Marvel Studios has given fans a tantalizing glimpse of the upcoming movie, *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*, with a teaser trailer titled ‘PREPARE 4️⃣ LAUNCH.’ The short clip captures the excitement of a group of children rushing towards a shop window, where a crowd is already gathered, fixated on retro television sets. The screens display a rocket launching into the sky and scenes of the Fantastic Four donning space suits, accompanied by the message 'Prepare 4 Launch.' Although some screens are obscured by the onlookers, the overall aesthetic confirms that the film is set in a 1960s retro-futuristic world.
Marvel Studios has scheduled the 'launch coverage' for the trailer to begin at 7am ET on February 4, which translates to a challenging 4am PT. The video description teases, "The Future Foundation invites you to take your first steps into a fantastic new era."
*The Fantastic Four: First Steps*, set to hit theaters on July 25, 2025, boasts an impressive cast. Pedro Pascal stars as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing. Ralph Ineson portrays the formidable Galactus, while Julia Garner takes on the role of Silver Surfer. Additional cast members include Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles. The film is directed by Matt Shakman and produced by Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige.
The official synopsis for *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* reads:
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 (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon 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.
At New York Comic Con (NYCC) in October, attendees got a first live-action look at The Fantastic Four’s Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics, known as H.E.R.B.I.E., through displayed artwork.
Speculation is rife among fans that Robert Downey Jr. might return to the MCU, this time as the iconic villain Doctor Doom, either in *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* or teased for future appearances. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has confirmed that the Fantastic Four will play significant roles in both *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Avengers: Secret Wars*.
