isn’t using her powers or engaging in a physical confrontation; she is simply a mother, exhausted and protective, facing an impossible choice. The only way to calm the panciking crowd who fear Galactus’ arrival is to confront them head on, is to acknowledge them in a way superheroes rarely engage with the local citizens in films. Sue promises that she will not sacrifice her baby, but she also will not sacrifice Earth.

This narrative choice forces the audience to sit in the discomfort of the situation as if we are the protestors in from of the Baxter Building. It challenges us to confront our own values and ask what we would do in such an impossible scenario. This refusal to offer a quick fix is what elevates the film beyond a simple superhero flick, making it a powerful character study about love, sacrifice, and the moral weight of heroism.

This Is a Story That Imagines a Better World Where Superheroes Inspire Humanity

Beyond its emotional weight, the scene is being praised for its refreshing take on the relationship between superheroes and the public. For too long, comic book films have shwon a version of humanity that is either inexplicably worse than our own or inconsistently written to serve the plot. We’ve seen citizens of Gotham who seem oblivious to the constant cycle of absurd chaos, or civilians who are quick to turn on their heroes at the slightest nudge.

Fantastic Four: First Steps, however, presents a different reality. The film’s Earth (Earth-828) is not a utopia, but it is a world where heroism is a reinforcing loop. The people are scared and on the verge of mass hysteria thanks to Galactus, but they are not presented as an unthinking mob. When Sue Storm addresses them, her words carry weight because The Fantastic Four have consistently stood for them and with them, and ultimately, protected their lives without fail. Sue reminds them of this shared history, and in doing so, she changes their minds. The crowd, which had been demanding the unthinkable, is reminded of its own humanity and its better nature.

This choice reflects a deeper level of world-building, where the civilian population is not a mere plot device or mindless sheep, but a consistent presence in a well-defined universe. The film embraces the idea of a world that is, in some (or most) ways, better than our own—a world where heroes can genuinely inspire and elevate the people they protect. It’s a story that isn’t afraid to be hopeful, and it’s a theme that has clearly stuck with fans who are tired of cynical and dystopian takes on humanity.

The scene with Sue Storm is not just about her standing up for her infant son; it’s about her standing up for the very best of what humanity can be, and the crowd’s response is a testament to the power of that vision.

The post Fans Are Talking About the Most Impactful Moment in Fantastic Four: First Steps (And It’s Not What You’d Expect) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is much more vast than it initially appears. All Tony Stark has to deal with in the first Iron Man is another guy in a metal suit and a few guys he hires to make trouble. However, subsequent projects reveal that there are countless realms and planets to account for. Thor’s father, Odin, watches over all of them, but it can get rough because there are aliens out there with incredible power. The Skrulls can shape-shift, and Thanos is as powerful as an entire army on his own. However, not all non-humans in the MCU are looking for a fight.

Over the course of the franchise, many heroes align themselves with sidekicks who don’t walk and talk like someone from Earth. That’s not a problem, though, because many of them still find ways to help. In fact, the MCU wouldn’t be in as good a shape as it is without the characters on this list.

5) Morris

Xu Wenwu wants to learn as much as he can about the mysterious realm Ta Lo in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. One of the villain’s expeditions sees him cross paths with a Dijiang, a furry creature with no eyes and wings on its head. Wenwu takes the being back to Earth with him and locks it up.

When Shang-Chi and Katy Chen find themselves in the slammer, they meet Trevor Slattery and his pet Dijiang, Morris. With Slattery translating, Morris reveals to the titular hero how he can get to Ta Lo. Without Morris, Wenwu certainly would have been able to conquer Ta Lo and put the entire MCU in grave danger.

4) Cosmo

As Peter Quill and his team learns in Guardians of the Galaxy, the Collector will bring just about anything to Knowhere. His collection includes Howard the Duck, a popular Marvel Comics character, but the talking bird isn’t nearly as useful as one of his neighbors.

Despite being a dog from Earth, Cosmo has incredible abilities that allow her to move objects with her mind. When the High Evolutionary’s forces attack Knowhere during the climax of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, she protects Kraglin and even takes out a couple of bad guys. Her heroic actions earn her a place on Rocket’s new Guardians team.

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3) Baby Groot

Rocket’s first sidekick holds a special place in his heart because he’s a new version of his old friend. While Groot is every bit the hero Rocket is, Baby Groot doesn’t have the same sense of justice. He’s more trouble than he’s worth most of the time, but he’s adorable, so it’s hard to stay mad at him.

Baby Groot gets a chance to shine in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 during the battle with Ego. Due to his small stature, he’s able to place a bomb in Ego’s core. It takes Baby Groot a while to understand Rocket’s instructions, but he finishes the job and saves his friends from dying at the hands of a Celestial.

2) Goose

Carol Danvers isn’t the warmest person after losing her memories and becoming a Kree warrior. However, one of the few beings she forms a bond with is Goose, the Flerken that Mar-Vell once owned. The cat-like creature proves instrumental in defeating the Kree in Captain Marvel and doesn’t stop there.

In The Marvels, Goose continues to swallow bad guys whole. Her biggest contribution comes toward the end of the film, though, when her eggs hatch. The new Flerkens allow Fury to save many of his S.W.O.R.D. agents by having the creatures swallow them and get them to safety.

1) H.E.R.B.I.E

The latest non-human sidekick to join the MCU is H.E.R.B.I.E., who works for the Fantastic Four. In his day-to-day life, the robot does tasks around the Baxter Building, such as cooking and baby-proofing the building. But when times get tough, he’s there to lend a hand.

As the titular team fights back against Galactus and the Silver Surfer, H.E.R.B.I.E. is by their side, protecting Franklin Richards and helping fly the Excelsior. Unlike J.A.R.V.I.S., the Fantastic Four’s artificial companion gets to get his hands dirty, which pushes him to the top of this list.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters.

Which of the sidekicks on this list do you think is the best? Who else deserves to be recognized for their contributions? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Best Non-Human MCU Sidekicks, Ranked (Baby Groot Isn’t #1) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The recent release of Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps is being hailed by many critics and fans as the definitive cinematic version of Marvel’s First Family. The film has earned praise for its casting and faithful tone, finally delivering the adaptation many have waited years to see. However, before the MCU took its shot, director Tim Story’s 2005 Fantastic Four and its sequel were widely embraced by a generation of moviegoers, building a dedicated fanbase despite a largely negative critical reception. In a new interview with Collider, Michael Chiklis, who famously portrayed Ben Grimm in those films, is defending their legacy and suggesting that critics at the time simply missed the point.

“There were a lot of people, I think, critically who got it wrong,” Chiklis said. “They really maligned our films, and they were very underrated considering… they were very loved by the audience. It was one of those cases where critics weren’t great to those films, but the audience was, and that still remains. I’ve always sort of quietly gone like, okay, say what you want to say, but the people see it. And now all these years later, people are sort of acknowledging like, hey, these films are family-friendly, fun movies… they got a lot right. They may be imperfect, but they’re really good movies.”

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The 2005 Fantastic Four holds a meager 28% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but its audience score sits at a much healthier 60%. The film was a solid financial success, earning $333.5 million worldwide on a reported $100 million budget. Its 2007 sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, saw a slight improvement with critics (37%) but a dip in audience approval (51%) and box office returns, earning $301.9 million on a $130 million budget. While neither film was a critical darling, their commercial performance and enduring popularity with family audiences demonstrate the disconnect Chiklis highlights, as, while far from perfect, those movies do have redeeming qualities.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Already Surpassed Michael Chiklis’s Movies

The box office performance of The Fantastic Four: First Steps has already eclipsed the films in which Chiklis starred. With a current worldwide total of over $435 million, the new MCU entry has surpassed the lifetime gross of both the 2005 film ($333 million) and its 2007 sequel ($301 million). However, that doesn’t mean the latest MCU entry is an absolute hit. The Tim Story duology was made on a relatively modest budget, making them highly profitable ventures for 20th Century Studios. In contrast, First Steps was produced with a modern Marvel Studios budget, estimated to be in the $200-250 million range, meaning it requires a much higher gross to achieve similar profitability. Unfortunately, The Fantastic Four: First Steps might not turn a profit.

Since the pandemic, billion-dollar hits are rare, so a $435 million haul is no longer a clear failure. Nevertheless, it is also not the runaway success Marvel was hoping for. Plus, the film’s steep 67.1% drop in its second weekend, a decline on par with the critically maligned Captain America: Brave New World, suggests that despite positive initial reviews, its long-term audience engagement is weak. First Steps’ box office disappointment is not an isolated phenomenon. Marvel Studios’ Phase 5 slate was its lowest-grossing to date, with films like The Marvels ($206 million) and Thunderbolts∗ ($382 million) significantly underperforming. When factoring in its massive budget, The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ financial success is still dependent on Marvel Studios pushing for physical copies after the theatrical run and compensating the lukewarm box office with merchandising.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is currently playing in theaters.

Do you agree with Michael Chiklis’ defense of his Fantastic Four movies? Share your opinion in the comments!

The post Fantastic Four Star Defends the Movie Against Bad Reviews (Is He Right?) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Mr. Fantastic isn’t monkeying around in the first deleted scene from The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Director Matt Shakman’s Marvel movie forgoes the foursome’s origin story, opening with talk show host Ted Gilbert (Mark Gatiss) recapping how astronauts Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) encountered a DNA-altering cosmic storm during a space mission. Returning to Earth with “abnormalities” — fantastic super powers — the Fantastic Four became the protectors of Earth 828.

In a montage of the team’s first four years, we see the Fantastic Four thwarting the Mole Man’s (Paul Walter Hauser) attempt to steal the Pan Am building, their battle with giant monster Giganto, and the Mad Thinker’s sabotage of the New York City transit system. We’re told they defeated the Red Ghost (John Malkovich) and his Super-Apes, with Reed elongating himself to scurry up a launchpad before the elastic leader of the Fantastic Four slingshots himself into Peotor, sending the cosmic-powered orangutan into the bay below.

It’s the only remnant of a deleted action sequence featuring Malkovich’s Fantastic Four villain, who was phased out of the finished cut for time. But on Instagram, storyboard artist Jeremy Simser shared a never-before-seen look at Mr. Fantastic’s extended fight scene with Miklho the gorilla:

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“I really wish you all could see this scene in its entirety, but alas, it’s not meant to be,” Simser wrote with the frames, which show Reed stretching himself to evade the Super-Ape’s punches. Simser also shared a homage to legendary artist Alex Ross’ cover for 2024’s Fantastic Four #22, in which the baboon Igor forcefully stretches Reed’s skin:

Before the Silver Srufer (Julia Garner) arrives to herald the coming of Galactus (Ralph Ineson), Reed tells the family that he’s started tracking super-criminals like the Puppet Master in the Bowery, the Wizard in Gramercy Park, and Diablo in Washington Heights. Although the classic Fantastic Four villains only appear in animated form in the post-credits scene, Shakman has suggested such foes “certainly could come back” in a sequel.

“John did an amazing job,” Shakman told EW of Malkovich’s cut villain, the Red Ghost. “He’s a fantastic actor. He is one of my favorite people, and he’s brilliant in the movie. It just was such a heartbreaking thing to have to eliminate that section, but we had so much to introduce. We had so many characters to introduce this whole world, this whole other universe, and it just became too much backstory.”

He continued, “There are so many great villains and so many great characters in the Fantastic Four [comics], and there are hopefully other opportunities down the road to include them.” But first, the Four will face archnemesis Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now playing only in theaters.

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The post Pedro Pascal’s Mr. Fantastic Fights a Super-Ape in Fantastic Four: First Steps Deleted Scene appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps just finished its second weekend in theaters, and it has now officially surpassed the DC Extended Universe’s most shocking flop in total box office revenue. According to Box Office Mojo, First Steps now boasts a total lifetime gross of over $230.4 million, while Justice League (2017) is still standing at $229 million. That’s an important hurdle in the superher genre, as no movie wants to repeat the failures of Justice League or the DCEU movies that preceded it. Still, First Steps comes in far below some other movies that it should be competitive with. Hopefully the Marvel Cinematic Universe is setting the stage for some big hits in the next two years.

Justice League is a natural benchmark for superhero adaptations to use, as it was a high-stakes failure that many fans found predictable. Of course, there are some notable issues with comparing it to First Steps, which was made with a slightly lower budget and was released after the COVID-19 pandemic, when the theater industry has some very different expectations in general. At the same time, the Fantastic Four could still stay in theaters for weeks or even months, pulling further ahead while Justice League‘s earning potential has mostly fizzled out.

It’s harder to account for fans’ excitement to bring these particular characters and stories to the screen at these particular times. Back in 2017, fans were eager to see a DC Comics film franchise to rival the MCU, but many felt that the Justice League team-up was too soon, and was not earned in the narrative. However, this version of the Fantastic Four didn’t feel quite like an organic addition to the world either — this movie is set in an alternate reality, with no other characters we’ve seen before in the MCU. It’s a set-up for a crossover that will happen later, but it’s not the kind of payoff that usually brings the most success for this genre.

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The climactic payoffs populate the top of this lifetime gross list — Avengers: Endgame is at number two with nearly $858.4 million, followed by Spider-Man: No Way Home with nearly $815 million. Avengers: Infinity War sits at number eight on the list, and other top-performing titles show the importance of a major series build-up — Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens is number one by a longshot with over $936.6 million. By comparison, First Steps is number 186 on the list, followed by Justice League at 188.

The MCU’s next few movies are the ones that should really compete in that echelon — Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars will be the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga, and roughly analogous to Infinity War and Endgame. However, fans and critics have questioned whether they will match the impact of Infinity Saga finale for several years now. As for the new DC Universe, it has no major Justice League crossover titles in sight, indicating that it will wait until it has earned that kind of hype this time around. First Steps is still in theaters now, as is the DCU’s Superman.

The post Fantastic Four: First Steps Beats the DCEU’s Biggest Disappointment at the Box Office appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps hasn’t quite set the box alight in the way Marvel might’ve hoped, but there are much bigger things to come. The first Fantastic Four movie in the MCU had a pretty good opening weekend, with $117 million domestic and a worldwide haul of $216m. It suffered a sharp drop in its second domestic weekend, which set alarm bells ringing that it’d already flamed out, though such panic is a little unwarranted. The movie may not represent a return to the MCU’s heyday, and is perhaps representative of a new normal for Marvel Studios.

Overall, The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ box office stands at $434m and, against a reported budget of $200m, it should end its run as a modest success for Marvel. That’d be a slight improvement on the previous MCU movie, Thunderbolts* ($382m), albeit not one that screams Marvel is back. We were so used to seeing MCU movies easily make $600m, and several reach $1 billion or higher, that anything below still feels like a surprise. But while First Steps‘ performance is in line with where the franchise has been recently, it’s about to soar much higher once again.

The Only MCU Movies With Release Dates Are All Big Hitters

After its post-Avengers: Endgame period of expansion backfired, Disney is cutting back a little on its MCU releases. Though three released in 2025, there are currently only that many Marvel movies with release dates across 2026 and 2027 combined. That will undoubtedly change, of course, and we’ll likely see them stick with at least two movies per year, but it does mean that right now the upcoming movies are among Marvel’s heaviest hitters:

• Spider-Man: Brand New Day – July 31, 2026
• Avengers: Doomsday – December 18, 2026
• Avengers: Secret Wars – December 17, 2027

Heading into Spider-Man 4, the Tom Holland-led franchise is on a major winning streak. Spider-Man: Far From Home made just over $1 billion at the box office, before No Way Home, buoyed by appearances from Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, swung to a massive $1.9bn. Brand New Day probably won’t reach that, as it’ll be a more street-level movie rather than a nostalgia-driven multiversal event, but the MCU Spidey brand is so strong that it will be expected to clear $1bn.

Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars should be even more guaranteed successes. The lowest-grossing of the four Avengers movies so far is Age of Ultron, which made $1.4bn, a relative disappointment given the expectation was it’d surpass the first installment ($1.5bn). The franchise went to a whole other level entirely with Avengers: Infinity War, which became the first MCU movie to break the $2bn barrier, and then levelled up again with Avengers: Endgame, which grossed $2.7bn and briefly took Avatar‘s title of the highest-grossing movie of all time.

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All 5 MCU Projects Set Up By Fantastic Four: First Steps

Simply put, Avengers movies have an average $1.9 billion at the box office. MCU Spider-Man movies have an average $1.3bn. The cinematic universe has had its struggles, and it’d be unwise to expect either to match their immediate predecessors, but with prime release dates, plenty of hype, and in the case of Doomsday (and likely Secret Wars) an absurd amount of star power, these should all be making over $1 billion, and the Avengers movies much, much more than that.

Spider-Man & The Avengers Won’t Prove If Marvel Is Back

The upside for Marvel is that, between these three movies, it should easily be looking at upwards of $4 billion at the box office. The downside is that if they are the successes we expect, it won’t reveal a great deal about the state of the MCU. It’ll be the non-sequels that reveal the truth about interest in Marvel, and whether Spidey and the Avengers have done enough to revive it more broadly.

Again, it’s currently unknown which movies will happen or when, but things that we know are in development include an X-Men reboot, Armor Wars, Blade, and a mystery movie being produced by Scarlett Johansson. Of course, step one is actually getting those done, given Blade was first announced back in 2019 and still doesn’t have a finished script, but if they happen, they’ll all be box office tests. The X-Men should be a home run, in theory, but it’ll depend on how Marvel chooses to introduce them. Their introduction will likely have a lot of hype, even if the brand was tarnished at the end of the Fox era.

The others are bigger challenges. Will people turn up for Armor Wars, rather than viewing it as Iron Man Lite? Blade could probably have a lower budget (and likely an R-rating), setting different expectations for success. The Wesley Snipes movies performed well, but made $418m combined (unadjusted for inflation; adjusted, it’s roughly above $800m). It’d be unfair to expect the reboot to be a monster smash, but perhaps that’s the kind of thing the MCU needs more of, rather than everything having budgets of over $200m and needing to make $500m+ at the box office.

Ultimately, the MCU is – and will continue to be – fine. There are plenty of other sequels it can make that’ll be big hitters, such as Black Panther 3. Fantastic Four 2 (assuming it happens) should perform better after the characters have been in Avengers movies, and thus exposed to a wider audience. But whether Marvel returns to the kind of dominant force where gambles like Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man pay off big style is another matter entirely, and it’ll take a few years to get that answer.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is currently playing in theaters.

The post After Fantastic Four, the MCU’s Next 3 Movies Are All Guaranteed to EASILY Make $1 Billion appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now in theaters, officially kicking off Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe by introducing the iconic super-team. The film wastes no time establishing its world, bringing in not just the core four but also their extended family, including the charming robot H.E.R.B.I.E. and the infant Franklin Richards. Plus, as the first chapter in a phase that will culminate in the massive crossover events Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, the movie clearly connects to the overarching Multiverse Saga. However, while much of the MCU is currently focused on alternate timelines, First Steps has a curious hook to the universe’s mystical side, which is rumored to gain more importance in Phase 7. That’s because The Fantastic Four: First Steps sets one of its most powerful new characters on an inevitable collision course with one of the MCU’s most formidable mystic figures.

Warning: Spoilers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps below.

The climax of The Fantastic Four: First Steps revolves around the team’s desperate plan to stop Galactus (Ralph Ineson) from claiming the newborn Franklin, whose latent reality-warping abilities make him a being of immense cosmic importance. The final confrontation sees Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) expend all of her energy to push Galactus through a portal leading to a different corner of the universe, an act of heroism that saves the world but costs her her life. As Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) holds her body, a grieving Franklin reaches out for his mother. Reed places the baby on her chest, and in that moment, Franklin’s power brings her back from the dead, her eyes glowing with energy as she draws a new breath.

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What Is the Future Foundation? The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Explained

This act of resurrection is a staggering display of power, proving that even as an infant, Franklin can permanently alter the most fundamental laws of life and death. At the same time, while the Fantastic Four see it as a miracle, this event is a profound violation of the natural order. By reversing a death, Franklin has undoubtedly attracted the attention of the very entity that governs it, Death (Aubrey Plaza) herself, who was recently introduced in the Disney+ series Agatha All Along.

Will Franklin Richards Face Death After the Multiversal Saga?

The Disney+ series Agatha All Along fundamentally changed the cosmic landscape of the MCU by introducing Death as a literal entity. Initially disguised as the Green Witch Rio Vidal, she is revealed to be a primordial force of the universe, the very embodiment of life’s end. The series establishes that she is not a villain in the traditional sense, but an abstract being whose existence is a fundamental law of reality. Throughout the series, she is shown to be impervious to the most powerful forms of magic, demonstrating that she cannot be fought, harmed, or defeated, as she is an inevitable constant.

