Fantastic Four First Steps Release Date Announced at SDCC 2024

During the highly anticipated Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Marvel Studios officially announced the title of their upcoming film: “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” The reveal was made by director Matt Shakman, who also debuted a thrilling tease reel giving fans a glimpse of what to expect from this new entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The audience was surprised when Shakman introduced the film’s main cast, including Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Shakman had initially indicated that the cast would not be present due to their impending departure for production in the United Kingdom, which was set to begin shortly after the convention.

The teaser reel showed the core members of the Fantastic Four in astronaut suits, hinting at a space adventure. It featured an exciting rocket launch and ended with a dramatic shot of the formidable supervillain Galactus towering over Earth. This early look at the film has fans excited.

Pedro Pascal, who will play Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic, expressed his excitement to join the Marvel family. He described the experience as feeling like a “new family,” with him sharing a personal connection with Shakman, as they have known each other for more than two decades.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who plays Ben Grimm, aka The Thing, shared his thoughts on donning the superhero suit. He said he received supportive advice from Mark Ruffalo, which helped him demystify the motion capture process.

The panel was brief, as the cast had to return to the UK for filming. In a lighthearted moment, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige joked about their “fantastic car” taking them there. This was interrupted by the appearance of a large blue vehicle on stage, much to the delight of the audience.

While specific plot details are being kept under wraps, the cast is impressive. In addition to Pascal, Kirby will play Sue Storm (the invisible woman), Quinn will take on the role of Johnny Storm (the human torch), and Moss-Bachrach will portray Ben Grimm (the Thing). Julia Garner has also been cast as Shalla-Bal, a version of the Silver Surfer, while Ralph Ineson will play the menacing Galactus. Paul Walter Hauser and Natasha Lyonne are also part of the cast in undisclosed roles.

In a recent interview on The Official Marvel Podcast, Feige described “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” as a “period film” and confirmed that filming would begin on July 29, 2024. He expressed his excitement about exploring these iconic characters, stating that they are legendary pillars of the Marvel Universe who haven’t been fully explored in previous films.

Shakman, known for his work on “WandaVision,” will direct the film from a script co-written by Eric Pearson, Josh Friedman, Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer. The film will be produced by Feige and is scheduled for release on July 25, 2025.

The announcement comes at a pivotal time for Marvel Studios, which is recalibrating its production strategy. The studio has shifted its focus to a new mandate of releasing two films per year, following a string of successful releases including “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and “The Marvels.” Upcoming films include “Captain America: Brave New World” and “Thunderbolts,” which will conclude Phase 5 of the MCU.

“The Fantastic Four” will kick off Phase 6, which will also include highly anticipated titles like “Blade,” “Avengers 5” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.” The excitement surrounding the Fantastic Four is palpable, especially considering the franchise’s tumultuous history in film adaptations.

The first attempt to bring the Fantastic Four to the big screen in 1994 was a notorious failure, with the film never officially released. Fox later produced two films in the 2000s that, while commercially successful, received mixed to negative reviews. A 2015 reboot was widely panned, leaving fans hopeful that this new version would do justice to Marvel’s First Family.

As excitement builds for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” fans are eager to see how this new film will blend retro-futurism with the beloved characters and stories from the comics. The film promises to offer a fresh take on the Fantastic Four, with a focus on optimism and adventure reminiscent of the 1960s era.

With the film’s release date now set for July 25, 2025, fans can expect more updates and teasers as production gets underway. Anticipation is at an all-time high for this new chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the Fantastic Four are ready to take their first steps into a new era.

Source: Deadline, IGN