The upcoming MCU debut of Marvel’s first family, Fantastic Four: First Steps, has a lot of fans nervous, but the first leaked photo from production has put some of those fears at ease. The Fantastic Four have had a rocky road across their various big screen adaptations. The 2005 adaptation, titled Fantastic Four, is the most-beloved, but it is far from flawless. However, its sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and the 2015 reboot known as “Fant4stic,” thanks to its poorly designed poster, were both maligned by the fan base. Among its many problems, the 2015 reboot featured a CGI version of the family’s most visually iconic character, The Thing, a.k.a. Ben Grimm (played by Jamie Bell), which fans detested.
Thankfully, the newest reboot, First Steps, is reverting to the practical approach as the first leaked set photos have revealed an early prosthetic suit for the character. Played by The Bear‘s Ebon Moss-Bachrach in the new movie, The Thing developed rock-like skin and superhuman strength after the family’s interstellar mission brought them into contact with mysterious cosmic rays. Not only is the suit practical, it is also heavily inspired by the comic book version of the character. Fans have rejoiced online to see that First Steps is taking a comics accurate approach to the character. “The thing looks awesome! I like the face sculpt and suit looks fire on him,” wrote @DontDisturbu on X, reacting to the leaked suit. Other users were equally elated. @_iTrigg shared a similar opinion, writing, “Comic accurate The Thing! LFG!!! This looks so good.” Check out some other Tweets below:
If it’s the actor under it, such a bulky and, presumably, heavy costume throughout production will be an exhausting task for Ebon Moss-Bachrach. The actor hasn’t revealed too much about his preparation for the role. However, following the casting announcement, the Emmy-winning actor revealed the unique way he’s been researching the role. As well as reading the comics, the actor said:
“I’m playing Ben Grimm, who becomes The Thing, who is a man encased in rock. So, yeah, I don’t know, I’ve just been looking at rocks.”
Fantastic Four: First Steps Is Set in an Alternate Universe
While most Marvel fans cannot contain their happiness, there is still a slight air of disappointment surrounding the community. As exciting as Fantastic Four: First Steps looks, some fans are frustrated that it is set in an alternate universe to the main MCU timeline. First Steps is set in an alternate, retro-futuristic version of the 1960s, complete with the team’s beloved Fantasticar. The movie is also expected to introduce some of the family’s most notable villains to the MCU. Many also believe that the end of Fantastic Four: First Steps will see the family cross over into the main MCU continuity.
As frustrated as some fans are about the film’s separate timeline, it actually provides Marvel Studios with a unique canvas on which to experiment. First Steps won’t be burdened by any pre-existing MCU continuity. As a result, director Matt Shakman has free rein to bring a comic-book accurate Fantastic Four and Galactus to the big screen, without worrying about the reverberations they will have on the MCU.
Fantastic Four: First Steps
is scheduled to hit theaters on July 25, 2025.