The central conflict of Agatha All Along provides a clear understanding of Death’s rules and power. Her entire focus is on Billy Maximoff (Joe Locke), whom she deems an “abomination” because his very existence violates her domain. Billy’s soul, magically created by the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), cheated its fate by reincarnating into the body of a boy who had already died. This act is a perversion of the natural order, a cosmic loophole that Death cannot abide.

Franklin Richards’ resurrection of his mother is a far more direct violation of Death’s law. While Billy’s soul found a way to sidestep the rules, Franklin’s power was used to shatter them entirely by forcibly pulling a soul back from Death’s realm and restoring it to its original body. This is a direct challenge to Death’s authority and the very concept of permanence that she embodies.

While the immediate future of the MCU is focused on the multiversal threats of Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, this transgression has undoubtedly put Franklin on Death’s radar. His miraculous act of love has made an enemy of one of the universe’s most fundamental and implacable forces, setting the stage for a future conflict where the young powerhouse must answer for breaking a rule that was meant to be absolute.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is currently available in theaters.

Do you think Frankling Richards’ defiance of Death will have repercussions in the MCU? Share your theories in the comments!

The post The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Powerhouse Just Made an Enemy of One of MCU’s Most Powerful Figures appeared first on ComicBook.com.

This July saw the premieres of two highly important comic book adaptations: Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. While the films didn’t directly go head to head at the box office (they were separated by two weeks on the release calendar), many were curious to see which one would earn more money. Even as James Gunn downplayed the notion of a rivalry between the two films, their respective box office prospects remained a key talking point. Superman was the first theatrical release for the DC Universe, hoping to get a new franchise off on the right foot. First Steps was looking to get Marvel back on track after some notable commercial disappointments. Now that both films have been playing for a while, one is the clear victor in the box office showdown: Superman.

Given how much The Fantastic Four: First Steps has dropped since its debut, it has virtually no chance of catching Superman on the box office charts. After five weekends, Superman now stands at $331.2 million domestically. First Steps stands at $230.4 million after three weeks. At that point in its theatrical run, Superman had grossed $289.4 million in the United States. It’s outpaced Fantastic Four and will end the year as 2025’s highest-grossing comic book movie.

Bolstered by positive reviews, both Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps exceeded box office expectations during their opening weekends. The former premiered to $125 million domestically, while the latter grossed $117.6 million. Their paths started to deviate after First Steps‘ second weekend. Unlike Superman, which only fell 53.2%, Marvel’s latest saw a substantial decrease of 67.1% — a steep drop in the same ballpark as Captain America: Brave New World.

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Despite the massive decline, First Steps was able to hold on to the No. 1 position in its second weekend, but it dropped to third this weekend. New arrivals Weapons and Freakier Friday battled it out for the top spot, with Weapons winning after grossing $42.5 million. It’s worth mentioning that Superman was the No. 1 movie for just two weekends as well, but it went up against Fantastic Four in its third weekend. Weapons and Freakier Friday were anticipated among their respective target demographics, but there was a point in time where First Steps arguably should have been able to beat out “smaller” competition and win another weekend or two before things slowed down.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps marks an uneven end for what was a rock year at the box office for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts* underwhelmed, sparking speculation that Marvel may look to change the way it conducts business moving forward. With a $400.5 million worldwide total as of this writing, First Steps will soon pass Brave New World to become the MCU’s highest-grossing 2025 release globally. However, a case can be made that it’s not as big of a hit as Marvel or Disney wanted, especially as the MCU builds to Avengers: Doomsday.

Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World found success on home media platforms, illustrating how things have changed in the past handful of years. While there will always be die-hards who show up on opening weekend, shortened theatrical windows make things easier for casual viewers to wait — particularly if a movie isn’t a massive “event” that demands to be seen as soon as possible. It’ll be interesting to see how Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday perform next year. Both of those seem like titles that will bring Marvel back to its $1 billion glory, but if they don’t, the situation could become even more dire. As for DC, many will be curious to see how Supergirl and Clayface fare. Did Superman spark interest in all DC projects, or is Superman just one of the few superhero characters immune to whatever box office trends are happening?

The post There’s a Clear Winner In Superman vs. Fantastic Four Box Office Showdown appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It seems Earth-616 in the Marvel Cinematic Universe deals with a potentially world-ending event at least once a month. Fortunately, there are heroes around every corner who are ready to put it all on the line. Earth-828 is in a very different situation, having only one team of superpowered individuals to protect it. The Fantastic Four do a bang-up job, though, making quick work of villains like Mole Man and Red Ghost before turning their attention to solving the world’s problems. However, failing to get past the shallow end of the pool means that Earth isn’t ready when Galactus’ herald, the Silver Surfer, shows up in The Fantastic Four: First Steps and announces that humanity’s days are numbered.

It takes a bit for everyone to wrap their heads around the existence of a being capable of devouring worlds, but there’s no time to think with so much at stake. Marvel’s First Family does everything it can to prepare its world for Galactus’ arrival, sending every person in New York City underground. However, not even Earth’s heroes are ready for the way Galactus acts when he sets foot on their planet for the first time.

Galactus Stops and Smells the Roses in Fantastic Four: First Steps

The Fantastic Four go to visit Galactus and have every intention of negotiating with him. The Devourer of Worlds doesn’t take kindly to the intrusion, but he decides to hear his guests out, especially after he learns of the existence of Sue Storm and Reed Richards’ child. The baby possesses the Power Cosmic, which means Galactus can turn him into his successor. Of course, Reed and Sue aren’t down with that plan, so they escape from the villain’s ship and return home. After informing the public of the situation, everyone turns on them, believing that one life shouldn’t take priority over the entire Earth. It takes some work, but the Fantastic Four makes things right by coming up with a plan to move the Earth far away from Galactus’ reach.

Once all the bridges are put together around the world, the only thing left to do is pull the trigger. Unfortunately, the Silver Surfer arrives first and destroys a bunch of the bridges, leaving the Fantastic Four between a rock and a hard place. They pivot to the second option, which is to send Galactus through the portal in New York City. The Devourer of Worlds lands on Earth to grab Franklin Richards before finishing the job, but he takes in the scenery first. He picks up and smells some dirt, which freaks out Johnny Storm, but he also stops and stares at the Statue of Liberty for a hot minute. While it’s possible that Galactus was just shocked to see something close to his size, a new theory posits that the statue has a special meaning to the MCU multiverse.

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Spider-Man May Have Ruined the Statue of Liberty for Everyone

Since so many superhero projects take place in New York, it’s no surprise that the Statue of Liberty shows up frequently. The climax of X-Men occurs at the landmark, with Magneto using its height to distribute a beam of energy that will turn humans into mutants. However, X-Men isn’t part of the main MCU, meaning there’s no way to connect it to First Steps. Spider-Man: No Way Home, on the other hand, features the Statue of Liberty and takes place on Earth-616. In a post on r/MCUTheories, user silencedoutrage explained that Doctor Strange using magic to send all of the villains about to enter the universe at the Statue of Liberty could have had major ramifications on the rest of the MCU. It may be an example of an incursion, an event powerful enough to destroy an entire reality. Since Galactus is one of the oldest beings in the MCU, it’s possible he can feel aftershocks, which is why he stops at the Statue of Liberty in First Steps.

Galactus’ vacation on the other side of the galaxy means he won’t be around to pour fuel on the fire anytime soon. However, another villain, Doctor Doom, is preparing his assault on the multiverse, which could lead him to another version of the Statue of Liberty in Avengers: Doomsday. Spider-Man just wanted to do the right thing by having Strange wipe his identity, but he may have doomed the multiverse in the process.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters.

Why do you think Galactus took such an interest in the Statue of Liberty? Is it possible the location has a connection to incursions? Let us know in the comments below!

The post A Shocking Fantastic Four Theory Connects a Strange Galactus Moment to Spider-Man appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel Comics is famous for its massive crossover events, sprawling storylines that unite dozens of characters against a universe-shattering threat. For decades, epics like The Infinity Gauntlet and Secret Wars have defined eras of storytelling and given fans unforgettable moments. However, not every event is a classic. In the long history of Marvel, few storylines are as widely despised as 1996’s “Heroes Reborn”. The event was a desperate swing from Marvel Comics that is now largely remembered as a creative and commercial failure. Still, with the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the MCU now has a chance to take the core concept of this infamous event and finally get it right.

Warning: Spoilers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps below.

The original “Heroes Reborn” was born from corporate desperation. In the mid-1990s, the comic book speculator bubble had violently burst, and while the X-Men line of books remained a sales juggernaut, Marvel’s foundational titles like Avengers and Fantastic Four were suffering from plummeting sales and creative stagnation. Facing the threat of bankruptcy, Marvel initiated a radical plan to reset some of its major superheroes.

Why Is “Heroes Reborn” Such a Despised Marvel Experiment?

The narrative catalyst for the “Heroes Reborn” label was the “Onslaught” saga, a massive crossover event where the Avengers and the Fantastic Four seemingly sacrificed their lives to stop Onslaught, a monstrous psychic entity created from the merged subconsciousness of Professor X and Magneto. However, instead of dying, the heroes were secretly transported to a pocket universe subconsciously created by a grieving Franklin Richards, who couldn’t bear to watch his family perish. This became the “Counter-Earth,” where the heroes would be rebooted without any previous memory of their past adventures.

To execute this reboot, Marvel made the highly controversial decision to outsource the production of its four core titles — Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Avengers, and Captain America — to the studios of their former star artists, Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld. These were two of the founders of Image Comics, a rival publisher they had started after a very public and acrimonious split with Marvel just a few years earlier. The move was widely seen as a humiliating admission of defeat, with Marvel handing its crown jewels to the very creators who had left them behind. The decision also caused significant internal backlash and alienated loyal readers by unceremoniously removing popular creative teams. The most notable casualty was the universally acclaimed team of writer Mark Waid and artist Ron Garney on Captain America, whose character-driven run was a critical and sales success that stood in stark contrast to the gritty trends of the era.

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The “Heroes Reborn” books themselves were largely a critical disaster and a commercial disappointment after an initial sales spike. The new origins were often seen as convoluted, and the art style was heavily criticized for embodying the worst excesses of ’90s comics. This was most famously exemplified by Rob Liefeld’s promotional art for Captain America, which depicted Steve Rogers with a bizarrely distorted and impossibly large chest. The image became an instant source of ridicule and remains an infamous meme symbolizing the era’s anatomical absurdities. Liefeld’s run was so poorly received that Marvel terminated his contract after only six issues, with Jim Lee’s studio taking over the remaining books to finish the year-long experiment. Ultimately, the event failed to revitalize the characters, and the Heroes Return miniseries brought the heroes back to the main Marvel universe, with most fans celebrating the end of the failed relaunch.

The MCU Can Redeem “Heroes Reborn”

The Fantastic Four: First Steps establishes its version of Franklin Richards as a being with incredible reality-warping powers. In the movie, Galactus (Ralph Ineson) wants to take control of Franklin so the baby can absorb the Celestial’s never-ending hunger, freeing him from his torment. Furthermore, during the movie’s final arc, Franklin even resurrects his mother after Sue (Vanessa Kirby) sacrifices herself to push Galactus into a portal towards a distant corner of the universe. Finally, The Fantastic Four: First Steps reveals Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) is after Franklin, underlining how the child will play a major role in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, developed to put an end to the Multiversal Saga. It seems, then, that Franklin Richards might help Marvel Studios to soft-reboot the MCU, likely mimicking his role in “Heroes Reborn.”

When he single-handedly resurrects his mother from death as an infant, he demonstrates an ability to rewrite the most fundamental laws of existence. This act positions him as one of the most powerful figures in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. As the Multiverse Saga builds towards the cataclysmic events of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, the very fabric of countless realities will be threatened with annihilation. This level of cosmic chaos requires an equally powerful solution, and Franklin Richards is being perfectly set up to be that solution. Just as he did in the comics, Franklin can save everyone from a collapsing multiverse by using his immense power to create a single, new, stable reality: a reborn MCU.

A “Heroes Reborn” scenario done right opens up a wealth of creative opportunities for a new phase of the MCU. It would allow Marvel to streamline its universe, providing a clean slate for new audiences while rewarding longtime fans who witnessed its creation. This new reality could feature a new Tony Stark facing a more comic-accurate Mandarin, or a new Steve Rogers embarking on adventures that the original never had the chance to. 

Recent comments from Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, who confirmed original Avengers will eventually be recast, perfectly align with this possibility. A Franklin-created universe provides the ideal in-story mechanism to introduce new actors into these iconic roles without invalidating the monumental legacies of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, for instance. In addition, this narrative path would allow the MCU to both discard everything that didn’t work before while also maintaining the canon coherence that ties every project together. Something similar also happened in Marvel Comics after the second Secret Wars miniseries, so there’s enough precedent for the MCU to do the same. As such, by making the creation of a new universe the very endpoint of its grandest saga, the MCU can take the name of Marvel’s worst event and transform it into the foundation for its most promising future.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is currently available in theaters.

Do you think the MCU should adapt a version of Heroes Reborn after Secret Wars? Let us know in the comments.

The post The MCU Has a Chance to Redeem One of Marvel’s Worst Events Ever (Thanks to Franklin Richards) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps sure has its work cut out for it. Not only is it releasing at a time when the Marvel Cinematic Universe is in need of a win after a couple of years full of misses, but there’s also a lot of baggage that comes with the property. The last time Marvel’s First Family appeared on the big screen, it was a total disaster, with Josh Trank’s film failing to win over critics and fans. Fan4stic also didn’t make all that much money at the box office, which was surprising because it felt like superhero movies just couldn’t lose in 2015.

The two movies that predated the Miles Teller-led one, Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, performed decently at the box office. Their issues had more to do with the story, especially when it came to the main villain of the second movie, Galactus. First Steps goes out of its way to make up for the giant purple cloud, but it doesn’t ignore everything from Rise of the Silver Surfer. In fact, it steals a major part of that movie’s climax and is better for it.

The Silver Surfer Is on the Fence in Fantastic Four: First Steps

The Fantastic Four are feeling themselves when First Steps kick off. With a few years of crime-fighting under their belt, they feel ready to tackle any problem, even if it comes from underground. What the team isn’t prepared for is to deal with threats that come from space. The Silver Surfer shows up on Earth pretty early in the movie and reveals that her boss, the Devourer of Worlds, is on his way to eat the planet. With the public in a state of panic, the Fantastic Four head off into space to confront the villain. Negotiations break down after Galactus asks for Reed Richards and Susan Storm’s baby, though, forcing them to make a quick escape. However, while Reed, Sue, and Ben Grimm are all focused on the Galactus of it all, Johnny Storm is thinking outside the box, wondering whether he can flip the bad guy’s herald.

Johnny starts learning all he can about the Silver Surfer’s language because he recognizes it from transmissions that Reed received in the Baxter Building. By the time the herald arrives on Earth and destroys nearly all of the bridges that are going to teleport the planet, Johnny is ready for her. He confronts her in New York City and plays recordings from her people, thanking her for giving up her life to protect them, as well as ones from planets she’s marked for death. All of the emotion is too much for the Silver Surfer to handle, so she heads back out into space, waiting for her boss to finish the job. She doesn’t stay in orbit for long, though, coming back down during the Fantastic Four’s fight against Galactus and knocking the villain through the portal. Since she goes through the opening as well, her fate is left a mystery, but her sacrifice is reminiscent of another herald’s big moment.

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Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Gives Its Titular Herald a Redemption Arc

Rise of the Silver Surfer‘s story isn’t all that different from First Steps‘. The Silver Surfer shows up and starts making trouble all around Earth before Reed deduces that the strange being is preparing the planet for destruction. The Fantastic Four do everything they can to fight their new enemy, but they soon realize he’s not destroying worlds for the fun of it. Sue learns that he works for Galactus to protect his home, which is something she and the rest of her family understand. After freeing the Silver Surfer from the government, the herald has a change of heart and starts helping the heroes.

Getting his board back makes the Silver Surfer strong enough to revive Sue, who died at the hands of Doctor Doom, and take a run at his boss. He flies straight into the cloud, leading to a massive explosion that seemingly kills them both. However, like his MCU counterpart, Rise of the Silver Surfer‘s mid-credits scene reveals that he’s not down for the count. The character never returned, of course, but he paved the way for the next Silver Surfer to do the right thing despite the dangers that come with turning on Galactus.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters.

Did you notice the similarities between The Fantastic Four: First Steps and The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer? Would you like to see the Silver Surfer return in the MCU? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Fantastic Four: First Steps Borrows a Page From Fox’s Playbook (& It Pays Off) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The end of MCU Phase 5 and the beginning of Phase 6 represent a turning point for Marvel’s post-credits scenes. Ever since Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury stepped out of the shadows to talk about something called the Avengers Initiative in Iron Man, the after-credits stingers have been a defining part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They’ve ranged from clear, direct setups to silly, throwaway jokes, helped stories span the better part of a decade (such as with Thanos), and sometimes even been scenes taken straight from future movies.

There have been over 80 MCU post-credits scenes across Marvel’s movies, TV shows, one-shots, and special presentations, with Avengers: Endgame the only film not to have one. There’s no sign of things slowing down, with its two most recent theatrical releases – Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps – both having significant moments after the credits had started to roll, alongside some gags for good measure. Rather than just continuing the trend, though, they actually serve to fix a recent problem.

The MCU Has Recently Struggled With Post-Credits Scenes

Marvel’s post-credits scenes weren’t always great, but there was always a clear sense of momentum to them, and an understanding of how they fit into Kevin Feige’s plans. Barring the jokes, you knew that most of the credits scenes would be paid off sooner rather than later (Doctor Strange‘s tease of Mordo hunting sorcerers is perhaps the lone exception), but that hasn’t been the case in Phases 4 and 5.

There have been multiple post-credits scenes the MCU hasn’t resolved, and what’s more, there are no signs of anything happening with them. Marvel shifted to a frustrating trend where the stingers were often reliant on stunt casting, and where the Multiverse Saga plans were so unclear and ill-defined that there were no strong ideas of when they might be paid off, if indeed they would be at all. This includes:

• Harry Styles’ Starfox in Eternals, along with Pip (Patton Oswalt).
• Dane Whitman finds the Ebony Blade (also in Eternals), and the voice of Mahershala Ali’s Blade speaking to him off-screen.
• Charlize Theron appears as Clea in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, whom Strange follows to the Dark Dimension.
• Hercules (Brett Goldstein) is sent on a revenge mission by Zeus (Russell Crowe) in Thor: Love and Thunder.

There’s no sign of any of these mattering anytime soon in the MCU. As it stands, the only one that seems likely to be paid off at some point is Clea, since Strange’s experience in the multiverse and with incursions should be important in Secret Wars, though whether Theron herself returns is rather the opposite of her character’s name. Styles will probably never be seen again, and Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman may not either – unless he’s in the MCU’s Blade movie, if that ever happens. Hercules could be in Thor 5 but, again, there’s no certainty we’ll see it.

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Thunderbolts* & Fantastic Four Are What Post-Credits Scenes Should Be

In fairness to Marvel, there have been some gradual improvements. The scene of Prince T’Challa in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will presumably be paid off in Black Panther 3; we now know that The Marvels‘ introduction of Beast will tie into Avengers: Doomsday (though that was not clear at the time). But it’s in the last couple of entries where it’s really found that sense of momentum and clarity of old.

Thunderbolts*‘ mid-credits scene reveals that Sam Wilson may take legal action over the use of the New Avengers team name, before showing a space crisis is shown to be the Fantastic Four’s ship entering Earth-616. Both are exciting teases for Avengers: Doomsday, setting up a new Avengers conflict – perhaps even leading to a second civil war of some kind – while also paving the way for Marvel’s First Family to be part of the story (or, perhaps, be Doom himself arriving, if they wanted a twist on things).

The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ credits scene nicely built on that, with a sequence filmed by the Russo Brothers on the set of Avengers: Doomsday. It marks Doctor Doom’s debut in the MCU, which is exciting enough, but also suggests he’s going to take Franklin Richards. There are various possible theories as to why – likely needing his powers for the multiversal goals in some way – and it’s a great hype-building. It feels exactly like the kind of post-credits scene Marvel used to do so well: you know exactly what movies and characters are being set up, but it also allows for a lot of fun discussion and speculation, which is one of the joys of being an MCU fan.

