The Fantastic Four: First Steps is gearing up to have an interesting overlap with Thunderbolts*, which I absolutely love for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Since the inception of the MCU, it's been breaking new ground for the superhero genre. Despite popular suprhero films and franchises coming from various studios, the MCU reimagined what is meant to be a comic book movie.
In addition to creating a massive shared universe that saw heroes collide from across all corners of the Earth and deep into space, the MCU delivered superhero stories that explored genres, dived deep into the minds of the characters inhabiting the world, and opened up a whole world of incredible stories. But now, the MCU is evolving once again with a new generation of stories.
Thunderbolts* Does A Great Job Of Exploring A Weird Yet Wonderful Part Of Marvel's Stories
The Relationship Between Yelena & Alexei Is Central To The Movie
Thunderbolts* addressed one topic that only a few superhero movies have ever been able to adequately approach in of mental health, but it also leaned into an exploration of family and specifically the complicated lives of superfamilies. While the misfit heroes form a family together, Yelena Belova and Alexei Shostakov literally spent three years living as father and daughter in the US from the time Yelena was three until she was six.
I’m Convinced Kevin Feige Has Secretly Explained Exactly Why The MCU’s Fantastic Four Movie Will Work When The Past 3 Attempts Live In Infamy
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is undertaking an overwhelming task, trying to adapt one of the most iconic superhero teams of all time.
They also lived with Natasha Romanoff, aka the Black Widow of the original Avengers team, and Melina Vostokoff. While their life together was part of a government-sponsored secret operation, for Yelena, it was the only real family she ever got to experience. And since the breakdown of their family, the death of Natasha, and the blip that caused half of the population to disappear, they have all pulled the family in odd directions. This deep dive into superhero family life proves to be an incredibly interesting part of the MCU.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Looks Set To Center Even More On Superhero Parenthood
Franklin Richards Will Make His Cinematic Debut In The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Now, The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears to be following a similar trajectory with a focus on Reed Richards and Sue Storm raising a child being a central tenet of the film. Yes, the family is a much more traditional one, but the complexities of life as a hero versus the time it takes to raise and a family is important to both narratives. Where Yelena was able to reunite and repair burned bridges with her adoptive father, Reed and Sue will need to navigate how to be effective parents, and still operate as heroes to the public.
Exploring this side of superhero life is something that has rarely been approached in superhero films, despite being a large part of many different comic book runs. Now that the MCU is moving into its Silver Age, it needs to shift the focus away from the foundational stories that set the stage, and start taking a closer look at life behind the scenes for the heroes. And exploring the challenges of parenthood, compounded with life as a superhero, could be the perfect way to do exactly that.
The MCU's Long-Running Format Can Make The Fantastic Four's Family Story Even More Interesting
The MCU Is Likely The Only Existing Franchise That Could Pull This Off
Thanks to the ongoing format which is building towards its 40th feature film release in the next couple of years, the MCU has the opportunity to explore this story in more detail than any other comic book movie. With baby Franklin Richards appearing in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, it sets the stage for this child to grow up on the screen, alongside other iconic heroes and his parents. If Franklin's story mimics the comics, and his powers manifest from very early on, he could play a pivotal role in the next several films.
Will the MCU reveal that Galactus isn't actually a villain?
As excited as I am to see Galactus in the MCU, I wonder if Fantastic Four: First Steps will reveal that he's not actually a traditional villain. Even comics as recent as this week have reiterated that Galactus is more like a necessary force of cosmic nature who's meant to consume worlds, eventually storing their energy at the end of the universe in order to create the next universe. His actions and world devouring aren't inherently sinister or vidictive. While that doens't mean he shouldn't be stopped from trying to consume Earth, I do wonder if the new MCU movie plans to depict this nuance...
But beyond that, seeing an actual family in the MCU could serve as an anchor point for other stories. While teams break-up, and opinions separate old friends, families push through those problems. The MCU is being presented with a wholly unique opportunity as it opens up the story of Marvel's First Family, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps is perfectly positioned to take the story forward.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
- July 25, 2025
- Runtime
- 130 Minutes
- Director
- Matt Shakman
- Writers
- Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson, Stan Lee
- Producers
- Jamie Christopher, Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Tim Lewis
Cast
Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic
Vanessa KirbySue Storm / The Invisible Woman
Johnny Storm / Human Torch
Ebon Moss-BachrachBen Grimm / The Thing
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
