The Fantastic Four: First Steps

A stylish reboot with charm, but little risk

Since Disney bought Fox Studios from the Murdoch family in 2019, many film fans have eagerly awaited the company’s use of its newly acquired properties—especially in the context of shared cinematic universes. Before becoming a fabulously wealthy brand, Marvel sold off the rights to many of its characters to various studios. This meant that some of the comic label’s most famous names—Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four—were no longer under Marvel’s control. That situation has been partially resolved with Fox, which owned the X-Men and Fantastic Four, becoming part of Disney. And yet, it’s taken six years for Disney to truly capitalize on this opportunity. That said, I’d rather they take their time to craft a worthy story than rush out a film just to meet a release quota.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) follows a similar playbook to recent superhero reboots. Origin stories are assumed rather than exhaustively shown, with only a brief recap. Like Superman (2025), the characters here are already established in their world when we meet them. However, unlike that DC film, First Steps takes its time easing viewers into the team dynamics before launching into full-scale action. We follow four astronauts who gain superpowers from cosmic radiation on a fateful space mission: scientific genius Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), his wife Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Sue’s brother Johnny (Joseph Quinn), and Reed’s best friend Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). Their adversaries are none other than Galactus (Ralph Ineson), a planet-devouring entity, and his enigmatic herald, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).

Directed by Matt Shakman—making the leap from Marvel television (WandaVision, 2021) to feature film—First Steps is set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe but unfolds in an alternate reality. The setting is designed as a retro-futurist society, modeled on what mid-century futurists imagined an ideal world might look like. That aesthetic, steeped in pop-culture nostalgia, proves compelling. I had hoped the film would dive deeper into this world—perhaps exploring how nostalgia and selective memory can lead to dangerous romanticizations of the past, easily exploited by demagogues. But like many big-budget blockbusters, First Steps steers clear of any political edge, opting instead for the safest possible route.

That’s not to say the film is bad—far from it. It’s enjoyable, funny, and brisk, clocking in at under two hours. But its lack of thematic ambition leaves it feeling hollow in retrospect. Compare it to Thunderbolts* (2025), which at least attempted to tackle trauma and depression, or to Shakman’s own WandaVision, which was a brilliant meditation on grief through the lens of evolving television formats. First Steps ultimately lacks that kind of staying power. It introduces some likable characters and teases what’s to come, but says little of substance in the process.

Despite the comic-book pedigree and notable actors portraying them, the film’s villains are underwhelming. Galactus’s motivation—he’s hungry—is thin at best, and the Silver Surfer’s blind loyalty is never fully explained. The heroes are more sharply drawn, though much of their appeal comes from the cast. Moss-Bachrach and Quinn have crackling chemistry, with plenty of banter I would’ve liked to see more of. Pascal once again shows off his range, this time as a self-absorbed nerd—marking yet another major franchise he's now part of. Kirby, however, feels slightly out of step. Her acting style—precise and emotionally restrained—worked well for roles like Queen Margaret in The Crown (2016-2023) or her intense performance in Pieces of a Woman (2020). Here, though, she seems misaligned with the lighter, quirkier tone of the rest of the cast, and her romance with Pascal never fully gels. Still, the group dynamic overall is strong—if there’s one thing Marvel rarely stumbles on, it’s likable protagonists.

One of Shakman’s best choices was to emphasize practical sets and live-action elements over heavy CGI. That’s not to say the film lacks digital effects—it’s a Marvel film, after all—but the use of real locations and thoughtfully designed environments gives it texture. The production design is particularly imaginative, fully embracing the mid-century modernist aesthetic through everything from architecture and signage to costumes and fake retro TV broadcasts. It’s the film’s most distinctive element and helps it stand out from what might otherwise be yet another formulaic superhero entry.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps benefits from being set in an alternate universe, freeing it from the baggage of 37 prior MCU films. That creative latitude could have been used to greater effect—but even so, the movie is a fun, competently made entry. Its villains are forgettable, but the core quartet is engaging and a welcome addition to the franchise. Still, I’m left wishing I were more excited about what I’d just seen rather than what’s supposedly coming next.

6.7/10