Thunderbolts* and Fantastic Four‘s critical reception led to a feeling of “Marvel is back.” It’s still too early to say if that is the case, but in terms of its post-credits scenes, it just might be.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is currently playing in theaters. The next MCU movie will be Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31st, 2026. That’ll be followed by Avengers: Doomsday on December 18, 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027.

The post The MCU Has Finally Fixed Its Post-Credits Scene Problem After 4 Years appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel’s First Family was finally introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, a film set in an alternate timeline that is disconnected from the rest of the franchise (for now). A true reimagining of the classic comic characters, director Matt Shakman (WandaVision) helmed First Steps, with a script co-written by Josh Friedman (Avatar: The Way of Water). The story dives deep into the mythos of the Fantastic Four, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm an equal chance to shine. Rather dan directly adapt the original comic from Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, First Steps opts to take bold creative swings that both honor and reshape decades of source material that came before.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is far from the typical entry film for a new character in the MCU. That’s immediately apparent in the opening scene, as the retro-futuristic visual style is on full display, as are some unexpected changes in character dynamics and plot priorities. Not all of these changes from the comics works perfectly, but there’s no doubht that the Fantastic Four: First Steps is a bold new direction for Marvel’s most famous super team. Here, we’ll break down the five biggest ways the movie diverges from the comics and whether or not those risks paid off.

5) The Origin Story Is Absent (Sort-Of)

From the very first scene, it’s clear this isn’t a beat-for-beat adaptation of Fantastic Four #1. There’s no chronicling of the infamous space mission that gave the heroes their unique powers. Instead, the movie opens in the present day, when Reed is already able to expand his body, Ben can lift cars, Sue can turn herself invisible, and Johnny can light himself on fire.  Only through a brief exposition scene in the form of a television recap of the Four (on their fourth anniversary since coming back to Earth) does the audience get the backstory. 

It’s a storytelling gamble, but one that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and co. have made before. In 2017, when Spider-Man had his first solo MCU film, the iconic origins of Peter Parker being bitten by a radioactive spider were removed entirely. Those events had already happened, and Parker was already Spider-Man, just as the family is already the Fantastic Four here. Marvel has told so many origin stories over the past 15 years that simply skipping the typical structure gives the opening act in particular a refreshing feeling. This approach also gives the characters a level of comfort and chemistry with each other and themselves from the very beginning. Gone are the awkward “learning powers” montage or forced exposition about their relationships. Instead, the film places trust in the audience to keep up with what’s happening, just like Spider-Man: Homecoming did with Peter Parker’s origin. While some fans of the comics may miss the direct portrayal of the moment that changed the lives of the Four forever, choosing to move past it gives First Steps an opportunity to tell a story about what comes next, not just how it all began.

4) The Movie Leans Into a Stylized 1960s Setting

Fantastic Four: First Steps isn’t just set in a retro-like world; it’s bathed in it. The film embraces the heavily stylized version of the 1960s with advanced technology, Cold War anxiety, and fashion straight out of the show Mad Men. In many of the more recent comics, especially, the team and the world they inhabit have been adapted, at least to a certain extent, in order to match real life. But here, the new setting ends up being one of the very best aspects of the film, and gives First Steps a buffer from the rest of the MCU. Because First Steps takes place in a branching timeline, it can play with period-specific storytelling without worrying about whether it fits in with the stories of other heroes. Having that kind of creative freedom allows for the film to dive deep into the characters and embrace early Marvel comics.

3) Doctor Doom Is Nowhere to Be Found—But Galactus Is

First Steps has a huge omission from the comics (for the most part) – Victor Von Doom. The Fantastic Four’s most iconic villain is almost completely absent from First Steps, only appearing at the end in a breathtaking post-credits scene. In the Fantastic Four films of the 2000s, Doom played a significant role in the story, cementing himself as the primary antagonist of the heroes. Here, with the post-credits scene, Doom is teased as a big bad of the future, but he doesn’t make an impact on the film itself. While not every Fantastic Four comic features Doom, most of the iconic stories in the source material do, which makes the villain’s absence palpable. Even when he doesn’t appear in the comics, the team typically knows of his existence and the threat he poses, which isn’t the case here. The Fantastic Four don’t appear to know anything about Doctor Doom, nor are they aware of the chaos he’ll bring moving forward. His complex relationship with Reed is a cornerstone of the comics, but not in First Steps. Despite that, the post-credits scene reveals that Marvel is clearly playing the long game. The implication is that Doom exists and is coming to crash down on the rest of the MCU. It’s certainly risky to not include a character of that magnitude, but it does build suspense for future entries.

2) New Suits

Longtime fans know that the Fantastic Four’s most iconic outfits are a combination of blue and black. John Krasinski wore an updated version of this suit in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, in which he portrayed another multiverse version of Reed Richards. In First Steps, however, the team’s suits are colored with light blue and white, which is also something seen in the comics at times, but is certainly a deviation from the black and blue. A newly released behind-the-scenes picture from the film shows the cast wearing black and blue suits, implying that there was a moment in time in which they were set to appear in the film, but that didn’t end up being in the final cut of the movie.

1) Stan Lee & Jack Kirby Finally Share the Spotlight

In perhaps the most heartfelt change from tradition, First Steps acknowledges Jack Kirby right alongside Stan Lee as the creators of the characters. In more modern comics, films, cartoons, and more, Kirby is often second to Lee when it comes to the development of some of the most famous Marvel characters. However, here, Kirby is recognized as an equal alongside Lee, offering a beautiful tribute to two men who helped shape Marvel comics into what it is today. Kirby’s birthday is even behind the inspiration of Earth 828, which is the world in which the film takes place. All of this isn’t just for fan service, either. Instead, it can again be considered something of a course correction. For years, Kirby’s contributions to Marvel’s foundation have been underplayed in favor of Stan Lee’s charisma and public persona. But in recent years, and now in this film, Marvel has made it clear: without Kirby’s vision, there is no Marvel Universe.

Fantastic Four: First Steps is playing in theaters.

The post 5 Ways Fantastic Four: First Steps Changes the Comics (& Did They All Work?) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In late July, Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicked off with the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel Studios’ long-awaited reboot that finally, properly brought the iconic superhero team into the MCU. The film was an integral part of the franchise’s Multiverse Saga, helping set the stage for next winter’s Avengers: Doomsday. Though First Steps suffered a steep drop at the box office during its second weekend, it’s earned a positive reception if reviews and audience reactions are anything to go by. Obviously, the film isn’t available on home media yet, but those hungry for a Fantastic Four fix in the living room have found the perfect Pixar movie on Disney+.

That film in question, of course, is The Incredibles, Brad Bird’s 2004 superhero film that won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and grossed $631.6 million at the worldwide box office. According to data from FlixPatrol, which measures the popularity of titles on streaming services, The Incredibles ranks No. 9 on Disney+’s Top 10 movies — a list that also includes Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and a special look at First Steps. In the United States today, August 8th, The Incredibles is the third most-popular title on Disney’s in-app chart, behind only Freaky Friday and Rio.

While The Incredibles isn’t based on a pre-existing comic book, its links to the Fantastic Four were obvious to Marvel fans. Both properties revolve around families of superheroes coming to terms with their powers and an ever-changing world. The members of the two groups even have similar abilities. Violet Parr can turn invisible and create force fields, just like Sue Storm. Helen Parr, aka Elastigirl, can stretch a la Mister Fantastic. Bob Parr, Mr. Incredible himself, has super strength akin to Ben Grimm.

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For a long time, viewers joked that The Incredibles was the best Fantastic Four film. Prior to The Fantastic Four: First Steps (which has a Certified Fresh critics score on Rotten Tomatoes), big-screen adaptations of the Fantastic Four comics routinely fell short with critics and at the box office. With First Steps, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige was committed to giving the classic characters the film adaptation they deserved. Amusingly, a First Steps TV spot incorporated a pull quote calling it “a live-action Incredibles” due to its familial themes.

The Incredibles is a great film worth watching any time of year, but it makes sense why the film is climbing up the streaming charts now. With The Fantastic Four: First Steps so fresh in viewers’ minds, there’s likely an appetite for something similar at home. Until First Steps gets a Disney+ release date, The Incredibles and its 2018 sequel are arguably the best options, offering superheroic tales that balance heart, humor, and action into a unique package. There’s a reason why The Incredibles has endured as one of Pixar’s premier titles for this long.

Fortunately for those who love watching the exploits of the Parr family, there’s another sequel on the way. Pixar has announced Incredibles 3, which will be directed by Peter Sohn (who previously helmed The Good Dinosaur and Elemental). Bird is still involved, but he is only writing the script while he also develops other projects. No release date has been set, but whenever Incredibles 3 arrives, it’ll surely send the other Incredibles films to the top of the Disney+ charts.

The post Pixar’s 21-Year-Old Hit Sees Streaming Surge (Thanks to Fantastic Four) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Eric Pearson has become an integral fixture in the MCU. The Marvel Writers’ Program graduate assembled a ragtag gang of anti-heroes in the feature film Thunderbolts* before that, he fleshed out Natasha Romanoff’s history in Black Widow and averted a cataclysmic destruction of Asgard in Thor: Ragnarok. Pearson’s current project ushered in Marvel’s latest phase with The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Producer Roger Corman introduced a live-action, low-budget Fantastic Four in 1994. Next came a pair of Fox adaptations that pitted the heroes against Dr. Doom and a cloudy Galactus. A 2015 reboot, which bombed, featured a younger iteration of the group once again facing Dr. Doom. Set in the 1960s, Fantastic Four: First Steps centers on the superhero family as Sue gives birth to her son, Franklin, and the cosmic world-devourer, Galactus, targets the planet.

ComicBook caught up with Pearson to discuss the 1960s setting, Susan Storm’s death, the coming of Galactus, and the future of the team.

ComicBook: How does it feel to have not one, but two Marvel movies out in a year? Can you talk about how you got your foot in the superhero door?

Eric Pearson: It feels great. I feel like these two movies have been very well received. I have such a major affection and so much pride in Thunderbolts* and Fantastic Four, but so many other people contributed to Fantastic Four. Josh Friedman. Ian Springer. Jeff Kaplan. It feels great. They are two very different things and it’s fun to have two or three different things out there.

How I got my foot in the door was the Marvel Writers’ Program, which I don’t think they have anymore. It was a great thing. What do they say, that luck is just preparation and opportunity? I was very prepared and I got the opportunity to go in and pitch and audition for Kevin Feige. I got in the door there and it was really my first big, paying writing job. I was doing everything I could to make an impression there.

I had read comics in my younger years. Specific ones, your Watchmen, your Dark Knight Returns. The Ultimates were comics I read, but I wasn’t as big of a fan, so I was reintroducing myself in my late 20s. That was just a fun thing to get back into it and have a stop-and-start relationship with comic books. When I was a young kid, I loved Slapstick. He went through the funhouse mirror, got his hammer, and became a rubber cartoon character. In high school, I liked Nomad. As more of an adult, I was like, “Okay, so here’s this big world that Kevin and his team are building. How can I fit in? Where can I get my voice into this thing?”

Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces this team to the MCU. How much leeway did Marvel give you in developing the story? What were some of the early discussions on what the movie should be? Was there any script that served as an origin story?

As far as I know, there was never a draft for a straight-up origin story. I probably had the most fortunate situation because Jeff and Ian had done some drafts. Josh had done a couple of drafts. A lot of really good foundational work had already been done. I came in with a handful of ideas. We were batting around the biggest one, which was in the original draft, the baby was going to be born at the end of act one, or page 15 or 20. It felt like that was too fast. It was changing the dynamic of the team before the audience had time to spend time with this version of the team and see what they were like as a family and a superhero unit. My first big move was to change the birth moment to an “Oh, my god. We are pregnant” moment.

For a long time, too, it was a little more chronological. The editors did a cool thing in that scene and made it the first scene. Before, it was the ABC Special, then that scene and the dinner. The editors found it was such a beautiful scene that really packs a punch right off the bat. The story has always been, “Let’s go up and talk to Galactus to see what we can work out.” Then it became, “How do we pile as much crazy action, comic book fun stuff onto Sue giving birth in space, and having Franklin be our space baby?” That was the first big step and big change from the previous drafts.

First Steps definitely features a style and tone unlike anything else in the MCU. Why set it in the ’60s? What did that allow you to tell narratively that present day wouldn’t accomplish?

I don’t think I am the one who can answer why, because when I showed up, it was the ’60s. I can tell you why I think they kept it in the ’60s, because I walked into a room that had concept art everywhere, that was all 1960s, and I was like, “This is pretty cool. I understand why they want it to look like this.” I think that was Matt Shakman’s vision. If I were to guess what went into that process, the Fantastic Four are one of the more altruistic, positive, family-unit heroes. That team is very idealistic, winding them up all with the Americana space race, we-can-do-it feeling. That aesthetic felt like it added a little bit of extra flavor to the sauce and made the movie what it was all about.

All your stories contain an emotional hook. How did you land on the birth of Franklin to be the driving force?

I want to defer to Josh, Ian, and Jeff. They had set up the idea that Galactus wants the baby. I don’t know which of the three of them came up with it. The idea that Galactus wants the baby and that Sue was going to perish, and then be brought back, existed before I got there. I was like, “That’s great. We want to keep it.” I did a lot to design the third act. There were previous versions where the final battle was in space. I was very much of, “I want to see that big guy up against scale that I can recognize. I want to see him stomping through New York. I want to do the Galactus monster.”

I did a lot to design the best-we-can-do finale. Our only option was to use their son as bait and make that the primary conflict between Reed and Sue. Their backs are against the wall. It’s the logical solution, but how awful does that feel to say what we are going to do? We are going to put our miracle baby, when we had given up trying to have a family and miraculously got pregnant, and the first ever villain that has really kicked our ass. We are going to use our infant son as bait to bring him down. That was the emotional hook and conflict for me, of the logic brain of Reed and the big heart of Sue. Then, knowing they had to do it and how much pressure is on their marriage … Those were the great gems that Jeff, Ian, and Josh had left for me.

The Fantastic Four’s rogues’ gallery is legion. What were some of the other villains that were considered for their big bad?

To be honest, I wasn’t the biggest Fantastic Four reader. In none of those periods in my life have I been a Fantastic Four guy. Whether it was as a little kid, in high school, or starting at Marvel, I had never really read them, so I was doing a lot of catch-up. For me, it was some books called “Life Story” that really clicked in for me, with the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s. Each decade gets a character POV. For me, what I loved about that was, on the surface, you saw there was a great sense of what the Fantastic Four meant to the entire planet and their relationship as public figures.

But what I loved the most was the dread of Galactus. Galactus is teased at the beginning of those books and only Reed sees him. I forget how. It’s some peering through the gate or something, but there’s a great splash page that is him right up against Galactus’s face. “I’m coming for you.” There’s that dread of, “Yeah, the bad guy is really far over there, but he’s walking towards us steadily and we can’t move.” That dread … I really loved that and I wanted to express as much of that as I could. “Oh yeah. We went up there. We are so used to winning and we lost.”

Galactus isn’t in this movie all that much, but when he is, he packs such a big punch. The dread of his arrival is like the water rippling in Jaws, with the shark. He is coming. You can’t stop him. What are you going to do? When I started thinking about Galactus, I wanted that dread and I want that dread on the planet, the fear of him coming.

Comic books tout Susan Storm as not only the most powerful member of the team, but also its heart. How important was it to lean into those strengths in the climactic sequence?

We did a little bit of this in Thunderbolts*, what I call the “squash match,” where the villain comes in and just beats the hell out of them. They have no chance. Then, something shifts. In Thunderbolts*, Yelena has the intelligence to go into the void to face her things, help Bob, and bring him out of the void. In this case, they all got their asses kicked. Then, Sue has that moment where the mother can lift the car up to get it off her kid. She decides to sell out and completely max out her powers.

Leaning into it? I didn’t have to do much. The idea was there and it was so good. Then it was on Vanessa [Kirby] to act it and she did such a great job. Plus, Pedro Pascal and Joe Quinn had to react to it.

The Fantastic Four pulled out all the stops against Galactus in that showdown.

That was very fun to do, as well. I particularly enjoy, especially big-scale ones like that, being in those conference rooms and I can’t help but act them out. “All right, I am Galactus and I am coming here. That means we are going to have to evacuate everyone. That means we get a great scene with Mole Man coming up.”

Figuring out all those pieces, and when they come together … And just finding little bits of, “We can’t just have them punching and not doing anything. How about Galactus throws Ben off the planet Earth? Oh, that gives Johnny something great to do. He can go rescue his friend.” I love doing that stuff. When it all comes together, it is a lot of fun.

Johnny was prepared to sacrifice himself to stop Galactus. Ultimately, Susan gave her life to accomplish that goal. Was there a version where someone else perished instead?

I am trying to think back to if there was a different version. I don’t think so. No. That moment was pretty strong. It was there before me and it’s there now.

Did the ultimate nullifier ever pop up in any script?

Not that I am aware of. I think it came up in conversation, at one point, but I don’t think it was ever written down.

What was the thought process behind introducing a female Silver Surfer instead of Norrin Radd?

I don’t really remember. For me, Shalla-Bal was there when I arrived. We wanted to have the discussion, but having it be Shalla-Bal was essential to the story. She is a bit like Spock, the Silver Surfer. She’s emotionally compromised already. She’s done so much to suppress the humanity of her and her connection to her people, because she sacrificed herself for everyone else. And having that kind of maternal comparison to Sue and having Johnny become obsessed with her, she just fit into this story in a way that didn’t feel like, “Oh, we are just going to gender swap.”

This is Shalla-Bal’s story. Initially, I was like, “You are right. We are in a different universe. There could be Norrin Radds in other universes.”

Ben shouted his iconic line, “It’s clobberin’ time!”  What happened to Johnny’s, “Flame on!”?

You did [get it]. From the little toy., you did. You got it. We checked the box.

I always enjoyed the joke and it might have passed on to me. There was the idea when they were particularly screwed and had no plan, Ben brought out a bottle of whiskey and started pouring shots and said, “It’s clobberin’ time!” I always thought that was really funny. The payoff was just too good in this case. We had to find the exact time to say it.

The end credits featured Doctor Doom crouching over Franklin. Did you write that sequence?

I did not. I actually don’t know enough, so I am not going to speculate.

As a fan of the MCU, what questions do you believe audiences should be asking after seeing that?

I’m not going to lead the witness there. No, there’s no way. They should be thinking, “How should I get the earliest ticket to Avengers: Doomsday?” That’s what they should be thinking. Anything I say is going to go too far and I am not going to do that.

How surprised were you by the cliffhanger then?

The process of those stingers is funny because, at least in my experience, you always throw some on the end of pre-production and the production drafts. But they never get shot in principal photography because they are still figuring out the next moves. It’s a little too early.

I threw my hat in the ring for a couple of random Reed and Doom scenes, but that was me throwing darts in the dark. I didn’t know the direction that they were going. I didn’t know the tone they wanted to set. I think I was told a little before the premiere that, “Yeah, there’s a Doom stinger.” That made the most sense to me. And they went the smart route, which is leaving you wondering. Every time I wrote a scene, I probably said too much. I probably made too much of a path to where I thought they were going with Doomsday.

First Steps is proving to be a massive hit. Where would you like to take the Fantastic Four next?

I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. I’m such a literal person that I would need to understand the fallout of how everything looks and who knows who out of Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. I don’t know where we are all sitting. Sometimes, when everything is on the table, you don’t know what to eat.

Would it be cool to see them in a murder mystery together? Sure. Would it be cool to see them in a time-travelling romp? Sure, that would be cool. There are all these different things, but you don’t want to completely upset the apple cart. I feel like anything I’d have to say really doesn’t matter until we see how all our favorite characters survive the upcoming adventures with Victor von Doom.     

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters now.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The post The Fantastic Four: First Steps Writer Breaks Down Bringing the Iconic Heroes to the MCU appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The word-of-mouth on The Fantastic Four: First Steps has been extremely surprising, especially recently. Despite receiving solid reviews from critics and having one of the biggest opening weekends of 2025, the buzz around the movie has almost entirely shifted after its second weekend. Despite only being in theaters for ten days, certain parts of the internet have deemed the film a flop after having a steeper-than-expected drop at the box office. After grossing $117 million in its domestic opening weekend, the film went on to a disappointing $38 million in its second weekend. With Superman having a steady $58 million after a $125 million opening weekend, people were shocked that The Fantastic Four: First Steps failed to replicate its success.

