Marvel's First Family gathered at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday night. A trailer for the Marvel Cinematic Universe's “Fantastic Four” opening act was unveiled to attendees in Hall H after an introduction from director Matt Shakman, giving fans a glimpse of the space-age aesthetics that will be incorporated into the superhero film. The title was also revealed: “Fantastic 4: First Steps.”
“We’re making a futuristic ’60s movie. Syd Mead was an inspiration to me. The ’60s to me is all about optimism,” Shakman told the audience, expanding on the film’s period piece while also referencing the influential designer. “I love the Fantastic Four. I love their powerhouse group. We want to be true to the comics but we want to be true to life.”
Shakman then stepped aside to show a video intended to give fans a taste of the superhero movie. The clip had a newsreel tone, featuring moments like Mr. Fantastic speaking to a bored class under a “Cool Science” sign, the superhero team’s flying Fantastic Car, spacesuits, a rocket launch, and The Thing appearing on a dating show as a mystery contestant. The scene concluded with a shot of Galactus, the film’s villain.
It was also announced during the panel that Michael Giacchino (Up, Lost) will be composing the soundtrack for First Steps. The panelists will return to the UK on Monday and production will begin shortly thereafter.
The stellar cast of Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Susan Storm, aka The Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm, aka Human Torch) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm, aka The Thing) hit the stage during Marvel's San Diego Comic-Con panel discussion in Hall H.
When asked what joining the MCU meant to him, Pascal said, “A new family. No one knows that Matt and I have known each other for 25 years. We had the same manager, and he almost became my roommate in 1999 until he saw the place and said, ‘That’s okay.’”
The cast also includes Julia Garner (Silver Surfer) and Ralph Ineson (Galactus), as well as Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne and John Malkovich in undisclosed roles.
The Fantastic Four franchise has had a fraught history of bringing its heroes to the big screen. The first Fantastic Four film, in 1994, was on a press tour before being abruptly canceled. It was later revealed that it was only made so that German director Bernd Eichinger could retain the film rights to the characters, and according to Stan Lee, “it was never meant to be shown to anyone.” Fox released two films in the 2000s starring Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, and Michael Chiklis, which were commercially successful but critically panned. They were followed by a full-scale remake in 2015 starring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell.
Fantastic Four is scheduled to be released on July 25, 2025.
