logo
‘Fantastic Four' film feels like a beginning for Marvel's first family

‘Fantastic Four' film feels like a beginning for Marvel's first family

Business Times4 days ago
[LOS ANGELES] For actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach, the superhero film Fantastic Four: First Steps is different from other Marvel films because it is centred on a close-knit family.
'Our movie is about a family that's been a family for many years, and they undergo this transformation together, which brings them even closer,' said Moss-Bachrach, who plays the character made of rocks named The Thing.
The Bear actor added that love is at the heart of the movie, especially when it comes to being in a 'precarious situation' as 'the custodians of the world'.
Echoing this, Pedro Pascal, who plays the super stretchy scientist Reed Richards, feels like the cast is like a family.
'We are in our family and kind of holding hands together, waiting for the movie to be released into the world,' he said.
Disney's Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel's first family as they face the cosmic threat of Galactus, an intergalactic planet eater, in a futuristic 1960s-inspired world.
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle
Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself.
Sign Up
Sign Up
Joining Moss-Bachrach and Pascal are cast members Vanessa Kirby, who plays Reed's wife with invisibility powers named Sue Storm, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, who has fire powers.
Fantastic Four: First Steps, which scored a positive 87 per cent on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, arrives in theatres on Thursday (Jul 24).
'True to its subtitle, the film feels like a fresh start,' Peter Debruge of Variety wrote in a review.
Pascal feels the key to stepping into his popular roles in projects such as Game of Thrones, The Mandalorian and The Last of Us has been studying the content.
'I love paying attention to the legacy of characters and the legacy of material that you are stepping into. I love being a part of an adaptation or something that has previous authorship, because it helps me,' he said.
Daniel Loria, senior vice-president at Boxoffice, predicts that Fantastic Four: First Steps will open domestically at US$115 to US$135 million.
While sales are currently around US$115 to US$125 million, he noted an increase in ticket purchases over the last week that will likely draw closer to the US$115 to US$135 million range.
For director Matt Shakman, the film is a celebration of firsts in several different ways.
'The DNA of the Fantastic Four is the space race. So, first steps is an obvious reference to Neil Armstrong, and one small step for mankind,' he said.
'But it's also baby first steps, you know. So, the idea of what having a baby will do to a family and changing a family. Also, about first steps for Marvel's first family in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), bringing them into the MCU for the first time,' he added. REUTERS
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Superhero films ignite rivalry among Marvel and DC comic fans
Superhero films ignite rivalry among Marvel and DC comic fans

Business Times

time9 hours ago

  • Business Times

Superhero films ignite rivalry among Marvel and DC comic fans

[SAN DIEGO] Comic fans are embracing the latest showdown between Marvel and DC as their superhero films Fantastic Four and Superman compete for box office dominance, reigniting a rivalry spanning over eight decades. Whether it's the thrill of seeing the comic book superhero The Thing shout 'It's clobbering time!' before throwing a punch or watching Superman and his faithful pup Krypto save the day, fans are heading to movie theatres to support their favourite films. 'Well, clearly I'm a Marvel fan,' Danielle Stroski, who was dressed as the shapeshifter character named Mystique from Marvel's X-Men comics, at the San Diego Comic-Con. 'But I have a little white dog at home, so I love me some 'Superman' as well. And I know the little white dog is stealing the show for 'Superman,' so it's going to be close. But I got to go Marvel,' she added. The 42-year-old from California predicted Fantastic Four would outperform Superman at the box office. DC fan Lito Loza, dressed as Superboy, voiced his support for Superman. 'I've already seen Superman three times, and I'm very, very happy with what James Gunn did with it. It makes me feel hopeful,' he said, referring to the director. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up The filmmakers, meanwhile, encourage fans to support both movies. 'I'm a huge Superman fan. I'm a huge James Gunn fan. I'm thrilled that both of us are coming out this month,' director Matt Shakman of Fantastic Four: First Steps told Reuters at the London premiere. 'I think we share a lot of similar optimism in our tone and our feeling in the worlds that we're building. And there's room for Superman, there's room for Fantastic Four. I'm thrilled. Go see both,' he added. Superman director Gunn, who directed the Marvel movie Guardians of the Galaxy, said in an interview in Los Angeles that he grew up reading both Marvel and DC comic books, appreciating their distinct tones. In theatres on Jul 11, Superman introduced David Corenswet as the Man of Steel. The movie grossed around US$173 million globally and US$264 million domestically, according to Box Office Mojo. Warner Bros has heavily invested in Superman, aiming to launch a new era at DC Studios under Gunn, named co-CEO, alongside producer Peter Safran. Upcoming projects include a Supergirl film slated for June 2026, a film based on the character Swamp Thing as well as TV shows for HBO Max. Disney said Fantastic Four, which stars Pedro Pascal, opened with US$24.4 million in ticket sales in the US and Canada on night of Jul 24 while Daniel Loria, senior vice-president at Boxoffice predicts that Fantastic Four: First Steps will open domestically at US$115 million to US$135 million. While sales are currently around US$115 million to US$125 million, he said there was an increase in ticket purchases over the last week that will likely bring sales to the US$115 million to US$135 million range. REUTERS