Despite a 67% drop in its second weekend, The Fantastic Four: First Steps remains one of the highest-grossing movies at the domestic box office in 2025. While its second weekend drop isn’t exactly what people were hoping for, it’s far from a colossal failure that people have let it out to be.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Is Still Performing Well at the Box Office

Despite what people are saying online, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is still performing quite well at the box office. The film has a budget of roughly $200 million, and the film made $215 million in its worldwide opening weekend. Opening over the film’s budget is a great sign of becoming a success for the studio. Even though it had a bigger second weekend drop than expected, its worldwide total stood at around $370 million. Received wisdom dictates a movie must earn 2 to 2.5 times its production budget to break even thanks to additional costs like marketing. At the minute, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is still projected to make somewhere between $520-570 million. In other words, it’s likely set to make a small profit.

And when you bring in other films in 2025, the film is grossing higher than all of them. Domestically, the film has already passed the other two MCU films released this year, those being Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*. The worldwide gross is also close to passing both films, with the two scoring $415 million and $382 million, respectively. Besides Deadpool and Wolverine, which became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is looking to be the highest-grossing MCU movie since Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which would be a great win for the studio.

The film is also still performing well in comparison to almost every other film in 2025. Domestically, its $208 million gross stands as the seventh-highest-grossing movie of the year. The film has the potential to break into the top five, with How to Train Your Dragon and Sinners standing at $260 million and $278 million. If The Fantastic Four: First Steps continues to have a steep drop off, then it may not end up reaching these two films, but being the seventh-highest-grossing movie of the year domestically in itself is not an insignificant achievement.

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A Box-Office Drop is Normal For Marvel Movies

While The Fantastic Four: First Steps wasn’t expected to have as big a drop as it did, it isn’t anything uncommon with Marvel. Just this year, Captain America: Brave New World had a 68% drop in its second weekend despite having no competition. The Fantastic Four: First Steps went up against Superman and Jurassic World Rebirth, which are two of the highest-grossing movies of the year that are showing excellent legs at the box office. If anything, it should be commendable that The Fantastic Four: First Steps didn’t gross less than it did in its first and second weekend, as it could’ve easily performed worse with its fierce competition.

Marvel movies usually have between a 50-70% percent decline in their second weekend. While most Marvel films, like Thunderbolts* and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol . 3, are able to stay in the 50% range, going beyond 60% isn’t uncommon. Even major successes like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness had a 63% and 67% drop in their second weekend, but were not even remotely discussed as flops. Even Spider-Man: No Way Home, one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, had a 67% drop in its second weekend. Especially with blockbusters that open with over $100 million in their opening weekend, it is very common that the second weekend drops are fairly big, and pretending that The Fantastic Four: First Steps is any different than these films is strange.

If The Fantastic Four: First Steps were taken out of theaters today, it may even be within an acceptable reaching distance of its production and market budget, but the film also has weeks, if not months, to gross millions more. People have been way too quick to judge a film’s performance when the final tally hasn’t even been close to beginning. Unless the film continues to decrease by 60% every weekend, the widespread message of The Fantastic Four: First Steps being a flop is highly unwarranted.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now playing in theaters.

The post The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Box Office Drop Is Not the Disaster It Might Seem appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps represents a comeback of sorts for the Marvel Cinematic Universe — in the minds of fans and critics, if not at the box office. At the very least, a lot of fans seem to think it’s the best live-action Fantastic Four movie, but not every member of the Four got to showcase their “Fantastic” abilities equally. For all of the Human Torch’s flaming on, the Thing’s clobbering, and the Invisible Woman’s, well, invisibility, there was a distinct lack of elongation on Mr. Fantastic’s part — but that was most likely the point.

The decision to keep Reed Richards’ (Pedro Pascal) stretching to a minimum reads — to me at least — as a conscious decision on the part of director Matt Shakman rather than an oversight. With computer-generated imagery capable of producing anything a filmmaker can dream up at this point, coupled with Disney’s seemingly limitless bankroll, we can safely say that Reed’s reluctance to extend his limbs wasn’t born of technical or budgetary concerns alone. That just leaves story reasons, which, when you think about it, are all pretty logical.

Reed Richards is all About Brains Over Brawn

Let’s start with the obvious: Reed Richards is a thinker, not a fighter. We don’t doubt that it’s possible to cherry-pick several instances from the Fantastic Four’s 64-year comic book history of Mr. Fantastic going H.A.M. on a foe, but even the staunchest FF fans would agree that, overall, he prefers to use brains to solve a problem instead of brute force. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why Pedro Pascal’s Reed spends more time in front of a chalkboard than on the battlefield.

But comic book accuracy aside, there’s an even better reason why the First Steps iteration of Richards specifically refrains from using his powers for most of the film. If you haven’t yet seen The Fantastic Four: First Steps, consider this your warning that we’re about to head into SPOILERS territory.

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Late in First Steps, Galactus the Devourer of Worlds arrives on Earth to personally capture Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) and Reed Richards’ baby Franklin. With Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) elsewhere and running out of options, Reed is forced to climb Galactus, Shadow of the Colossus-style, in an attempt to stall him. Reed only succeeds in angering the planet-eater, who grabs Mr. Fantastic and proceeds to turn him into his own personal Stretch Armstrong toy.

As Galactus pulls Richards apart like a piece of taffy, we, as an audience, can fear for his safety because we have no idea what Reed’s limits are. Had we been exposed over and over again to Mr. Fantastic extending his limbs to ridiculous lengths, the Galactus scene would have less of an impact. Not that the scene is a tense nail-biter — it’s still a fun Marvel movie after all — but Reed’s pain is very believable thanks to the movie never showing the extent of his stretching abilities.

The Less Mr. Fantastic Uses His Stretching Powers in Fantastic Four: First Steps, The More He Can Show Them Off Later

Limiting Reed’s elasticity also gives him room to grow as a character. It’s no stretch — pun intended — to imagine a scenario where Reed decides in a future Marvel film to test his limits should a Galactus-like situation come up again. This hypothetical scenario could potentially lead to a Captain America wielding Thor’s hammer-type scene in Avengers: Doomsday, where someone attempts to stretch Mr. Fantastic past his limits, ala Galactus, only for Reed to elongate his neck enough to wrap it around his adversary and force them to let go.

Marvel sequels often “up the ante,” so to speak, when it comes to established characters — Iron Man and Spider-Man get new costumes, Hulk gets a new persona, etc. — and by downplaying Reed’s powers in the first MCU Fantastic Four movie, it gives him the opportunity to bust out some new moves the next time Marvel takes the character for a spin. After all, Reed will presumably need all of his brains and brawn (powers) to face Doctor Doom.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps adopted a “less is more” approach to Reed Richards, which may have frustrated Mr. Fantastic fans hoping for something more akin to Elastigirl from The Incredibles, but ultimately worked out better for the film as well as the character’s larger presence in the MCU. After all, if barely showing the shark worked for Jaws, why can’t it work for Reed Richards’ stretchiness?

Do you agree that Marvel had a good reason for keeping the best parts of Reed Richards’ abilities hidden in First Steps? Let us know in the comments.

The post Reed Richards Hardly Uses His Powers in Fantastic Four – and That’s the Point appeared first on ComicBook.com.

After holding the No. 1 position at the box office for two straight weekends, The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ reign at the top of the charts is coming to an end. According to Variety, the latest projections have Fantastic Four earning somewhere between $18-20 million domestically in its third weekend. Where it lands on that scale will depend on how well it holds. This weekend’s two high-profile new releases are expected to be in a close race to earn first place. Comedy sequel Freakier Friday is estimated to earn between $27-30 million in its debut.

The other major release this weekend is director Zach Cregger’s critically acclaimed horror movie Weapons. Variety notes it is projected to gross between $25-30 million over its first three days. The estimates for Freakier Friday and Weapons are too close to predict one over the other as a clear winner. Regardless of which one comes out on top, First Steps seems destined for third place.

After Cregger’s Barbarian put him on the map as a horror filmmaker to watch, Weapons is a highly anticipated title for moviegoers. The film’s generated buzz with its unsettling marketing campaign that reveals very little about the story but still sells audiences on the concept by highlighting the film’s creepy, disturbing tone and general premise. Early reactions have some calling Weapons “a masterpiece,” so it’s earned strong word of mouth ahead of its theatrical debut.

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How Many Times Has DC Beaten Marvel at the Summer Box Office?

Bolstered by positive reviews of its own, The Fantastic Four: First Steps exceeded box office expectations in its opening weekend, pulling $117.6 million domestically and around $216 million worldwide. Unfortunately, it did not have strong legs, suffering a steep second weekend drop-off of 67% domestically. Its performance highlights a harsh new reality for the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise in the post-pandemic era.

Nobody expected The Fantastic Four: First Steps to break box office records, but Marvel was probably hoping for a stronger turnout. Titles like Freakier Friday and Weapons are anticipated among their respective target demographics, but neither is on the scale of a big-budget comic book adaptation going after four quadrants. If Fantastic Four had held as well as Superman, then it might have been in position to retain the top spot throughout the first half of August. But in a sign of how much things have changed, it’s going to start sliding down the charts in just its third weekend.

This isn’t to say First Steps is going to go down as another Marvel box office disappointment this year. The strong opening means it’s only a matter of time before it leaps past Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World to become the MCU’s highest-grossing title of the year. It also isn’t going to bomb; it’s already recouped its “north of $200 million” production budget, meaning it will turn a profit by the time its time in theaters is over. Undoubtedly, Marvel and Disney would have loved if The Fantastic Four: First Steps topped the August competition, but they should be happy with this.

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As The Fantastic Four: First Steps continues its box office run, it’s now passed an underrated title from the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s earliest days. Currently, First Steps has earned $371.9 million worldwide. That edges out the $370.5 million Captain America: The First Avenger made during its time in theaters back in 2011. It’s only a matter of time before Fantastic Four beats out some other notable MCU installments. The reboot is on the heels of Black Widow ($379.7 million) and this summer’s Thunderbolts* ($382.4 million). First Steps is also approaching the total of Captain America: Brave New World ($415.1 million), which would make it the year’s highest-grossing MCU installment.

It is important to keep in mind that all of these figures are unadjusted for inflation. The First Avenger‘s lifetime global gross would come out to about $531.3 million in 2025. Fantastic Four still has some work to do to get to that number, and it’ll be interesting to see if it does. After exceeding box office expectations with a $216 million worldwide debut, First Steps was subject to a steep drop in its second weekend. It saw a 67% decrease domestically.

Once a box office powerhouse, the MCU had a rough 2025 prior to the release of First Steps. Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts* rank among the franchise’s lowest-grossing entries, which put extra pressure on Fantastic Four to perform well. This year also marks one of the few times DC has beaten Marvel at the summer box office; James Gunn’s Superman had stronger legs than Fantastic Four, putting it on pace to become 2025’s highest-grossing comic book adaptation.

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Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Box Office Exposes a Harsh Reality for the MCU’s Future

While Marvel’s had ups and downs at the box office this year, their films are still finding success at home. Both Brave New World and Thunderbolts* became hits in living rooms. The former was the No. 1 film on Disney+ after it became available on the streaming service earlier this year. The latter topped PVOD charts when it hit various digital platforms. A Disney+ release date for Thunderbolts* has not yet been announced. These movies performing well through home media suggests people haven’t lost interest in the MCU; they’ve just changed how they consume it.

Of course, Disney would prefer if Marvel movies were hits in theaters and at home, especially considering what they cost to make (First Steps had a budget reportedly “north of $200 million). It’s encouraging that Fantastic Four had such a strong debut, but the second weekend drop-off was a little alarming. The film received positive reviews and had good word of mouth, though that didn’t help it maintain legs at the box office. How well a film holds is the real test for its box office prowess. Fantastic Four is a reflection of how things have changed at the box office. In a post-pandemic landscape, people have become accustomed to shorter theatrical windows, making it easier to wait for films at home. There will always be die-hard fans driving ticket sales in opening weekends, but the casual moviegoers who helped fuel many Infinity Saga titles to over $1 billion aren’t in a rush to see every Marvel film on the big screen anymore.

In a different era, The Fantastic Four: First Steps would have had strong legs — even releasing on the heels of other high-profile titles like Jurassic World Rebirth and Superman. While it isn’t in danger of bombing, Marvel likely needs to reconsider how it conducts business moving forward. This is why there are reports of the studio targeting young, unknown talent for the X-Men reboot and suggestions that only top tier premier characters (like Spider-Man) will headline films moving forward. Marvel is in a position where they need to figure out ways to keep production costs in check to maximize box office profits.

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe has some serious challenges to contend with in the future. Said future includes upcoming movies like Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Avengers: Doomsday, and Secret Wars, as well as potential sequels to Black Panther and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Part of those challenges includes the disconnect between the default budgets of these titles and their decreasing worldwide box office. MCU movies no longer can make $1+ billion naturally, yet they’re still budgeted in the $200+ million range.

However, there’s an even bigger issue that this franchise needs to face, which helps explain why the box office grosses are down. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite being owned by Disney and getting heavily marketed to younger viewers, is no longer resonating with kids and families.

Thunderbolts* & The Fantastic Four: First Steps Struggled With Appealing To Families

At the start of summer 2025, only 31% of the Thunderbolts* opening weekend was folks under the age of 25. Just under three months later, just 15% of the opening weekend audience for The Fantastic Four: First Steps was below 18 years old. Compare that to 13 years ago, when the original Avengers had an almost exact even split between moviegoers under or over 25. Roughly 24% of that record-shattering opening weekend came from family audiences. Despite opening nearly five times as big as Thunderbolts*, meanwhile, Avengers: Endgame drew 39% of its opening weekend from folks under 25.

The MCU films were never solely appealing to the Paw Patrol crowd. From the days of Iron Man onward, these titles featured needle drops and cinematic influences (like Three Days of the Condor or John Hughes High School comedies) designed to tickle the nostalgia of folks over 35. However, the 2010s peak of MCU entertainment saw this franchise resonate more profoundly with young people. Hearththrobs like Tom Hiddleston and Sebastian Stan inspired swooning Tumblr posts around the world, while characters never before seen in live-action, like Black Panther and the Guardians of the Galaxy, absolutely belonged to this new generation of moviegoers.

Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, though, a drastic shift occurred. New properties took over the MCU’s place as the go-to pop culture obsession for young people, while Marvel’s universe spreading across TV and movies became too much to keep track of. There was a greater emphasis on darker tones in MCU titles like Multiverse of Madness, Eternals, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which have also inspired families to begin rethinking these titles as must-see entertainment.

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Most pressingly, the MCU movies became increasingly obsessed with provoking the nostalgia of older fans. Films like Deadpool & Wolverine and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness were rooted in the past; younger moviegoers moved on to Barbie, Super Mario Bros. Movie, or A Minecraft Movie as the big commercial films that resonated with them. The MCU can still bring in hefty box office grosses by appealing to older audiences with rated-R films like Deadpool & Wolverine; however, the franchise has clearly lost its foothold with younger audiences.

Can This Problem With Younger Audiences Be Solved?

While modern MCU projects, such as Captain America: Brave New World, are fixated on story threads from 2008 and adult-oriented political Noir, the franchise’s grip on younger audiences has drastically shrunk. It’s also hard to see this problem getting solved anytime soon; after all, Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars will be full of even more nostalgia, including the return of most of the original 20th Century Fox’s X-Men. Young Avengers characters like Kate Bishop, America Chavez, and Kamala Khan, meanwhile, are currently no-shows, as far as official information about Doomsday goes.

With no characters or plotlines that can resonate or belong to younger audiences, the MCU’s distance from the current crop of younger moviegoers isn’t bound to get better anytime soon. The most obvious immediate solution is for Disney to budget these films better so that they don’t have to appeal to every age demographic to be profitable. Older audiences do still show up in respectable numbers for titles like The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Just make these projects in the $150-160 million range, and this will be less of a pressing issue.

A better long-term concept, though, would be green-lighting more MCU movies focusing on fresh new characters previously unseen in any live-action medium. Rather than rehashing Blade or the X-Men again, making motion pictures about Squirrel Girl, Jeff the Land Shark, Brute Force, or Dazzler could produce entertaining features that belong exclusively to younger audiences. They could have characters that are as specific to their struggles as the Guardians of the Galaxy were to 2010s kids and teens. Tossing aside nostalgic fan-service and yesteryear characters in favor of embracing the new: that’s how the MCU fixes its pressing problem of no longer appealing to folks under the age of 25.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now playing in theaters.

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The Fantastic Four: First Steps continues Marvel’s return to form with critics, but also maintains a disappointing box office trend. The movie, which brought Marvel’s First Family into the MCU, has been a solid box office performer, albeit not a fantastic one. Its opening weekend surpassed expectations, hitting a global total of $216.7 million, with $117m of that coming domestically. Though just behind Superman ($220m), that marked the biggest worldwide debut for an MCU movie in 2025, beating Captain America: Brave New World ($192.4m) and Thunderbolts* ($160.1m).

However, Fantastic Four suffered a major drop in its second weekend, with a 66% decline at the domestic box office. The overall picture is not nearly as disastrous as that sounds, with the movie at a global total of $367m at the time of writing, and it’s comfortably on track to gross over $400m when its theatrical run ends. That’d be a big improvement on Thunderbolts*‘ $382m total, and it may overtake Brave New World‘s $415m as well. With a reported production budget of $200m, it’d be enough to make the movie a success and, hopefully, earn a sequel, but it also shows how things have changed for the MCU.

Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Box Office May Be The MCU’s New Normal

The MCU took a little while to become a true box office juggernaut. Iron Man kicked things off in style with a global total of $585m, but of the other Phase 1 solo movies, only its sequel, Iron Man 2, reached the $500m milestone. The Incredible Hulk ($264m), Thor ($449m), and Captain America: The First Avenger ($370m) were all more modest box office performers, even if the latter two were still unquestionably successful. After The Avengers became the first MCU movie to hit $1 billion in 2012, the franchise didn’t look back, and not a single Phase 2-3 movie made less than $500m.

The MCU’s box office peak arrived with Phase 3. Of the 11 movies that made up this era, six grossed over $1bn, with two of those (Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame) making over $2bn. This also included a run, from Black Panther through to Spider-Man: Far From Home, where five out of six MCU movies crossed the billion-dollar threshold. That was unquestionably a different time for Marvel, and for theaters in general, but it also means there’s a slightly unfair way of viewing things across the subsequent phases.

Hitting the $1bn mark is seen as the norm, or an expectation, for a Marvel movie, but that shouldn’t be the case. It’s an increasingly tough barrier for any movie to break through – Jurassic World Rebirth looks like being the first Jurassic World movie not to achieve it – and only two MCU movies have done so this decade (Spider-Man: No Way Home and Deadpool & Wolverine). It’s a world where we might need to be looking at, say, $800 million as the new $1bn in terms of the kind of feat it is. And with that, a movie making over $400m also looks a lot better.

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That may now be the barrier for what represents a pretty good benchmark MCU performance, especially for a non-sequel like Thunderbolts* or First Steps. The days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe branding alone being enough to carry a movie to $600-700m and above are over, and while that may be a harsh reality to accept, it’s a necessary one to adjust to for how these movies are viewed and talked about. Fantastic Four is a well-reviewed MCU movie, with strong audience reception too, based on well-known characters (if not ones who have been in a hugely successful movie), and a star name in Pedro Pascal.

Not everything was in its favor – July was a packed month, including Superman; the previous Fantastic Four movies weren’t good – but there was enough to suggest it should be a success. And it looks like being one, even if it’s smaller than what the typical idea of an MCU box office hit is. If First Steps ends at $450m, or somewhere in that broad region, that’s likely what the new normal is for a new non-sequel MCU movie with good reviews.

Why The MCU Is No Longer The Dominant Box Office Force

When it comes to the MCU’s box office performance, perhaps the most talked about factor is “superhero fatigue” and oversaturation of the market. The latter part of that undoubtedly happened, something Marvel is aware of – there’s a reason it is scaling back its output, both in theaters and even more so on Disney+. The MCU has been hurt by lower quality, and not just from Marvel Studios movies. General audiences don’t always know the difference between MCU and something like Sony’s Marvel movies, and through both, the former’s reputation has declined. Indeed, the MCU’s five lowest-rated films on Rotten Tomatoes have all been from the 2020s:

• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – 46%
• Eternals – 46%
• Captain America: Brave New World – 47%
• The Marvels – 62%
• Thor: Love & Thunder – 63%

Combine that downturn in critical reception with the sheer amount of content available, and a feeling that you need to watch everything to understand what’s going on, and it becomes easy to see why fewer people may bother, or at least why they might be inclined to wait for a Disney+ release instead. That also speaks to a larger box office malaise that’s not Marvel’s fault (though the number of franchise sequels has had an impact on the number of original movies that get made and, thus, seen), going back to the Covid-19 pandemic. That pretty much halted the box office in its tracks, and after years of delays, strikes, and more, things still haven’t recovered, as the chart below from Statista highlights.

