Marvel Studios has just released a tantalizing teaser for the upcoming film, *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*. A brief clip titled 'PREPARE 4️⃣ LAUNCH' showcases a group of children dashing towards a shop window, where an eager crowd is already gathered around vintage television sets. The screens display a rocket blasting off, members of the Fantastic Four donning space suits, and the bold message, 'Prepare 4 Launch.' While some screens are obscured by the excited onlookers, the nostalgic aesthetic clearly indicates that the movie will be set in a 1960s retro-futurism universe.
The Future Foundation invites you to take your first steps into a fantastic new era.
— Fantastic Four (@FantasticFour) February 3, 2025
Launch coverage begins at 7AM ET | 4️⃣AM PT: https://t.co/kiqb0cCVc2 pic.twitter.com/OVgPh3Qi36
Marvel has dubbed the event 'launch coverage,' which is set to begin at 7am ET on February 4, a challenging 4am PT for West Coast fans. The video's description entices viewers with the message, "The Future Foundation invites you to take your first steps into a fantastic new era."
Scheduled for release on July 25, 2025, *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* features an all-star cast including Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing. The film also stars Ralph Ineson as the formidable Galactus and Julia Garner as the enigmatic Silver Surfer. Additional cast members include Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles. The movie is directed by Matt Shakman and produced by Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige.
Here's the official synopsis for *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*:
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family — Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.
At New York Comic-Con (NYCC) in October, attendees were treated to artwork featuring key figures from the MCU, including the first live-action glimpse of The Fantastic Four's Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics, better known as H.E.R.B.I.E.
Speculation is rife among fans that Robert Downey, Jr. might return to the MCU, this time as the iconic villain Doctor Doom, either in *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* or at least hinted at within the film. Kevin Feige has confirmed that the Fantastic Four will play a significant role in both *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Avengers: Secret Wars*.
