Fantastic Four 2025: New Movie, New Chance?

When the Fantastic Four 2025 get a reboot, it's worth taking a closer look. The film starring Pedro Pascal not only introduces the four superheroes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) — it also kicks off the sixth phase of the cinematic franchise. Here’s what we know about The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

There have already been three films, and now comes a fourth: the idea to bring the Fantastic Four back to the big screen in 2025 arose from the failure of the 2015 "Fantastic Four" movie. Ten years later, it's finally happening, and the four superheroes are getting another chance. Will it succeed this time? The story and cast of Fantastic Four: First Steps certainly sound more than just promising.

1. Fantastic Four 2025: The Key Facts at a Glance

• The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits German cinemas on 24 July 2025.
• The four superheroes will appear in the MCU for the very first time.
• They’ll battle Galactus and his henchwoman Silver Surfer in the film.
• The cast includes Pedro Pascal ("The Last of Us"), Vanessa Kirby ("The Crown"), Joseph Quinn ("Stranger Things"), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach ("The Bear").
• Matt Shakman ("WandaVision") directs the film.

2. The Plot of the New “Fantastic Four” Movie

In The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), The Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and The Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) face none other than Galactus (Ralph Ineson) – supported by his henchwoman Shalla-Bal aka Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). A cameo by Robert Downey Jr. is also likely, as he’s expected to take on the role of Doctor Doom in Phase 6 of the MCU. According to the trailer, the robot H.E.R.B.I.E. will also appear.

You can watch the most detailed trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps here.

The first showdown between the Fantastic Four and Galactus took place in Fantastic Four comics #48 to #50, released between December 1965 and February 1966. Known as “The Galactus Trilogy,” these issues hold legendary status among comic fans. The new movie may draw inspiration from this classic storyline, which would also explain why “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is set on Earth-828 – a retro-futuristic world heavily influenced by 1960s aesthetics.

How the Fantastic Four will be integrated into the MCU in 2025 remains unclear. However, a parallel universe setting could explain why they haven’t crossed paths with Captain America and the others until now.

A little bonus for comic fans: The Fantastic Four: First Steps will also be released as a comic book in July. It marks the first collaboration between Marvel Comics and Marvel Studios on a comic that takes place within the universe of a specific MCU film.

3. From First Comic to Today: A Brief History of the “Fantastic Four”

The Fantastic Four made their first appearance in August 1961 in Fantastic Four #1. In that issue, the four heroes face villain Harvey Rupert Elder, aka Mole Man, who tries to attack the surface world with his underground monster army. (Fun fact: Mole Man will also appear in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, portrayed by Paul Walter Hauser, known from “Cruella” as Horace Badun.)

The comic origin story goes like this: Young scientist Reed Richards dreams of building a spaceship – and his roommate, football star Ben Grimm, is meant to pilot it. That’s exactly what happens: Grimm becomes a test pilot for the US Air Force, and Richards builds the ship. When the government cuts off his funding, Richards launches a test flight with his fiancée Susan, her brother Johnny, and Grimm – and cosmic radiation transforms them all into superheroes.

What many don’t know: Shortly after their creation, the Fantastic Four comics introduced numerous iconic Marvel characters. For example, Black Panther debuted in April 1966 in Fantastic Four #52 – just two months after the “Galactus Trilogy.” Doctor Doom actually appeared even earlier, in issue #5 from April 1962. He would become one of the team’s greatest arch-enemies. And there’s more …

The Fantastic Four save Earth from the Skrulls and New York City from Miracle Man. They discover Namor the Sub-Mariner, and Reed Richards aka Mister Fantastic uncovers the so-called “Negative Zone,” an antimatter parallel universe inhabited by Annihilus, another longtime foe. Mister Fantastic and The Invisible Woman also get married and have a son, Franklin Richards, who inherits superpowers as well.

Over more than six decades, the Fantastic Four have had new members (like She-Hulk), spin-offs, cancellations, and reboots. The series remains fascinating partly because it repeatedly reemerges from obscurity. The new film The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a perfect example – although previous adaptations weren’t box office hits, these four heroes are getting another shot. Hopefully, the 2025 reboot of “Fantastic Four” will fare better!

4. Fantastic Four: Previous Film Adaptations

The Fantastic Four: First Steps isn’t the first movie adaptation featuring the iconic superhero team. These film versions already exist:

• Fantastic Four (2005): In this (non-comic-accurate) origin story, Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd), Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis), Susan Storm (Jessica Alba), and her brother Johnny (Chris Evans) travel to space with industrialist Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) to study cosmic radiation. After an accident, all five are exposed. Reed, Ben, Susan, and Johnny become the Fantastic Four; Von Doom becomes Doctor Doom.


• Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007): A mysterious celestial force causes global chaos. It turns out to be the Silver Surfer (Laurence Fishburne), heralding the arrival of Galactus – a villain who devours living planets. Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd) and Susan Storm (Jessica Alba) put their wedding plans on hold to try and save the world. Will they succeed?


• Fantastic Four (2015): In this (also non-comic-accurate) origin story, Reed (Miles Teller), Susan (Kate Mara), Johnny (Michael B. Jordan), and Ben (Jamie Bell) travel to a parallel world called “Planet Zero,” where they gain supernatural powers due to an accident. Victor Von Doom (Toby Kebbell) is lost, but returns a year later as Doctor Doom with plans to destroy Earth. Can the Fantastic Four stop him?