You will find more infographics at Statista

Also important for the MCU, in particular, is the Chinese box office. This became an area studio tentpoles increasingly relied on in the late 2010s but, as fewer Hollywood movies have been imported there and its audience has instead turned to Chinese films, that has rapidly shrunk. The Fantastic Four: First Steps has only grossed $5m in China, and even Deadpool & Wolverine, a much bigger success, “only” made $59m. Compare that to the non-sequels of Phase 3:

• Doctor Strange – China: $109m, Total: $677m
• Spider-Man: Homecoming – China: $116m, Total: $880m
• Black Panther – China: $105m, Total: $1.3bn
• Captain Marvel – China: $154m, Total: $1.1bn

It’ll Be A While Before We Know The State Of The MCU’s Box Office After Fantastic Four

There’s no one cause for the MCU’s box office downturn, and that also means there’s no one easy fix. The focus, of course, should be on making high-quality movies, and fewer films in general – a development that is already well-represented by Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four. But it’s also going to be quite a while before we can even assess how things might shake out for the MCU outside of its biggest event movies, because that’s all it has on its slate right now.

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2026 will bring Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday, and 2027 will see the release of Avengers: Secret Wars. Marvel has some other dates staked out, but no movies filling them as yet. Those three releases should all comfortably clear the $1 billion barrier, because of what they are – and if they don’t, it speaks to an even bigger problem. But until we get one of the other movies being developed, such as Blade (lol) or Shang-Chi 2 (please, Marvel), it’ll be difficult to assess if business picks up for these kinds of movies after The Fantastic Four.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is currently playing exclusively in theaters. Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be released on July 31, 2026. Avengers: Doomsday releases December 18, 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027.

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With The Fantastic Four: First Steps plummeting 80% from its first to second Friday, it’s now clear which superhero movie will reign supreme over all others at the summer 2025 box office. Superman, which is currently flying towards a $360-375 million domestic finish, has nothing to be concerned about. This James Gunn directorial effort will beat out not only summer 2025’s two MCU movies, but all other summer 2025 features sans Lilo & Stitch. It’s an impressive feat for a feature that could’ve easily come off as another superfluous reboot to general moviegoers.

It also means this will be the rare summer where a DC Comics movie outgrossed Marvel at the summer box office. Though the home of Spider-Man has often reigned supreme in this sizzling hot season, DC has also caught the box office crown on some very impressive occasions.

The Earliest DC Summertime Box Office Champions

For many years, live-action comic book movies were sparse creations outside of the original Superman and Batman features. Because of that, early summer moviegoing seasons would often have either a Marvel movie (like in summer 1986 with Howard the Duck) or a DC film (like the various years in the 1990s with Batman sequels), but not both. That all changed in the 21st century, when X-Men and Spider-Man turned these titles into massive box office players. The first proper summertime showdown between these two labels would be 2004, when Spider-Man 2 trounced Catwoman.

The following summer, in 2005, Batman Begins handily outgrossed Fantastic Four at both the domestic and worldwide box office. Christopher Nolan’s first Batman adventure gave DC a major box office victory over Marvel. He accomplished that again three years later when The Dark Knight outgrossed Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. Heck, combining the domestic hauls of those two inaugural Marvel Cinematic Universe movies would still result in a lower domestic gross than The Dark Knight‘s lifetime North American haul.

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Once more, DC had the summer superhero movie box office crown, even with stiff Marvel competition. That would be the last time, though, that DC’s summertime movies would outgross their Marvel competition. While nobody expected Jonah Hex to come close to out-grossing Iron Man 2 in summer 2010, the increasingly massive success of the MCU meant that there was no hope for Green Lantern or Suicide Squad to outgross their Marvel rivals. Warner Bros. and DC would have to settle for constant silver medals in this box office duel, a far cry from when Michael Keaton’s Batman movies ruled all over all features in the summer moviegoing landscape.

A Wonder-ful Box Office Upset for DC

In 2017, the MCU launched multiple blockbusters in one summer moviegoing season for only the third time in its history. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Spider-Man: Homecoming were both massive hits, each grossing $330+ million in North America alone. Even with those massive numbers, though, they didn’t hold the superhero movie box office crown that year. That title went to Wonder Woman, which exploded past all expectations to gross $400+ million.

That haul far exceeded the domestic hauls of past DC Extended Universe features like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, as well as most non-Avengers MCU installments released up to that point. It was an outstanding result that gave Warner Bros. its biggest non-Dark Knight DC movie ever in North America. The fact that it excelled financially while being sandwiched in between two lucrative MCU installments only accentuated its impressive box office achievements.

In the final years of the 2010s, Warner Bros. released DCEU titles like Shazam! and Aquaman outside of the summer moviegoing season. This prevented further Marvel and DC showdowns until summer 2021, when The Suicide Squad was outgrossed by Black Widow. While the MCU was unstoppable in the 2010s after The Avengers opened in 2012, the franchise has been far more vulnerable financially in the 2020s.

That’s opened the door for Superman to follow in the footsteps of the first two Dark Knight movies and Wonder Woman in being a DC Comics movie beating out Marvel at the summertime box office. A rare achievement, it’s an accomplishment reflecting how much Superman has profoundly resonated with audiences, as well as the current wonky reputation the MCU has with the general public.

Superman is now playing in theaters. Wonder Woman is now streaming on HBO Max.

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Marvel Studios finally introduced Doctor Doom to the Marvel Cinematic Universe at the end of 2025’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but huge questions have been raised about what the iconic supervillain might want with Franklin Richards. Robert Downey Jr. was confirmed to be returning to the MCU and debuting as Victor Von Doom during Marvel’s presentation at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con. While he was initially expected to make his first appearance in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday, Downey Jr. made an uncredited cameo as Doom in The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ mid-credits scene.

Four years after the Fantastic Four’s battle against Galactus (Ralph Ineson), Doctor Doom appeared in the Baxter Building where he came face-to-face with Franklin Richards. When Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) found them, Franklin was reaching out his hand to Doom’s face, which was uncovered when Doom removed his signature metal mask. It was initially unclear why Doom would approach Franklin before anyone else, but a new theory that has been gaining popularity (via @GabiMG_News) suggests that Doom may want Franklin Richards’ remarkable Power Cosmic, not only to heal his face, but also for his greater plans in Phase 6.

Doctor Doom became the Fantastic Four’s most prominent and long-running adversary following his Marvel Comics debut in 1962’s The Fantastic Four #5, but he has also battled most of the other heroes in the Marvel Universe. Perhaps most notably, throughout 1984’s and 2015’s Secret Wars crossover events, Doctor Doom was elevated to the most powerful and formidable threat in the universe. This is likely to take place in the Russo brothers’ live-action crossover events, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, too, and Doctor Doom harnessing Franklin Richards’ Power Cosmic could accomplish this.

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Franklin Richards, the son of Reed Richards’ Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm’s Invisible Woman, doesn’t have the Power Cosmic in Marvel Comics, but is instead an omega-level mutant. The Power Cosmic is the energy Galactus harnesses and gifts to his heralds – including Shalla-Bal’s Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Characters using this power have already shown off some impressive abilities in the MCU, and Franklin himself has displayed the power to bring people back from the dead, so there may be no limit to the reach of these abilities.

While Doctor Doom could certainly harness Franklin Richards’ powers just to heal the scars on his face – which originated during a failed science experiment while studying alongside Reed Richards – there is another clear reason why Doom would want the Power Cosmic. In 2015’s Secret Wars event, Doom stole the Beyonders’ otherworldly power to create Battleworld from the broken pieces of incursion-ravaged universes. It would be brilliant to see this play out in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, though this might spell bad news for Franklin Richards and other similarly-powered beings.

What do you think Doctor Doom will do with Franklin Richards’ power in the MCU? Let us know in the comments!

The post Why Doctor Doom Wants Franklin Richards Explained in Game-Changing MCU Theory appeared first on ComicBook.com.

2025 has already produced a mix of celebrated big-budget movies and smaller-scale, indie flicks, and many have immersed audiences, captured our imaginations, and included incredible performances from some of the biggest actors on the scene. After a lull in the wake of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2025 has been a banner year for theaters, with filmmakers branching out into more experimental and niche stories. Alongside these more intimate projects, some of Hollywood’s biggest franchises have also grown in 2025, producing some of the most exciting movies of the year so far.

While there are only a few months left of the year, these are expected to be jam-packed with brilliant upcoming movies. This includes the likes of Freakier Friday, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, Tron: Ares, Predator: Badlands, Wicked: For Good, and Avatar: Fire and Ash, among others, and these likely hits will be joining some of 2025’s best movies so far. With entries from filmmakers Danny Boyle, Alex Garland, Ryan Coogler, Matt Shakman, James Gunn, Michael Shanks, and more, these are ten of the best movies of 2025 so far, though there are many more that have also excelled.

10) Companion (January 31, 2025)

Written and directed by Drew Hancock, Companion stars Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher as boyfriend Josh and companion robot Iris, respectively. After Josh informs Iris of her true nature as a robot, she escapes from his control, boosts her own intelligence to 100%, and begins a killing spree. Companion received positive reviews following its release, and got praise for its originality, convincing performances, and thrilling twist on what could have become an overdone narrative. Companion is a strong feature directorial debut for Hancock, who won the Directors to Watch award at 2025’s Palm Springs International Film Festival.

9) Lilo & Stitch (May 23, 2025)

Disney has remade several of its classic animated movies into live-action flicks in recent years, but few have been as successful as 2025’s Lilo & Stitch. A remake of the original 2002 movie, which saw the extraterrestrial experiment Stitch arrive in Hawaii, where he’s adopted by the young Lilo and finds a family, Lilo & Stitch stands as the second-highest-grossing movie of 2025, grossing $1.02 billion at the global box office, only falling behind the Chinese-produced Ne Zha 2. The remake pays homage to the original beautifully, while also paving its own path which can be developed further in an already-confirmed sequel.

8) Superman (July 11, 2025)

While not universally beloved, James Gunn’s first feature film in the rebooted DC Universe, 2025’s Superman, has marked a strong start to the new franchise. Starring David Corenswet in the titular role, opposite Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Nathan Fillion, Edi Gathegi, and more, Superman is a thrilling return to vibrancy and color for the Man of Steel, who faltered under the weight of his darker persona when in Zack Snyder’s control. Superman has achieved an 83% critics score and a 91% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it a clear success story for 2025 and for the superhero genre.

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7) The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25, 2025)

Narrowly beating out Superman’s scores on Rotten Tomatoes, Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps has achieved a critics score of 87% and an audience rating of 92%, making it the clear winner of 2025’s superhero summer – despite not faring so well at the box office. Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn bring a new version of the Fantastic Four to life in First Steps. Matt Shakman has brought color and entertainment to the Fantastic Four’s retro-futuristic, alternate universe setting, and the depiction of Galactus (Ralph Ineson) has received praise, making this adaptation every Marvel fan’s dream.

6) Black Bag (March 14, 2025)

Steven Soderbergh’s spy thriller starring Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett somewhat fell under the radar, despite boasting an impressive cast and receiving high praise from critics. Black Bag underperformed at the box office, much to Soderbergh’s dismay (via The Independent), and the movie clearly deserved more. Stylistic, witty, and original, Black Bag sees Fassbender and Blanchett deliver brilliant performances in an espionage story that includes prestige, tension, and a grounded character-driven narrative. It’s a shame more viewers didn’t turn out for Black Bag, as it’s certainly one of the best movies of 2025.

5) Sorry, Baby (June 27, 2025)

Written, directed, and performed by Eva Victor in their directorial debut, A24’s Sorry, Baby sees Victor’s Agnes embark on a journey of healing and self-discovery after a visit from her pregnant friend, Lydie (Naomi Ackie), and a traumatic event. Sorry, Baby delivers heartfelt and heavy-hitting subject matter with wry humor and authenticity, making it easy to fall in love with Victor’s grounded and hopeful story. The movie only had a limited theatrical release, but received critical acclaim from its festival run at Sundance and Cannes, and it could become more prominent after being showcased at August’s Norwegian International Film Festival.

4) Together (July 30, 2025)

Real-world married couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco star in Michael Shanks’ feature directorial debut as a couple who encounter a mysterious force that causes horrific changes in their bodies after their relocate to the countryside. Together debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with a perfect score (this has since decreased slightly), setting a high standard for Shanks’ future career and raising excitement for the body horror spectacular itself. Original and hauntingly real, Together is a co-dependency horror movie that will stick with you long after watching, cementing it as one of the most poignant and thrilling movies of the year.

3) Sinners (April 18, 2025)

Taking a break from developing Marvel Studios’ Black Panther franchise, Ryan Coogler turned to his own 1932-set vampire horror movie, Sinners. Michael B. Jordan excels in his dual role as World War I veterans Smoke and Stack Moore, who team up with the latter’s ex-girlfriend (Hailee Steinfeld) and their 17-year-old cousin (Miles Caton) to battle a supernatural evil in their hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi. Coogler’s visually-spectacular storytelling and use of a powerful soundtrack make Sinners one of the clear movies of the year, receiving critical acclaim and expanding his own formidable repertoire into some exciting places.

2) Warfare

Written and directed by Alex Garland and former Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza, Warfare’s script was formed from the testimonies of Mendoza and his platoon members and is told in real time. The movie depicts Mendoza’s experiences during an encounter with enemy forces in November 2006 after the Battle of Ramadi, and does so in a brutally real way, taken from the memories of the soldiers themselves. This is a change in pace for Garland, whose more dreamy stories in Ex Machina, Annihilation, Devs, and Men are replaced by the all-out, guns-blazing story of Warfare, enhanced with Garland’s trademark filmmaking style.

1) 28 Years Later (June 20, 2025)

Another Alex Garland epic, re-teaming with 28 Days Later’s original director, Danny Boyle, 28 Years Later was one of the most highly-anticipated movies of the year, and became one of the year’s most memorable instalments. 28 Years Later picks up almost three decades after the original Rage Virus outbreak, and focuses on the young Spike (Alfie Williams), who embarks on a journey away from his island sanctuary on his first trip to the mainland. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, and Ralph Fiennes deliver incredible supporting performances in this emotionally-resonant and high-octane post-apocalyptic horror, which beautifully sets the stage for more intense character work in the upcoming sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which will likely become one of the best movies of 2026.

What have been your favorite movies of 2025? Let us know in the comments!

The post 10 Best Movies of 2025 (So Far) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Fantastic Four: First Steps was a great movie that captured the heart and bonds that make up Marvel’s First Family. The Four are a superhero team and the universe’s best explorers, but first and foremost they are a family, connected by their love for each other. The movie captured the care and sense of drama that permeates the team perfectly, but one thing it missed is that it excluded one essential member of the Fantastic Family. The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first adventure with the Fantastic Four didn’t include Alicia Masters, the Thing’s number one love interest and eventual wife. It replaced her with an entirely new character, and that is a darn shame, because Alicia deserves to stand beside the Four.

Alicia Has Been Here Since the Beginning

Alicia Masters premiered way back in Fantastic Four (1961) #8. The blind step-daughter of one of the Fantastic Four’s oldest villains, the Puppet Master, she was instrumental in stopping the mind controlling mastermind from defeating the Four and taking over the world. Ever since her first introduction, Alicia stayed in the lives of the Four, immediately hitting it off with Ben Grimm. She was one of the first people to look past his rocky, monstrous exterior, forming a genuine connection with Thing despite his ground-level self esteem. As a reputed artist and sculptor, Alicia is well known for being able to find the beauty in things that others would never be able to notice, and that included Ben Grimm.

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Alicia wasn’t just a useless love interest either, as she has stood up plenty of times when the situation called for it, being instrumental in saving the world her fair share of times. Beyond stopping her rogue step-father, Alicia was the person who convinced the Silver Surfer to turn on Galactus and spare the Earth, teaching him the meaning of humanity. She’s been trained to fight with the best of them, even being gifted a billy club cane by Matt Murdock, designed after his own equipment. Eventually, Alicia and Ben would tie the knot, getting married and even adopting children of their own, a Skrull girl and Kree boy that were orphaned during the attempted Cotati invasion of Earth. Alicia is not only the emotional rock of the Thing, but one of the best characters to measure against the Fantastic Four. She takes the weirdness of the Four in stride, and brings them down to Earth, which is especially important because the Four work best as a family centered story, and Alicia being such a normal person in comparison brings the emotional focus back to interpersonal relationships. She grounds the Fantastic Four from being lost in the stars, which they get lost in a lot, considering they’re astronauts and explorers first and foremost.

Why Alicia Was Replaced

It’s impossible to know for sure why Alicia wasn’t introduced alongside the rest of the family in Fantastic Four: First Steps, but we can make a few guesses. It’s possible that the creative minds behind the movie thought Alicia’s backstory would complicate the story too much, considering they already had so much to focus on with the main plot. Puppet Master was mentioned, but only as one of the criminals that Mister Fantastic caught in his effort to incarcerate all supervillains before Franklin’s birth. It would have been strange to include Alicia and mention Puppet Master without at least a throwaway line about their connection, and the direction the movie wanted to go seemed to include the Thing meeting his love interest for the first time during the film.

Beyond that, though, the much more plausible reason is that the movie’s team wanted to use the role of Thing’s love interest to pay tribute to Rosalind “Roz” Kirby, the wife of Jack Kirby, co-creator of the Fantastic Four. The movie paid tribute to Kirby in numerous places, choosing the numbers of Earth-828 after his birthday. In First Steps, Thing’s love interest is a school teacher named Rachel Rozman, and while he briefly dated a teacher in the comics, this character is completely original. It’s likely that Rozman is yet another tribute to the comic book legend, especially considering that Ben Grimm was one of Kirby’s favorite characters that he made, and by far the one that had the most of Kirby’s real life injected into him. Alicia Masters is a massively important character in the Fantastic Four’s mythos, and as much as I would have loved for her to have shown up in First Steps, I can’t argue with a tribute to one of comic books’ most important figures. Still, do you want Alicia to show up in a future film, or would you rather they stick with Rachel? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Why Did Fantastic Four: First Steps Skip This Essential Character? appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Last weekend things looked pretty bright for Matt Shakman’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps. It netted $117.6 million over the course of its three-day domestic debut, the critical reception was much better than for Captain America: Brave New World, and audience word of mouth was similarly positive. As a result, it looked like the Marvel Cinematic Universe was on a bit of a rebound. This weekend the Marvel movie didn’t even have particularly formidable competition this weekend, with only the animated The Bad Guys 2 and The Naked Gun entering the field. But its sophomore weekend saw a 66% decline, worse than even the highest expectations. Specifically, analysts expected it to drop somewhere between the range of 55% and 60%.

The good news is that First Steps again won the weekend with its give or take $40 million haul. But neither of the big newcomers were ever going to beat it unless one drastically overperformed and, even with exceptional reviews for The Naked Gun, it was still tough to imagine it scoring the number one spot.

The First Steps‘ massive drop can’t even be blamed on audiences being weary of a Fantastic Four movie actually being good, which would have been fair last weekend. There was at least some possibility of people having seen the three previous big screen attempts and deciding to stay away from Shakman’s film. But they did turn out, and their positive response to it last weekend should have resulted in a relatively slim drop this weekend.

Instead, the 66% plummet is indicative of a larger problem the MCU is facing at the moment. These are no longer four quadrant event films, they’re really only attracting the IP’s core audience.

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This is actually the eighth largest drop from freshman to sophomore weekend for the overarching MCU. Two of them have been in the 70-80% range, but for different reasons. Specifically, The Marvels (the MCU’s most notorious flop) plummeted 78.1% after an already disastrous opening weekend. Spider-Man: No Way Home faced a massive 75.3% drop, but that was due in no small part to just how many people came out for its debut.

MCU movies in the 60-70% drop range include Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (69.9%), Captain America: Brave New World (68.3%), Black Widow (67.8%), Thor: Love and Thunder (67.7%), Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (67%). Notice how all of those movies were a part of either Phase 4 or Phase 5.

The First Steps‘ drastic fall seems to serve as a sign that the MCU has not, in fact, rebounded. It’s also a bit of a troubling sign for Avengers: Doomsday. If any MCU project directly leads into Doomsday, it’s The Fantastic Four. Doomsday will, of course, open very high. Robert Downey Jr. is coming back and every Avengers movie pulls in larger crowds than the typical MCU project. But how will its sophomore weekend fare? It’s going to have a massive budget just like Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, but will it be an event film for more than a single three-day stretch? Time will tell.