Wax lyrical: Taylor Swift gets lucky 13 Madame Tussauds statues
Wax lyrical: Taylor Swift gets lucky 13 Madame Tussauds statues

Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • Straits Times

Wax lyrical: Taylor Swift gets lucky 13 Madame Tussauds statues

Find out what's new on ST website and app. More than 40 artists worked for more than a year on the statues of Taylor Swift at Madame Tussauds. LONDON - American pop megastar Taylor Swift will be honoured with 13 waxworks of her at Madame Tussauds venues around the globe, the museum said on July 23. In honour of Swift's lucky number, 13 of the waxwork museum's 22 branches will each receive a statue of the Love Story (2008) and Blank Space (2014) singer, in what it called the 'most ambitious project' of its 250-year history. The statues were inspired by some of the 35-year-old songwriting sensation's looks from her record-shattering Eras Tour from 2023 to 2024. With 149 shows across the world over nearly two years, the tour raked in US$2 billion (S$2.6 billion), making it the most lucrative in music history to date. More than 40 artists worked for more than a year on the statues of Swift, one of the most acclaimed artistes of her generation with 14 Grammy Awards. 'This is the most ambitious project in Madame Tussauds' 250-year history, which only feels right to reflect the stratospheric status of Taylor Swift,' said Ms Danielle Cullen, the museum's senior figure stylist. British-based Swifties are well served, with one waxwork slated for London and another for the northern seaside resort town of Blackpool. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Asia Live: Thailand-Cambodia border clashes continue for second day Singapore Vapes: The silent killer hiding in the pocket Singapore Vape disposal bins at 23 CCs for users to surrender e-vaporisers without facing penalties Singapore Fine for couple whose catering companies owed $432,000 in salaries to 103 employees Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly Another 10 will find a permanent home at the branches of Madame Tussauds in Amsterdam, Berlin, Budapest, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, Nashville, New York, Orlando and Sydney. The 13th statue, which will travel around the remaining museums, will begin its worldwide walkabout with a residency at Madame Tussauds Shanghai. AFP

Marvel's $102 popcorn bucket sets world record in Los Angeles
Marvel's $102 popcorn bucket sets world record in Los Angeles

Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • Straits Times

Marvel's $102 popcorn bucket sets world record in Los Angeles

Find out what's new on ST website and app. A Marvel's Fantastic Four Galactus Popcorn Bucket, which set a Guinness World's Record for 'Largest popcorn container commercially available'. LOS ANGELES - A colossal US$80 (S$102) popcorn container shaped like Marvel's planet-devouring villain Galactus is offering a unique twist on movie snacks. During its unveiling in Los Angeles, the container drew excited fans to the TCL Chinese Theatre and set a Guinness World Record. The mammoth movie snack holder, tied to the new film Fantastic Four: First Steps, measures 51cm wide and 44cm tall. It boasts a capacity of 10 litres – enough to satisfy even Galactus' cosmic appetite. Ms Lacey Noel, a tour guide at the TCL Chinese Theatre, presented the bucket to eager onlookers. 'It is US$80 and people are currently eating it up,' she said. The Galactus container is not just about size. It features a metallic finish and piercing bright blue LED eyes, adding to its appeal as a display piece long after the popcorn is gone. Fans lined up at the cinemas's concession stand, eager to get their hands on the limited-edition item. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Asia Live: Thailand-Cambodia border clashes continue for second day Singapore Etomidate found in blood of 2 people involved in fatal Punggol Road accident in May: HSA Singapore Vape disposal bins at 23 CCs for users to surrender e-vaporisers without facing penalties Singapore Fine for couple whose catering companies owed $432,000 in salaries to 103 employees Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly This record-breaking popcorn bucket represents more than just a novel way to serve cinema snacks. It is part of a broader strategy by movie studios and cinemas to lure audiences back to the big screen with exclusive, tangible experiences that cannot be replicated at home. Mr Chris Banda, a fan who purchased the Galactus bucket, praised the initiative. 'I think these buckets are fantastic,' he said. 'I obviously wouldn't have got this if I didn't come to the theatres, and I think it's designed very well and it's got a lot of popcorn, so cool.' REUTERS

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store