In the near future, Marvel’s First Family will finally make their long-awaited return. Just four months remain until The Fantastic Four: First Steps premieres, fulfilling Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige's ambition to integrate this iconic superhero team into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, to achieve this, the film will delve into an alternate retro-futurist strand of the multiverse, set in a mid-20th century where art deco meets sci-fi. As revealed in exclusive images from Empire, before they became The Fantastic Four, Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) were simply brilliant astronauts who gained superpowers during a perilous space mission.
Director Matt Shakman aims to capture the optimistic spirit of the 1950s and 1960s, focusing on the Space Race and imagining these four as America’s most famous adventurers. Shakman’s vision includes practical sets and retro-futuristic technology, reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's filmmaking style. Notably, this film exists independently within the MCU, allowing for a fresh narrative free from existing superhero connections.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives in UK cinemas on 25 July.