The post The Fantastic Four’s Massive Box Office Drop Proves the MCU Has a Problem appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For almost a decade, Star Trek 4 has been stuck in development hell, but Marvel Studios’ most recent theatrical release just gave us a taste of what we could have seen from the space-faring sequel. Star Trek 4 was announced to be in development shortly before the 2016 release of Star Trek Beyond, the third instalment in the rebooted Star Trek film series that comprises 2009’s Star Trek and 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness. Dubbed the “Kelvin Timeline,” the reboot series capitalized on cleaner and more realistic visual effects, which could have been repeated in Star Trek 4.

When it was first announced, Star Trek Beyond’s J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay were slated to write the script for Star Trek 4, and S. J. Clarkson (Jessica Jones, Madame Web) joined the project as director in April 2018. Negotiations with Chris Pine and Chris Hemsworth breaking down marked the first sour note for Star Trek 4, however, so by January 2019, the movie had been cancelled. Noah Hawley (Legion, Fargo) was later attached, while Quentin Tarantino was working on his own Star Trek movie, but nothing has yet materialized – even though we could have had something truly spectacular.

Matt Shakman Was Set to Direct Star Trek 4 in 2021

After Hawley’s Star Trek 4 – which would have featured Cate Blanchett and Rami Malek – failed to come to fruition, and he officially stated in 2020, it was Matt Shakman who joined the movie in his place. Shakman became a hugely bankable director thanks to his work on Marvel Studios’ successful WandaVision series in 2021, and he turned down a number of other projects to work on Star Trek 4. Star Trek 4 was given a June 2023 release window when Shakman signed on in July 2021, but saw its latest delay in November, being pushed back to December 2023.

Before negotiations had even begun to bring the original trilogy’s cast back for Star Trek 4, producer J. J. Abrams announced to the world that the cast would be returning, much to their surprise. This was even before a script had been finalized, while a rewrite was already in progress by Josh Friedman and Cameron Squires. Later, many of the cast voiced their excitement about returning, crew had been hired, and soundstages had been set, but, in August 2022, work was stopped, the crew were let go, and Star Trek 4’s planned filming date was dropped.

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This was speculated to be due to script issues, but this once again put Star Trek 4 in limbo at a time where it seemed as though we might finally get the much-anticipated sequel. While the sequel was still apparently considered a top priority by Paramount Pictures, Shakman decided to jump ship, and instead returned to Marvel Studios to take over from Jon Watts as the director of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. We were so close to getting Shakman’s take on Star Trek, and the recent release of First Steps proves just how incredible this could have been.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Revealed What We Could Have Had From Star Trek 4

Matt Shakman has quickly established himself as one of the most gifted and talented directors of the modern era, especially when it comes to character-driven science fiction stories, such as WandaVision and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. For the latter, Shakman brought Marvel’s First Family into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in style with an epic 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic adventure. During the Phase 6 movie, the Fantastic Four journey into outer space to try and negotiate with the planet-eater Galactus (Ralph Ineson), contributing to some of the most impressive space-faring scenes ever seen on-screen.

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Escaping from Galactus, the Fantastic Four traveled faster than light through a wormhole until they found a black hole, being chased the whole way by Shalla-Bal’s Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). This visually-stunning sequence reminded us of the warp-speed travel depicted in the Star Trek franchise, which proves that Matt Shakman would have been a fantastic vehicle to deliver similar scenes in his Star Trek sequel. Josh Friedman also worked on the script for The Fantastic Four: First Steps after working on Star Trek 4 with Shakman, so the pair clearly work well together.

It’s a shame this creative team never got the chance to bring their vision for Star Trek 4 to life. The Fantastic Four: First Steps has delivered memorable moments set in deep space and on Earth, always underlined with character development and heartfelt, emotional relationships. Star Trek 4 would have seriously benefitted from getting this treatment, but there’s no clear sign of where the sequel will go next, especially after Paramount Global’s merger with Skydance Media, so it’s unclear what the future holds for the Star Trek franchise.

Would you have wanted to see Matt Shakman direct Star Trek 4? Let us know in the comments!

The post Star Trek 4’s Development Hell Just Got So Much Worse appeared first on ComicBook.com.

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s Multiverse Saga nears its end, it has become clear that one story element has replicated itself too many times. Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Avengers: Doomsday, and Avengers: Secret Wars remain the only announced Multiverse Saga movies yet to hit theaters, and they promise to conclude this era in thrilling fashion. Over the last four years, MCU Phases 4 through 6 have introduced tons of great new characters, delved into alternate realities, and told some truly compelling stories. Projects such as WandaVision, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Thunderbolts* stand out as some of the best titles released since Avengers: Endgame thanks to their character-driven and emotionally resonant narratives. There’s plenty more to love about the Multiverse Saga despite its shaky buildup to Doomsday and Secret Wars, but there’s also an overused trope

Strangely, the MCU’s Multiverse Saga has repeatedly centered on powerful or gifted children who are pursued or kidnapped by villains. Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Agatha All Along, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps all employed this concept in some way, and it appears Avengers: Doomsday will too. This consistent reduction of young characters into a plot device has grown stale and predictable, and unfortunately, the MCU isn’t done with it.

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The Multiverse Saga’s Obsession With Hunted and Kidnapped Children, Explained

The MCU’s recycled plot point involving a villain’s desire to capture and use kids as a means to an end exists in five projects released in the last three years. In Doctor Strange of the Multiverse of Madness, the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) hunts America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) for her ability to travel dimensions in hopes of using her to find her children in another reality. Meanwhile, Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) abducts a group of Asgardian youngsters from their homes on Earth to lure in Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and kill him as part of his crusade against the gods. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever sees the underwater nation of Talokan kidnap Riri Williams/Ironheart (Dominique Thorne) in retaliation for the CIA using one of her inventions to find vibranium near their home.

Fast forward to the Disney+ series Agatha All Along, in which Rio Vidal/Death (Aubrey Plaza) pursues Billy Maximoff (Joe Locke) for cheating death by installing his soul into a dead body. Finally, The Fantastic Four: First Steps fixates a major portion of its story on the birth of Franklin Richards, the son of Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby) and Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic (Pedro Pascal). The world-eater Galactus covets Franklin for his immense power, offering to spare the Fantastic Four’s planet in exchange for the baby.

The concept isn’t inherently bad, as the MCU’s child characters have poignantly reinforced familial themes and interesting character dynamics in the aforementioned projects. Plus, figures like America, Riri, and Billy needed to appear to complete the MCU’s apparent plan of adapting the Young Avengers team on screen. Still, recycling such similar narrative structures around them isn’t the most compelling way for viewers to meet new heroes. The Multiverse Saga has heavily focused on themes about family, resulting in some truly beautiful stories. But the trope of turning kids into MacGuffins to motivate a villain is getting old.

Avengers: Doomsday‘s Problems Are Piling Up

The MCU hasn’t finished placing powerful children in harm’s way in the Multiverse Saga, as The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ mid-credits scene strongly hints that Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) will kidnap Franklin and kickstart the plot of Avengers: Doomsday. One can easily infer that Doom’s use of Franklin won’t be the movie’s sole focus. Doomsday will likely address other narrative threads like incursions, the return of the Fox X-Men, and the Avengers vs New Avengers conflict, yet Franklin’s probable status as a mere plot device as he was in First Steps comes as a disappointment.

Amazingly, this hardly ranks among Doomsday‘s most worrying predicaments, as the film faces an alarming lack of groundwork for its villain and current Avengers lineup, a reportedly unfinished script during filming, and a desperate attempt to win back audiences by bringing back Downey Jr. and director duo Joe and Anthony Russo. However, reusing the same narrative trope as many times as the Multiverse Saga has over the last few years dampens hopes that Doomsday will be more than a messy compilation of familiar plot points and nostalgia bait. Nonetheless, First Steps doesn’t reveal much about Doctor Doom’s pursuit of Franklin, thus it’s still possible the film could pull a surprising twist that differentiates it from the repetitive arcs of other Multiverse Saga kids. Marvel’s biggest movie in almost a decade should take a more unique and creative direction, and only time will tell if it actually does.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now playing in theaters.

The post The MCU’s Multiverse Saga Keeps Recycling the Same Plot Point, and It’s Getting Old appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to win its second consecutive weekend at the box office, but Marvel might have a more muted celebration at the office. According to Deadline, First Steps is currently projected to gross around $40 million domestically over the weekend after taking in $11.7 million on Friday, August 1st. That would be a fairly steep decline for the blockbuster — a 66% drop from its debut. That figure is in the same ballpark as Captain America: Brave New World (68% drop) and a stark contrast when compared to Thunderbolts* (56%) and Superman (53%).

If these estimates hold, The Fantastic Four: First Steps will stand at $198.4 million domestically by the end of the weekend. It would be on the verge of topping the North American totals for both Thunderbolts* ($190.1 million) and Captain America: Brave New World ($200.5 million), quickly becoming the MCU’s highest-grossing title of the year domestically.

Bolstered by positive word of mouth (including a Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes), The Fantastic Four: First Steps actually exceeded box office expectations during its debut. It earned $117 million domestically and $216 million globally. While those numbers were slightly below what Superman pulled in its opening, First Steps still marked a much-needed win for Marvel Studios at the box office. Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts* underwhelmed, becoming two of the lowest-grossing installments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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First Steps Replaces a Major Fantastic Four Character (& It’s for the Best)

The Fantastic Four: First Steps was a very important project for Marvel as it builds towards the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga. Stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach are all set to reprise their roles in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Reports have also indicated Marvel is in the early stages of developing a Fantastic Four sequel, suggesting the characters are part of Kevin Feige’s plan as he looks to the MCU’s next era.

A strong debut is obviously important for a studio tentpole, but the real test comes in subsequent weekends. Blockbusters like Marvel movies can be front-loaded, with grosses driven by excited die-hard fans who have been anticipating the film for months. How well a tentpole holds reveals what kind of legs it will have. First Steps is more of a mixed bag in that regard. It’s eye-catching to see it have such a steeper drop than Thunderbolts* and Superman, two other well-received comic book adaptations that are also Certified Fresh. This development illustrates how the box office landscape has changed over the past handful of years. Back in the 2010s, a Marvel movie with positive reviews would have strong legs. Now, the allure of shortened theatrical windows and streaming makes it easier to wait. Thunderbolts* and Brave New World were hits at home, suggesting people haven’t lost interest in the MCU — they’ve just changed how they consume it.

If The Fantastic Four: First Steps continues on its current trajectory and falls even further in its third weekend (which is very likely, as Freakier Friday and Weapons join The Bad Guys 2 and The Naked Gun to give viewers a wide range of options), it lends further credence to Marvel’s decision to alter how it conducts business. As the studio plots out its film slate post-Secret Wars, it’s reportedly targeting younger, relatively unknown actors for the X-Men reboot, which would allow Marvel to keep production costs in check. Smaller budgets mean films don’t have to break the bank to turn a profit. Marvel could also limit which characters headline movies moving forward, giving those projects to characters guaranteed to drive ticket sales for weeks.

The post Fantastic Four Wins Box Office in Second Weekend (but There’s Bad News) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Despite taking place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a franchise that comes with plenty of baggage, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has just about everything one would expect to see in a project about Marvel’s First Family. Reed Richards can’t stay away from his lab too long; Johnny Storm is a hothead who blasts fire first and asks questions later; Sue Storm just wants to keep everyone on track, and Doctor Doom even finds a way to sneak his way into the action. The one character that acts a bit differently than their comic book counterpart is Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), who is more than fine with his rocky appearance throughout First Steps.

The MCU’s take on Ben is wise beyond his years, reassuring his best friend, Reed, that he doesn’t blame him for missing the cosmic rays that changed the team during their first space mission. There could be a few explanations for The Thing’s positive attitude, but one major factor is his love life, which is moving in the right direction in First Steps. However, while it’s great to see Ben putting himself out there, the MCU is replacing his most notable interest.

Rachel Rozman Grabs The Thing’s Attention in Fantastic Four: First Steps

Earth-828 owes the Fantastic Four a debt of gratitude. Prior to the events of First Steps, they defeat Mole Man, who wants the surface world to feel Subterranea’s wrath, Red Ghost, and a few other notable villains. The team’s exploits make them celebrities, with humanity being obsessed with where they live and the gender of Reed and Sue’s child. The Fantastic Four can’t even go to their old stomping grounds without being the center of attention. Early in the movie, Ben visits Yancy Street, where he grew up, and puts on a show for a group of children. Their teacher, Rachel Rozman (Natasha Lyonne), comes outside and lets Ben know that he can stop by whenever to hang out with the kids. It’s clear there’s a bit of flirtation going on, but that goes on the back burner after the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) arrives and alerts humanity of Galactus’ arrival.

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The Fantastic Four head out to space to confront the Devourer of Worlds (Ralph Ineson), who asks for Reed and Sue’s baby in exchange for sparing the Earth. They turn down the deal and return home, but they don’t get the welcome they’re accustomed to. The world turns on them for gambling with their lives, which puts Ben between a rock and a hard place. He sees Rachel again before Galactus’ arrival, and she’s glad to see him despite the circumstances. The two share a moment, and while First Steps doesn’t confirm whether they become a couple, it’s clear things are heading in that direction, which means a major Marvel character is without somewhere to sit during musical chairs.

Alicia Masters Could Become More Than a Love Interest in the MCU

In most Marvel media, The Thing finds himself romantically involved with Alicia Masters, a blind artist who focuses on everything but her partner’s rocky exterior. The two have a wholesome relationship in the comics that makes the jump to live-action in Tim Story’s Fantastic Four duology. Played by Kerry Washington, Alicia meets Ben when he’s at his lowest, after his wife leaves him following his return from space. She makes him see the best parts of himself, and he grows confident enough to help his friends defeat Doctor Doom and Galactus.

With Rachel now filling that role in the MCU, it seems like there’s no room for Alicia. However, she finds herself part of some major stories in the source material, including during the “House of M” storyline, where she’s a member of the resistance that fights back against the mutants. While the MCU isn’t ready to adapt that iconic story just yet, there are plenty of other ones that could use a character like Alicia, who acts as a ray of sunshine for anyone that’s around her.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters.

How did you feel about Rachel Rozman’s character in The Fantastic Four: First Steps? Were you surprised that Alicia Masters wasn’t in the movie at all? Let us know in the comments below!

The post First Steps Replaces a Major Fantastic Four Character (& It’s for the Best) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps brings Marvel’s First Family into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and with them comes one of the most powerful beings in all of comic book lore: Franklin Richards. In the first cinematic adaptation to include the extended Fantastic Four family, the story immediately establishes the infant son of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) as a being whose abilities will have consequences for the entire MCU.

In the comics, Franklin is a reality-warper of almost limitless ability, capable of making any thought or desire manifest. This power set puts him in direct comparison with the Reality Stone, the infamous Infinity Gem that Thanos (Josh Brolin) used to achieve his universe-altering goals during the Infinity Saga. So, what is the difference between the Reality Stone and Franklin Richard, anyway? The release of First Steps now provides a detailed look at how the MCU is adapting Franklin’s god-like powers, allowing for a direct analysis of how he measures up to the formidable artifact.

Warning: Spoilers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps below.

The Reality Stone first appeared in the MCU as the Aether, a fluid weapon sought by the Dark Elf Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) in Thor: The Dark World. Malekith’s plan was to use the Aether’s power during the Convergence, a rare alignment of the Nine Realms, to extinguish all light in the universe, plunging it into eternal darkness. As a result, the movie immediately established the Reality Stone’s true potential for universe-scale destruction, as the Aether is capable of rewriting the fundamental laws of existence on a grand scale.

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Years later, when Thanos acquired the Reality Stone in Avengers: Infinity War, he demonstrated its powers were not boundless. For instance, Thanos used the Reality Stone to create a convincing illusion of a thriving Knowhere to trap the Guardians of the Galaxy, and he effortlessly altered the physical forms of his enemies, temporarily turning Drax (Dave Bautista) into a pile of living cubes and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) into a cascade of ribbons. However, this usage also highlighted a key limitation: without the support of the other Infinity Stones, once Thanos left the scene, Drax and Mantis immediately reverted to their original states, indicating that the Reality Stone’s power requires continuous application to sustain its changes.

The most critical limitation of all Infinity Stones was then established in the Disney+ series Loki. In the series, the Time Variance Authority, an organization operating outside of time, was shown to possess countless Infinity Stones gathered from pruned timelines. Within the TVA’s headquarters, these artifacts were completely powerless, reduced to nothing more than colorful paperweights. This revealed that, in the MCU, the power of an Infinity Stone is fundamentally bound to its native timeline. As such, the Reality Stone cannot function or exert any influence on a multiversal scale, a restriction that Franklin Richards does not appear to share.

How Powerful Is Franklin Richards in the MCU?

In The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Franklin’s power is presented as a latent force. The film’s antagonist, Galactus (Ralph Ineson), is drawn to Earth by his insatiable hunger, but his ultimate objective becomes the newborn Franklin. The Devourer of Worlds reveals that the child possesses the Power Cosmic, an energy source so immense that it can absorb Galactus’ eternal hunger, freeing him from his curse by allowing Franklin to take his place. While the Fantastic Four doesn’t understand the nature of the Power Cosmic, the film’s plot immediately frames Franklin as a being whose innate abilities can rewrite the fundamental nature of a cosmic entity that precedes the universe itself, making the baby incredibly powerful.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps’s climax provides an even more staggering demonstration of Franklin’s abilities. The Fantastic Four’s plan to defeat Galactus is to use Franklin as bait, luring the world-eater away from his ship and through a teleportation portal to a distant corner of the universe. In a desperate act to save her child, Sue uses all her strength to telekinetically contain and push Galactus’s massive form through the portal. The exertion is too much for her body, and after saving the world, she dies in Reed’s arms. As a grieving Reed holds her, the infant Franklin begins to cry. Reed places the baby on his mother’s chest, and in that moment, Franklin’s power brings her back to life, her eyes glowing with blue energy for an instant. The family realizes that Franklin, as a baby, already wields the power to conquer death itself, a permanent alteration of reality that suggests Franklin surpasses the temporary manipulations of the Reality Stone. 

Finally, The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ post-credits scene hints at a much larger scale for Franklin’s powers. The scene reveals Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) kneeling near the child, signaling his awareness of the boy’s power and his intent to use it. Given that Avengers: Doomsday is a multiversal story, Doom’s interest strongly implies that Franklin’s abilities are not confined to a single timeline. In the comics, Franklin is an Omega-level mutant whose powers grew to the point where he could create fully-formed, self-sustaining pocket universes from his imagination and even defeat cosmic entities like Celestials. If the MCU’s Franklin can perform similar feats, he possesses a capability that the MCU Reality Stone explicitly lacks. While the Stone is a universal tool, Franklin is shaping up to be a multiversal engine, putting him on an entirely different level.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is currently available in theaters.

What do you think is the full extent of Franklin Richards’ powers in the MCU? Share your theories in the comments!

The post The MCU’s New Most Powerful Character Makes an Infinity Stone Look Weak appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps features virtually no connections to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. It takes place on Earth-828, not Earth-616, after all, so there’s reason to hold out hope that Captain America or Thor will show up at the end of the movie to fight Galactus. What the film lacks in cameos, though, it makes up for with rich characters. The members of the titular team have a strong bond that’s unlike anything seen in the MCU before. They always have each other’s backs and offer to lend a hand whenever the opportunity arises. And the Fantastic Four’s love extends beyond the Baxter Building, as they show appreciation for all of the people on Earth who rely on them for protection.

Of course, like any family, there are complicated dynamics within the Fantastic Four. Reed Richards blames himself for missing the cosmic rays that give the group their powers, and Susan Storm struggles to come to terms with the way her husband’s mind works. Another potential conflict involves a family member who doesn’t appear in First Steps despite being mentioned. The MCU may be setting them up for something big down the line, and if the comics are any indication, their big moment could come in Avengers: Secret Wars.

Sue and Johnny Storm’s Dad Looms Large in Fantastic Four: First Steps

By the time the events of First Steps kick off, the Fantastic Four have already been active for four years. The world knows them well, as they’ve defeated major villains like Mole Man and Red Ghost. Jumping right into the action means there isn’t much time for backstory, which is fine because the Fantastic Four’s origin has played out on the big screen a couple of times already. However, the movie still touches on the past, namely when it comes to Sue and her brother, Johnny Storm. Early in First Steps, Sue learns she’s finally pregnant after years of trying. The news is celebrated by everyone around the globe, with people placing bets on whether the child will be a boy or girl or be born with superpowers.

