Marvel's First Family are on their way — and this time, it's personal. Over the past few months, the folks over at Marvel Studios have been carefully drip, drip, dripping tantalising tidbits of info about Matt Shakman's upcoming MCU movie The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Back in February, it was confirmed that Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach had landed the leads in the film. And since then, we've seen Ralph Ineson cast as planet-eater Galactus, Kevin Feige tease the movie's 60s setting, and even glimpsed the Fantasticar at San Diego Comic Con. Now, as shooting nears completion on the MCU's 37th entry, Marvel has finally offered up an eyebrow-raising first official synopsis for First Steps.
Per a press release posted on Disney's own press site, the plot description for The Fantastic Four: First Steps reads as follows: "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 (Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (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."
Sure, as synopses go, this one is pretty light on specifics — but a few details stand out. For starters, we now have confirmation that the film takes place in a world that's "1960s-inspired", suggesting prevailing theories that First Steps will be set away from Earth-616 are likely correct. Then there's also concrete proof of what we'd long-since assumed to be true — that Julia Garner will be taking on the role of Galactus' Herald, the Silver Surfer, here. And perhaps most intriguingly, despite the vagueness of the description given, the suggestion that Galactus' planet-eating plot (a pretty standard Galactus move by all accounts) has a 'very personal' dimension suggests that however Shakman's movie shakes out, its ramifications will likely stick with Marvel's First Family as they prepare to join the MCU proper.
Aside from the synopsis itself, Disney's press release also re-confirms Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, and Natasha Lyonne will make appearances in the film, albeit in as-yet-unconfirmed roles, whilst a new addition to the ensemble can also be found in the shape of Ted Lasso alumnus Sarah Niles. And, as we had previously been told, composer extraordinaire Michael Giacchino will be providing the music for the Fantastic Four's first foray into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And with that 25 July, 2025 release date inching ever closer, we don't have too much longer left to wait now before The Fantastic Four: First Steps marches into our local multiplex. Flame on!