The fun doesn’t last forever, though, because Galactus’ herald, the Silver Surfer, announces that her boss is coming to Earth to eat the planet. The Fantastic Four blast off into space to confront the villain and learn that he’s willing to spare their world if Sue and Reed give up their child. Obviously, they say no and leave Galactus’ ship in a hurry. Sue realizes on the trip back that she’s going into labor, and after the team fends the Silver Surfer off, she gives birth to a beautiful boy named Franklin. She doesn’t explain why she chooses that name in the moment, but she gives Johnny a look that says they both know why it’s important.

After the group returns to Earth, humanity isn’t happy to learn that their lives are in danger. Panic starts to set in, and protestors set up shop outside the Baxter Building. Sue eventually has enough and heads out into the crowd to explain the situation, revealing that her mother died early in her life and her father, Franklin Storm, was left to take care of two kids. The baby Franklin doesn’t deserve to grow up without his family, so she’s not willing to part with him. It’s clear that Sue’s dad means a lot to her, and while First Steps doesn’t find time to introduce him, another MCU movie could.

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Franklin Storm Plays a Role in the Secret Wars Comic

The Secret Wars comic by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribić puts the Marvel multiverse on the clock, as all of the different Earths are forced to fight for survival on Battleworld. The use of endless realities allows the story to venture into strange territory, and one of the wilder beats involves the Fantastic Four. The version of the team from Earth-15513 is present on Battleworld, led by Franklin Storm. He doesn’t last long, being taken out by the X-Men villain Apocalypse, but the MCU could give the character a bigger role, especially if it wants to continue to have Sue lead the charge.

Invisible Woman spends the entirety of First Steps fighting to keep her child safe, and if she spots someone who looks like her father on the battlefield in Secret Wars, that same instinct is sure to kick in. She’s already sure to have beef with Doom because he’s after Franklin, and the villain isn’t going to do himself any favors if he brings a variant of the boy’s grandpa into the mix.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters now.

Did you catch the reference to Franklin Storm in The Fantastic Four: First Steps? Would you like to see the character appear in Avengers: Secret Wars? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Fantastic Four: First Steps Teases a Minor Character That Could Have a Huge Impact on Avengers: Secret Wars appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel Studios has found success with the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps this past weekend. The movie topped the box office this weekend, while earning the studio its best opening of the year with $117.6 million stateside, and a worldwide box office opening of $218 million. However, it wasn’t just Marvel Studios that Marvel Comics’ first family helped give a much-needed lift to. Flix Patrol reports that two of 20th Century Fox’s Fantastic Four movies surged on the Disney+ charts following the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps into movie theaters: 2005’s Fantastic Four and its sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

Fantastic Four appears at number nine on the Flix Patrol’s Top 10 Movies on Disney+ chart, which tracks streaming trends. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer came in a bit higher at the seventh spot.

Some Fantastic Four Movies Saw a Boost on Disney+, But Not All

The 2015 Fantastic Four reboot is noticeably absent from the chart. The Josh Trank-directed film failed to find success at the box office and was panned by critics and fans alike upon its initial release. While there’s some nostalgia for the early 2000s Fantastic Four movies, the Trank-directed film’s reputation doesn’t appear to have improved in the decade since it was in theaters.

Disney+’s five-minute special look at The Fantastic Four: First Steps topped the Flix Patrol chart. That would seem to speak to the anticipation among fans for the new film’s release last week.

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The Fantastic Four: First Steps Ending Explained

The first two Fantastic Four films were moderate successes for 20th Century Fox. Both films starred Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Ioan Gruffudd, and Michael Chiklis as the Fantastic Four, with Julian McMahon as the villainous Doctor Doom. The movie earned $333.5 million on a reported budget of $100 million — not a huge hit, but it was enough to secure a sequel. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer debuted two years later. It received a weaker box office response, earning $301.9 million worldwide.

Both of those films outperformed 2015’s Fantastic Four movie, which earned $167.8 million worldwide. Critically, it earned a disastrous 9% Rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While the film features an all-star cast of young actors at the time, including Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller, Kate Mara, and Jamie Bell, the reboot was criticized for lacking the humor, color, and joy that the Fantastic Four are known for in the comics. It shouldn’t be all too surprising that fans are not too keen to return to Trank’s Fantastic Four ahead of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Fans can currently stream all three of those past Fantastic Four movies on Disney+. They can also head to theaters to watch Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The film stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, Ralph Ineson as Galactus, and Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer. It was directed by WandaVision helmer Matt Shakman from a screenplay by Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, and Ian Springer.

Marvel Comics’ first family is next set to appear in next year’s Avengers: Doomsday, which is slated to hit theaters on December 18, 2026.

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In 2024, Marvel Studios delivered just one theatrical movie, Deadpool & Wolverine, to the general public for the first time since 2012 when the first Avengers made its long-awaited debut (excluding the COVID-affected year 2020). For 2025, though, the MCU went into overdrive once again delivering three motion pictures to theaters. To boot, all three of these movies opened in just under six months. Even as Marvel Studios tries to whittle down its annual slate of projects, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps ensured it was a bustling year at the multiplex for the MCU.

Now that all three movies have been unleashed on the general populace, it’s worth asking how these individual projects did artistically. Ranking this trio of titles from worst to best illuminates the shockingly amateurish shortcomings of some of these productions, but also the creative peaks MCU cinema experienced in 2025.

3) Captain America: Brave New World

Disastrous. There’s simply no other word for how poorly Sam Wilson’s first star vehicle in the MCU went. Captain America: Brave New World is a feature with little creative vigor or personality. Instead, it’s a clip show of past MCU installments, from channeling The Winter Soldier‘s tone to the rehashing of The Incredible Hulk and Eternals lore for central plot points. The end result is a motion picture catastrophically divorced from its lead character. Wilson’s interior world and personality don’t factor into the story whatsoever. He’s frustratingly superfluous to every inch of Brave New World.

Also yawn-worthy is how much timidity Brave New World expresses over being a comic book movie. Drab “realistic” environments dominate the production, while villains show up wearing dimly-colored military gear cribbed from a CBS show. Gone is the grandiose imagery of classic comics, with the screen instead being filled with laughably bad green-screen work. The less said about the wildly miscalculated story points concerning Harrison Ford’s President Ross, the better. Not even actors as superb as Carl Lumbly and Tim Blake Nelson can salvage a movie this poorly executed and devoid of humanity.

2) The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The Fantastic Four: First Steps keeps just missing greatness. There’s something about its buttoned-up tone and hurried narrative that keeps these central characters and their world at too much of a distance from the audience. It’s lovely to see a modern MCU feature that isn’t obsessed with quips, but surely First Steps could’ve afforded a little more pep in its step without lapsing into “He’s right behind me, isn’t he?” territory. Still, those gripes aside, this is a handsomely-made feature with several truly standout elements.

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Vanessa Kirby and Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s performances as The Invisible Woman and The Thing, for instance, are truly exquisite. Ditto Michael Giacchino’s spry score and the immensely pleasing visual aesthetic. Committing to a retro-futuristic world gives First Steps a unique ambiance that’s absolutely enthralling to absorb on a massive screen. Plus, Galactus (thanks largely to Ralph Ineson’s towering acting) is a splendidly intimidating foe. Though it leaves potential on the table, First Steps does make room for great acting and an endearingly audacious personality.

1) Thunderbolts*

It’s true that Thunderbolts* suffers from some common MCU movie flaws. Namely, its camerawork too often opts for cramped close-ups rather than more interesting wider images with precise, multi-layered blocking. There’s also awkwardly executed color grading and certain plotlines that simply fizzle out. On the whole, though, this is one of the franchise’s better entries on many levels. That includes the script’s shocking effectiveness at working as a standalone enterprise despite juggling so many characters from disparate movies and streaming shows.

Hinging the proceedings on Florence Pugh’s Yelena is also an inspired move, since that means this Oscar-nominated legend can absolutely crush her character’s most vulnerable moments. There’s real heart and rawness to Thunderbolts* thanks to its emphasis on character interactions rather than CG-heavy battle scenes. An imaginatively trippy third act and Son Lux’s outstandingly distinctive score just further sweeten this cinematic concoction. After so many Phase Four and Five MCU movies only concerned with nostalgic fan-service cameos, Thunderbolts* and its willingness to get real about mental health struggles is a breath of fresh air. No wonder it’s the pinnacle of the MCU’s 2025 cinematic exploits.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now playing in theaters.

The post Ranking Marvel’s 2025 Films From Worst to Best appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Fantastic Four are finally part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and things are going swimmingly so far. Critics and fans alike are embracing The Fantastic Four: First Steps, paving the way for a solid box office run. A lot of the credit goes to Marvel Studios for embracing the source material, making one of the comics’ most important villains, Galactus, a massive humanoid being instead of a cloud. The direction is also a highlight, with Matt Shakman showing off during the escape sequence in the middle of the movie. Unfortunately, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows in Fantastic Four land.

While the chemistry between the team members is off the charts in the new MCU movie, there are a few issues that the franchise has to address moving forward. Some of them are easy fixes that the team’s appearance in Avengers: Doomsday can solve, while others are going to take quite a bit of work to undo.

1) They Aren’t Prepared for Doctor Doom

First Steps ends on a high note, with the Fantastic Four sending Galactus to another point in the galaxy and saving Earth. The mid-credits scene, which takes place a few years after that, ruins the mood by introducing a new threat in the form of Doctor Doom, who seems to take Susan Storm by surprise.

The only issue is that the movie reveals that Latveria, Doom’s home, is part of the world and already causing problems. The representative from Latveria is missing from Sue’s summit, which seems to tease that the country isn’t on good terms with the Fantastic Four. If that’s the case, the Baxter Building should be ready for an attack from Doom at any moment.

2) Mister Fantastic’s Powers Leave a Bit to Be Desired

Out of all of the Fantastic Four members, Reed Richards uses his powers the least. He’s pretty occupied with creating a solution to the Galactus problem, which doesn’t leave much time for stretching. Reed finally gets to show off his abilities at the end of First Steps when the Devourer of Worlds makes landfall, but he doesn’t put on a good show.

After getting the advantage over Galactus by opening one of the fuel reserves on his back, Reed loses the edge when the villain grabs him. Galactus pulling Mister Fantastic as far as possible causes the hero great pain, which doesn’t make a lot of sense, given his skill set.

3) Everyone Underestimates Johnny Storm

In every iteration of the Fantastic Four, Johnny Storm is the hothead who runs it without doing much thinking. Well, First Steps goes in a different direction, making the Human Torch as smart as his peers, except for Reed.

But as soon as Johnny starts to make headway with decoding the Silver Surfer’s message, everyone blows him off. He’s smart enough to be an astronaut but not smart enough to help with Galactus. In the end, Johnny proves everyone wrong by confronting the Silver Surfer and playing her messages from planets she’s hurt.

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4) They Rely on H.E.R.B.I.E. Too Much

Being as smart as Reed certainly has its advantages. He builds a spaceship, a flying car, and a device that allows him to teleport objects. However, his most impactful invention is H.E.R.B.I.E., a robot companion who helps out around the Baxter Building.

It’s clear that there’s a bit too much pressure on H.E.R.B.I.E., though. The team asks him to help escape from the Silver Surfer and protect Franklin Richards from the Devourer of Worlds once they trick him. There’s only so much a little robot can do.

5) They’re Concerned About Their Public Perception

Earth-828 loves the Fantastic Four, and it has every reason to. They protect the world from villains, including Mole Man and Red Ghost, and do so much for the community. But humanity turns its back when it learns that Galactus is willing to spare the Earth in exchange for Franklin.

All the backlash really bothers the Fantastic Four, namely Sue, who decides to take matters into her own hands and confront the naysayers. While the move works out in her favor because the entire world comes together to build the bridges, it’s not good for heroes to worry too much about what people think about them.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters.

Do you agree that the things on this list don’t make sense? What else is wrong with the MCU’s version of the Fantastic Four? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 5 Things That Already Make No Sense About the MCU’s Fantastic Four appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe can never seem to get on the same page. Even in The Avengers, when Loki and the Chitauri army are threatening Earth’s safety, the members of the titular team find time to bicker, pointing out each other’s flaws. The argument on the helicarrier paves the way for more disagreements in Avengers: Age of Ultron, mainly over the creation of Ultron and the role that Iron Man plays in it. By the time Captain America: Civil War rolls around, the gloves are off, with Steve Rogers and Tony Stark creating teams to fight one another after the Sokovia Accords put them on opposite sides of the aisle.

While Steve and Tony are long gone from the MCU, there is still beef between heroes. The biggest spat revolved around Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson, who are arguing about the creation of the New Avengers. However, they may have to put their differences aside when they discover what one of the franchise’s newest characters is up to, as their plans could very well lead to a second Civil War.

Reed Richards Is Pushing the Boundaries of What It Means to Be a Hero

The people of Earth-828 treat Marvel’s First Family like rockstars in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. They make TV appearances, and the whole world wants to learn more about their personal lives, especially the sex of Reed Richards and Sue Storm’s baby. The team earns all this goodwill by defeating villains like the Red Ghost and Mole Man, thwarting their plans for world domination and, in the latter’s case, brokering a peace treaty to prevent Subterranea from attacking the surface world. Most members of the Fantastic Four think reactively, waiting for evil to appear before striking it down. Reed, on the other hand, wants to get ahead of the curve whenever the opportunity arises.

Before the Silver Surfer arrives on Earth and ruins everything, Reed reveals to his team that he’s been tracking criminal organizations. He doesn’t want them to have the chance to start trouble, so he alerts the police to their existence and sends them to do a major bust. Ben Grimm has to wrap his head around his friend’s actions, as it feels like he’s coming off the line a bit early, but he chalks it up to Reed being Reed. However, Ben may be onto something because, while Reed is doing the right thing now, it’s not going to take much to push him over the edge and have him round up people who haven’t done anything wrong… yet.

Marvel’s Civil War 2 Puts the Cart Before the Horse

The origin of Marvel Comics’ Civil War is legendary, with Iron Man and Captain America being on different sides of the Superhuman Registration Act debate. Civil War 2 doesn’t get the same attention as its predecessor, though, which is surprising because its moral conundrum is even more juicy. The 2016 title introduces a new Inhuman, Ulysses Cain, who joins the fray and causes a huge mess because he can see into the future. Captain Marvel and her allies want to use him to identify potential threats before they happen, while Iron Man chooses to believe it would put the punishment before the crime. The disagreement leads to its fair share of infighting, and a few heroes lose their lives.

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Like the MCU borrowed aspects of the original Civil War comic for its third Captain America movie, it can do the same for Civil War II. Instead of having Ulysses around, Reed could be the spark that lights the fire by choosing to go a step further and arrest people he thinks will be a problem down the road. Sam Wilson, aka Captain America, won’t support that, as he backed Steve when he stood up against Project Insight, a plan that S.H.I.E.L.D. had to eliminate targets without engaging them directly. It took very little time for Project Insight to fall into the wrong hands, and Sam is sure to see the same future for Reed’s tech.

The MCU’s heroes aren’t going to have much time to debate their crimefighting styles with Doctor Doom on the loose in Avengers: Doomsday, but once that threat is over, true colors will start to reveal themselves. Not everyone will vibe with Reed’s worst-case attitude, and his actions could very well lead to the franchise’s next major conflict.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters.

Do you think Reed Richards could start the MCU’s Civil War 2? Who do you think would oppose him? Let us know in the comments below!

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This post contains spoilers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman explains why the film doesn’t address the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene. A couple of months before Marvel’s First Family made their Marvel Cinematic Universe debut, audiences got their first tease of the characters in the Thunderbolts* stinger. The sequence depicts the New Avengers becoming aware of the Fantastic Four’s arrival in Earth-616. It felt like something that would be followed up on in First Steps, but that didn’t come to pass. According to Shakman, it was a matter of logistics, as the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene was added far too late in the process for him to reference it in the First Steps script.

“No, no, no, because the Thunderbolts* end credit scene was also created, you know, relatively late in my process too, so that was not something that I was familiar with because it hadn’t been created at the time that I was working on my script, you know?” Shakman said to CinemaBlend. “I often use the metaphor of it’s, you know, like a relay race, right? You pass the baton, you run your section of it as hard and fast as you can, do the best you can with your version of Fantastic Four – Earth 828, this world – and then you pass the baton, in this case to the Russo brothers.”

Rather than show the Fantastic Four traveling to Earth-616, the First Steps post-credits scene takes things in a different direction, giving fans their long-awaited first glimpse of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, who has taken a great interest in young Franklin Richards. Similar to the Thunderbolts* stinger, the First Steps button scene was directed by Joe and Anthony Russo during production of Avengers: Doomsday.

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Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier told us that the film’s post-credits scene was an incredibly late addition to the movie. He said it was only shot roughly a month before Thunderbolts* opened in theaters. By that point, The Fantastic Four: First Steps was well into post-production.

Some fans might have liked if The Fantastic Four: First Steps shed additional light on the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene, but it’s understandable why that didn’t happen. If the footage for the Thunderbolts* stinger didn’t even exist until a few weeks before the movie hit theaters, there was no way the scene could have been referenced in a Fantastic Four script. As much as viewers like seeing connections between the various Marvel projects, Shakman couldn’t address something he wasn’t aware of. First Steps still had to work on its own merits as a movie with a beginning, middle, and end, so Shakman kept the whole thing set on Earth-828.

As for why the First Steps post-credits scene doesn’t connect to Thunderbolts*, there’s a good reason for that as well. Moviegoers have already seen the Fantastic Four arrive to the Sacred Timeline, so watching the same sequence play out from a different perspective wouldn’t have made as significant an impact. Fans know the Fantastic Four and the Avengers will cross paths in Doomsday, so Marvel opted to tease the next Avengers film in a different way. Now, there’s even more intrigue to theorize about. Perhaps Doom kidnaps Franklin and the Fantastic Four pursue him to Earth-616. Only time will tell.

The post Why Fantastic Four Doesn’t Address Thunderbolts Post-Credits Scene appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Long before Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer and Galactus threaten Earth in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, audiences already get to see the titular superhero team taking out various baddies in a rapid-fire opening sequence montage. One of these segments includes Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, using his stretchy powers to kick an ornery orangutan into the nearby ocean. No, this isn’t a brief glimpse of Mr. Fantastic harboring resentment towards every ape he sees, from chimpan-A to chimpan-Z.

Instead, it’s a relic from a deleted scene that would’ve chronicled the Fantastic Four contending with Red Ghost/Ivan Kragoff (John Malkovich) and his Super-Apes. That sequence ended up on the cutting room floor, but maybe there could be a future for it if Marvel Studios embraces the One-Shot short film format again.

What Happened With Malkovich’s Fantastic Four Character?

Malkovich’s role was a part of Fantastic Four: First Steps for so long that he was both briefly glimpsed at in the film’s initial teaser trailer and credited as part of the main cast in its official poster in May 2025. However, director Matt Shakman has revealed that the character’s central sequence got cut to ensure a greater focus on the Fantastic Four as a family. It also appears that, initially, Kragoff was the one responsible for destroying the teleportation beams that, in the final cut, the Silver Surfer wipes out. Clearly, a lot of time and thought went into this baddie, including getting Malkovich to play the character.

Perhaps all that creative energy could be seen again if this sequence were released as a Marvel One-Shot short film. That line of shorts has been MIA since February 2014’s All Hail the King (save for a couple of Thor-adjacent shorts helmed by Taika Waititi). Delivering this cut First Steps action sequence as a standalone short film, though, would be an extraordinary way to revive the brand. What a “character arc” these shorts would go through, from threadbare DVD extras chronicling two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in a booth to John Malkovich commanding CG apes to steal a rocketship.

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Shakman’s comments about this scene being largely disconnected from the rest of First Steps (hence its exclusion from the final cut) further suggest why this sequence could find a new lease on life as a short film. What a superfluous in a motion picture could be perfect as a bite-sized return to this retro-world. Just insert some opening narration from Corey Burton explaining that this short chronicles a Fantastic Four adventure from before Franklin’s birth, and everyone’s caught up. Malkovich’s performance and the work of the CG artists bringing those CG apes to life could finally be appreciated rather than being tucked away in a vault somewhere.

It’s Time To Bring Back the One-Shot Short Films Anyway

Previously, the One-Shot shorts were ways to boost physical home video sales of titles like Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World. Turning this Red Ghost sequence into a One-Shot short film for the First Steps Blu-Ray could work perfectly fine. However, this prospective short could prove extra helpful as a way to generate extra attention for any Disney blockbusters in the near future. Tron: Ares and The Dog Stars, to name just two examples, could totally sell a few extra tickets if they had this particular Marvel One-Shot preceding their respective runtimes.

There’s really no end to the benefits of transforming this First Steps deleted scene into a Marvel One-Shot. Among those advantages would be reviving this tragically under-utilized corner of Marvel Cinematic Universe storytelling. One-Shot shorts have so much potential to offer bite-sized glimpses into the MCU, and audiences get to know characters better. Unfortunately, these projects have vanished despite the MCU infiltrating every other storytelling medium imaginable, including TV shows and specials. Maybe unleashing this Red Ghost sequence as a short film would help revive the One-Shot format.

Even if it didn’t inspire a wave of further One-Shot shorts, the brand should totally be briefly revived to ensure this particular First Steps set piece finally sees the light of day. There’s just too much fun potential in this set piece (particularly in terms of Super-Ape chaos) to let this showcase for Malkovich’s talents languish in obscurity. Taking the First Steps scene as it currently exists and releasing it (accompanied by some new explanatory voice-over work) as a One-Shot short film would be an inspired maneuver that audiences would go ape for.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now playing in theaters.

The post This Fantastic Four Deleted Scene Should be a One-Shot Short Film appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps debuted with record-breaking earnings and rave reviews, making Marvel’s First Family’s induction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe a thrilling success. In the few days since the film’s release, fans have already started dissecting its plot intricacies, character arcs, and cinematic grandeur. We’ve heard about the stunning visual effects that brought Galactus to life, the nuanced portrayal of Reed Richards’s genius, and the emotional depth explored within Sue Storm’s desperate fight to protect her infant son, Franklin. Indeed, the film’s climax, with Sue unleashing the full, terrifying might of her powers to banish the Devourer of Worlds, has rightly been lauded as a spectacle of raw, maternal love and a display of her incredible abilities. Yet, amidst all this discussion, one deeply impactful moment, arguably the most heroic and emotional moment of the entire film, seems to have slipped quietly into the background, largely unacknowledged. 

It’s a moment of pure, selfless love and immediate sacrifice that elevates one of the team’s most misunderstood members to an unparalleled height of heroism ‒ a moment that deserves far more recognition than it has received.

Johnny Storm’s Unseen Leap of Love Redefines His Heroism

The final confrontation with Galactus is a symphony of chaos and desperation. Sue, pushed to her absolute limits, strains every fiber of her being to force the cosmic devourer through a portal designed by Reed to banish him across the galaxy, saving not only Earth but, more importantly, her beloved baby Franklin. Galactus, however, is a creature of untold will and power; an ancient and seemingly unstoppable being. He clings to the edge of the collapsing wormhole, his gargantuan form partially through, but struggling to pull himself back into Earth’s reality, his one singular intent fixed on the vulnerable infant. The tension is unbearable; Sue is visibly using her abilities in a way she never had before, making the other members of the team fear for her safety as the fate of everything hangs precariously in the balance. 

It’s in this critical, agonizing instant that Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), soaring through the air, registers the horrifying reality. He sees his sister pushed to unsustainable limits, his infant nephew in mortal peril, and the cosmic titan inches away from dragging himself back through the portal. Without a second’s hesitation, without a shred of doubt or self-preservation, a chilling clarity washes over him. Over the comms, his voice steady despite the resonance of Sue’s forcefields and Galactus’s cosmic energies, he utters the most resolute words of his life: “Tell Franklin uncle Johnny loves him.”

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This isn’t the Johnny Storm seen in other cinematic interpretations ‒ the flashy, often impulsive, and sometimes self-absorbed daredevil. Quinn’s Johnny is so much more; he is a man who, in the crucible of impending doom and destruction, reveals the true depth of his character. His decision is not born of a carefully calculated strategic move or a desperate last resort; it’s an immediate, natural response fueled by an overwhelming, unadulterated love for his nephew. He knows, in that terrifying moment, that the only way to ensure Galactus is thwarted and to save Franklin – and by extension, relieve his sister from the unimaginable strain that is draining her life – is to become the final, decisive force. He intends to launch himself into the portal, using his own flaming body to provide the necessary push, sacrificing himself completely for the family he cherishes. 

It is an act of pure, unthinking heroism– a raw demonstration of a love so powerful it goes way beyond a human being’s primal instinct for survival. This spontaneous, selfless act, born from the deepest love, is a moment that perfectly mirrors the magnitude of Sue’s maternal power; both siblings are willing to give absolutely everything for Franklin, embodying the very essence of family and sacrifice.

The Silver Surfer’s Intervention Highlights Johnny’s Unsung Bravery

What makes this moment even more poignant, and arguably why it is easily overlooked, is what happens next. Just as Johnny steels himself, preparing for his final, fiery plunge into the portal, that Shalla-Bal, the Silver Surfer, having had her own existential journey throughout the course of the film, streaks past Johnny like a bullet. With a surge of cosmic energy and alien speed, the Surfer becomes the one to deliver the decisive blow, sending both herself and Galactus fully through the portal, ending the threat for good. Johnny’s intended sacrifice, his fully formed and executed decision to lay down his life, is overshadowed by the actual act of salvation for the Earth, for the team, and most importantly, for Franklin. 

However, the fact that the Silver Surfer deals the final push does not lessen the significance of Johnny’s internal choice. On the contrary, it amplifies it. Johnny was not reacting to the Surfer’s impending action, as he had no indication that she was even in the area or on their side; he was making an independent, definitive commitment to his own exile and presumed death. His words, his intent, and his readiness to act were complete and absolute. He wasn’t waiting for a savior; he was going to be the savior, even if it meant his own obliteration. 

This scene beautifully demonstrates that true heroism isn’t just about the outcome, but about the willingness to act, the conviction to sacrifice, and the purity of intent. Johnny Storm, the underestimated member of the Fantastic Four who has so often been reduced to being the immature comedic relief in previous film iterations, proved in that singular, breathtaking moment that his heart was as boundless as his flames. His unthinking, unconditional decision to die for his nephew, without fanfare or hesitation, is, without a doubt, the most heroic and genuinely moving moment in Fantastic Four: First Steps, a silent testament to the boundless love of an uncle and a brother.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters now.

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For lifelong fans of Marvel’s First Family, Fantastic Four: First Steps was more than just another superhero movie; it was a chance to see beloved characters, iconic moments, and the very essence of what made the Fantastic Four so special brought to life on the big screen in a way previous adaptations could not. We yearned for the camaraderie, the scientific wonder, and yes, the catchphrases that had echoed through comic panels for over six decades. As the story unfolded, following the team’s efforts to save their world and Reed and Sue’s baby from Galactus, there was one glaring omission.

While the film focused on establishing Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben as a family who would go to great lengths for one another, it inexplicably sidestepped a moment synonymous with the Human Torch: Johnny Storm’s electrifying catchphrase of “Flame On!” This wasn’t merely a missed line of dialogue; it was a significant aspect of Johnny’s fiery persona that was purposefully overlooked.

First Steps Presents A Whole New Version of Johnny Storm

The decision to leave Johnny Storm’s quintessential “Flame On!” catchphrase out of Fantastic Four: First Steps was a curious choice, especially given the character’s long history and the immediate, exciting, and nostalgic effect that phrase evokes among comic book enthusiasts. Instead of Johnny’s famous line, the film opted for a more organic and less clumsy manifestation of Johnny’s powers. Johnny Storm in Fantastic Four: First Steps is a master of his powers, having lived with them for four years when the film begins. He does not struggle with trying to ignite his powers or control them; he is already an expert like the rest of his teammates. 

This approach undoubtedly aimed for a more grounded and realistic portrayal of Johnny’s expertly honed extraordinary powers. He does not need a trigger phrase, so to speak, as his powers are an inherent part of him from the outset of the film. This deliberate sidestep from a direct “Flame On!” reference allowed for more visual storytelling of his powers, focusing on the sheer spectacle and precise control Johnny has over his flames. 

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The film does, however, ingeniously acknowledge the catchphrase in a meta-textual way, though it only serves to highlight its absence from Johnny’s lips. In a humorous moment, Johnny discovers a cereal box toy of himself – a clear nod to the commercialization of the Fantastic Four in their universe– which is pre-programmed to repeatedly say “Flame On!” This brief, almost mocking inclusion allows the film to wink at the audience, acknowledging the phrase’s existence in the pop culture of the Fantastic Four’s Earth while simultaneously ensuring Johnny himself never says it. 

His gleeful teasing of Ben with the toy, making it repeat the phrase to Ben’s mounting frustration until Ben ultimately crushes the toy, is a moment of pure comedic brilliance. It perfectly encapsulates their teasing yet affectionate and brotherly dynamic. It’s almost as if the filmmakers were saying, “Yes, we know the phrase, but we’re choosing a different path for Johnny.” 

The Film Prioritized a Different Catchphrase, Leading to a Balancing Act of Iconic Moments

While Johnny’s iconic phrase was notably absent from his own dialogue, the film made a conscious and very deliberate effort to establish another classic Fantastic Four catchphrase: Ben Grimm’s “It’s clobberin’ time!” Throughout the movie, considerable weight is placed on Ben’s refusal to say the line that originated in an in-universe cartoon of the team and not from Ben himself. He constantly reminds those calling for him to say the catchphrase that he never actually coined or spoke those three words. Even Johnny teases Ben, trying to get him to say the phrase multiple times in a playful manner. This recurring joke ultimately culminates with Johnny finally convincing Ben to say “it’s clobberin’ time” during their climactic battle with Galactus. 

The journey to this moment is meticulously crafted and is perfectly placed, as no threat is more worthy of “clobberin’” than Galactus. This slow burn, leading to the climactic moment, undeniably lands with a significant emotional punch. The audience is primed for this moment, and when it finally arrives, it feels earned and impactful, eliciting cheers from many movie-goers.

This clear emphasis on “It’s clobberin’ time” suggests that the filmmakers might have felt that two prominent, almost equally iconic catchphrases in one film would have been excessive or potentially gimmicky. Director Matt Shankman repeatedly stated that he wanted to bring a more grounded and family-focused feel to the Fantastic Four’s long-awaited debut in the MCU. Introducing both “Flame On!” and “It’s Clobberin’ Time!” might have tipped the scales a bit too far into self-referential territory. The decision to prioritize Ben’s catchphrase could be seen as a strategic move to focus on one character’s crucial emotional arc and allow that particular moment to land more powerfully without competition. 

While the absence of “Flame On!” for Johnny is certainly felt by fans, the film’s dedicated build-up to “It’s Clobberin’ Time!” demonstrates a clear choice. It highlights a potential balancing act on the part of the filmmakers, weighing the desire to include fan-favorite elements without making the entire film about fan service. Ultimately, while Fantastic Four: First Steps succeeded in delivering a memorable “It’s Clobberin’ Time!” moment, it did so at the expense of an equally anticipated “Flame On!” for Johnny Storm, leaving the opportunity open for Johnny to have his own moment in a future outing‒ perhaps even Avengers: Doomsday.

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Matt Shakman’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps has hit theaters and like Thunderbolts* it’s a sign that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is still capable of delivering strong films. Well directed by Shakman, bolstered by wonderful production design, and perfectly cast, it’s a great start for Phase 6. Speaking of the “perfectly cast” aspect, the film brings some heavy hitters into the MCU, but some are better than others. What follows is a ranking of the characters based on likability and how much they contribute to the narrative’s heft and momentum, from the core four, their robo-pal H.E.R.B.I.E. to the pair of villains.

But these are just the main characters, so no Lynne Nichols, CEO of the Future Foundation, Ted Gilbert, talk show host, Mole Man (Paul Walter Hauser), or Natasha Lyonne’s Rachel Rozman. That said, Lyonne is a national treasure, so here’s hoping a future MCU project does more with her character than First Steps does.

7) H.E.R.B.I.E.

H.E.R.B.I.E. (or Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics) was a part of The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ marketing from the early days. And, as one might expect, he’s the source of some of the film’s best comedic beats. For instance, when he’s babyproofing the Baxter Building and Thing trips over a newly installed gate at the top of the staircase.

H.E.R.B.I.E. has a ton of personality for a character that never utters a word. It’s a helpful little guy who ably assists Reed Richards and, really, the remainder of the group with whatever they might need. It even helps Thing when he’s cooking dinner for the family. H.E.R.B.I.E. also actively looks out for the members of the group, even putting itself in front of little Franklin Richards when Galactus approaches the Baxter Building. Even still, H.E.R.B.I.E. doesn’t really contribute to the momentum of the narrative, so it (or, really, he) comes in last.

6) Shalla-Bal / Silver Surfer

Julia Garner is one of the most talented performers of her generation (she even almost made Wolf Man work), but the silver-coasted Shalla-Bal is not really the type of role that allows her to strut her thespian stuff. However, she does a lot with the role even still. Shalla-Bal AKA the Silver Surfer is an alien from Zenn-La, a planet once visited by Galactus (it’s the one time we see her sans the silver). To protect her family and the planet’s other residents, she strikes a deal with Galactus to serve as his herald.

That part of the character is not different from Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer‘s Norrin Radd. In fact, there isn’t much at all that’s different between the two takes on the character. This version of Silver Surfer has the same character arc as that version and both renditions of the character were brought to life via impressive visual effects and massively talented actors (the combination of Laurence Fishburne and Doug Jones in the 2007 film). The only real difference is that Silver Surfer was the absolute best part of Rise of the Silver Surfer whereas Silver Surfer is just a part of First Steps. That’s not a slight against the writing for the character nor is it a slight against Garner as much as it’s a statement that First Steps is overall an infinitely better film than Rise of the Silver Surfer.

5) Galactus

It actually makes some sense why Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer made Galactus a big lame cloud. For one, the special effects weren’t sophisticated enough in 2007 to make him remotely convincing. And two, the character’s design is a little silly, to the point it counteracts his tendency to devour entire planets.

First Steps makes the Kaiju-sized dude in a helmet and suit work via three tactics. One is that the movie’s tone is fairly conducive to this kind of literally larger-than-life type of villain. We’re on an alternate Earth that’s stuck in the ’60s, after all. Two, they hired an actor with great gravitas: Ralph Ineson. And three, they have Galactus not only as a being that wants to destroy his next planet and consume its resources, but also as a being that is specifically targeting an infant so he can get rid of his own hunger and make this infant live a life full of a comparable level of pain and discomfort. It’s likely Galactus is a one-off villain but given how he’s a top-tier adversary in Marvel Comics, never say never to a return.

4) Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic

While Pedro Pascal is one of the more lovable actors on the planet, his Reed Richards is the least lovable of the core four. However, that’s more due to the others being extremely lovable, as opposed to any fault regarding the writing behind the character or Pascal’s performance.

Pascal’s take on Mister Fantastic is easily the best to date, with Ioan Gruffudd and Miles Teller’s versions paling in comparison. The actor nails the character’s tendency to beat himself up when he can’t solve a problem, even when it’s a problem that no one on his planet has ever tried to tackle before. Reed is supposedly an integral part of the MCU going forward, perhaps even leading the Avengers, and given what we already know about him via this movie he seems a good choice. But there’s one member of the quartet who would be even better.

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3) Johnny Storm / Human Torch

The Johnny Storm AKA Human Torch of Tim Story’s two movies was a playboy, which was a character trait wisely dropped from this new incarnation. Joseph Quinn’s version still has charm, but what he is first and foremost is an ambitious member of the team. That in and of itself is another departure from Chris Evans’ version (which was, admittedly, one of the stronger aspects of Story’s two movies). Evans’ take was more focused on playing jokes and having fun. This version wants to contribute, be it designing new suits (okay, that part is pretty in line with Evans’ version) or translating the language used by Shalla-Bal.

Quinn is an actor with a great amount of likability, and he imbues the character with every ounce of it. The movie doesn’t always seem quite sure what to do with Johnny Storm, but by film’s end we come to realize he’s the biggest hero of the four. After all, he is fully willing to sacrifice himself to keep Galactus away from his nephew. This Johnny Storm has a great heart and it’s exciting to see how integral he will be to the narrative of Avengers: Doomsday.

2) Ben Grimm / The Thing

Like how Batman’s parents being murdered and Peter Parker’s spider bite have been overdone, so too has the Thing’s anger about being turned into a rock monster. First Steps wisely sidesteps this perfectly understandable aspect of the character. In fact, First Steps largely skips past the whole origin of these characters save for a montage with narration by the aforementioned Ted Gilbert.

Here, he’s just the sweet-natured and loyal friend to Reed Richards, there’s no anger or resentment. He’s also a fine chef, likes to entertain neighborhood kids with his strengths, protective of his three family members just as he’s protective of the community, and later in the film rocks a rock beard. Ebon Moss-Bachrach is phenomenal in the role, like Michael Chiklis before him. This is also the most convincing the character has ever looked. Brought to life via a combination of motion capture, CGI, and a prosthetic suit, Thing looks excellent. Some of the CGI can be spotty, but nowhere near to the extent of the past few MCU movies e.g. Captain America: Brave New World and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

1) Sue Storm / Invisible Woman

The most layered character of the film’s core four is brought to life by the film’s most layered performance. Vanessa Kirby commands the screen as Sue Storm AKA Invisible Woman, bringing the character’s altruism and supportive nature to the forefront. She also nails the protective mother aspect and even manages to make an intergalactic birthing scene far less silly than it could have played onscreen.

Sue is the member of the team who can squash any squabbling between the group (not that there’s much of that). She can even convince every nation in the world to unite for a single cause, both in terms of her leadership of the Future Foundation and when it comes time to try to teleport the Earth to evade Galactus’ gurgling tummy. While Reed Richards is speculated to be the leader of the Avengers in the future, the job could also without a doubt go to Sue.

The post The Main Characters of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Audiences didn’t get a chance to see John Malkovich play Red Ghost in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but director Matt Shakman believes there’s a chance the character could return in a future Marvel Cinematic Universe project. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, the filmmaker talked about First Steps‘ references to iconic Fantastic Four villains from the comics, including Red Ghost, Puppet Master, and the Mad Thinker. While First Steps had too much ground to cover to give any of those villains a proper role, Shakman knows they all have a rich history in the source material and would be great additions in another film.

“Those are great characters and they certainly could come back,” Shakman said. “There are so many great villains and so many great characters in the Fantastic Four [comics], and there are hopefully other opportunities down the road to include them.”

Malkovich’s Red Ghost appeared in the first Fantastic Four: First Steps teaser trailer that debuted back in February, but shortly before the movie premiered, it was confirmed his scenes had been cut due to time constraints. The character is still mentioned by name in First Step‘s opening moments, which quickly establishes the team and highlights their accomplishments throughout their superhero career. In a newsreel-style montage, the Fantastic Four are battling Red Ghost’s Super-Apes.

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At one point, Red Ghost was even set to have a key role during First Steps‘ third act, but Shakman decided to go in a different direction as development on the film progressed. He doubts that the movie’s original opening, which “involved a lot of action about the Red Ghost” will ever be officially released because it would require too much VFX work to complete.

Marvel fans know the Fantastic Four will return in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, but it seems highly unlikely Red Ghost could factor into either of those films. Doomsday has much more on its plate than First Steps, trying to balance multiple superhero teams while introducing audiences to Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. There isn’t room in the story for someone like Red Ghost, especially since viewers haven’t met him yet. Not only that, the Fantastic Four are going to be traveling from their home dimension of Earth-828 to the MCU’s main Earth-616 reality (as confirmed by the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene), so much of the action is going to take place far away from Red Ghost, Mole Man, and the other Fantastic Four foes.

A Fantastic Four sequel is currently in development at Marvel Studios, so perhaps that could be where Red Ghost comes into play. If Marvel’s First Family return to Earth-828 at the end of Secret Wars, it would be easy to build a film around Red Ghost and his Super-Apes. Of course, after traveling the multiverse and crossing paths with Doctor Doom, dealing with Red Ghost could be seen as a step down in terms of stakes; depending on what happens to the Fantastic Four in the Avengers films, there could be bigger fish to fry (like Malice). But after dialing things up to 11, a smaller-scale story could be a nice palate cleanser for the characters and the audience (similar to Spider-Man: Brand New Day aiming to tell a more street-level narrative). Malkovich is too gifted a performer to forever be left on the MCU cutting room floor, so hopefully Shakman is eventually right.

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