Latest news with #Galactus
Business Times
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Business Times
‘Fantastic Four' film feels like a beginning for Marvel's first family
[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
Gizmodo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Ralph Ineson Actually Got in the Galactus Suit for ‘Fantastic Four'
Friday's Fantastic Four: First Steps reintroduces moviegoers to Galactus, one of the heroes' biggest (literally) enemies. While comics fans love that he's actually a giant man this time around and not a cloud, the bigger selling point is that Ralph Ineson, who lent his deep voice and whole body to portray the comics character. Talking to the Hollywood Reporter, Ineson discussed the process of bringing Galactus to giant-sized life. He'd been offered the role by director Matt Shakman, who Ineson said 'talked about [this role] as if they were going to build a suit for me to play the character practically.' Most of his physical work was 'practical and in costume,' something he considered rare, given the character is a giant who travels the cosmos eating whole planets. It was also not easy, from the sound of things. Ineson admitted wearing the Galactus rig could be taxing thanks to the heat, the costume's weight, and the fact that he's 55. What helped lighten the load was the team that made sure he was 'well looked after' between takes, and even gave him the occasional massage every now and then. 'I'd do a couple of takes and sit down whilst they were resetting the camera, and I'd have one person on each gauntlet and another person on the helmet,' he explained. 'Somebody would then put an air conditioning unit up the back of my armor, and people with fans were in front of me. We'd all watch for the assistant director to give the 30-second countdown before everybody had to put everything back on me.' Unlike most Marvel villains, Galactus is less of an active villain and more of a cosmic force of nature. He works in Fantastic Four: First Steps as he does in the comics, with Ineson stressing the character isn't evil so much as he is fulfilling a specific purpose in the universe, albeit a devastating one. 'He has to consume planets to stay alive, and that's maintained a balance in the universe for 14 billion years. Eating a planet is not a malevolent act…and it's something that's essential to him in order to satiate his hunger. […] If you are living on a planet that he's about to devour, that makes him more than a little inconvenient, but I don't think that necessarily makes him evil.' The Fantastic Four may already be returning for another sequel, but Galactus' fate is currently up in the stars. Even so, Ineson told THR he's more than game to hunger for more worlds if Marvel and Kevin Feige allow it. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Los Angeles Times
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘Fantastic Four' review: It's hip to be square
'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' slots into summer blockbuster season like a square peg in a round popcorn bucket. Former theater director Mark Shakman ('WandaVision') isn't inclined to pretzel himself like the flexible Reed Richards to please all four quadrants of the multiplex. His staid superhero movie plays like a classic sci-fi where adults in sweater vests solemnly brainstorm how to resolve a crisis. Watching it, I felt as snug as being nestled in the backseat of my grandparents' car at the drive-in. This reboot — the third in two decades — is lightyears closer to 1951's 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' than it is to the frantic, over-cluttered superhero epics that have come to define modern entertainment. Set on Earth 828, an alternate universe that resembles our own atomic age, it doesn't just look old, it moves old. The tone and pace are as assured as the sight of the globe-gobbling Galactus, this film's heavy, marching into alt-world Manhattan. Even its tidy running time is from another epoch. Under two hours? Now that's vintage chic!
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Fantastic Four' First Reactions Say Film Is One of the ‘Best Things Marvel Has Ever Made' With ‘Stunning Visuals' and ‘Excellent' Performances From Leading Cast
Marvel's 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' has been unveiled to members of the film press, and first reactions are praising the MCU epic as a 'visual feast' with 'snappy, confident storytelling.' Next Best Picture editor-in-chief Matt Neglia wrote on X that the Marvel tentpole lives up to its namesake of 'fantastic,' hailing the film's 'excellent' leading quartet and 'delightful' retro-futuristic aesthetic. More from Variety John Malkovich's Red Ghost Cut From 'Fantastic Four'; Director Says 'It Was Heartbreaking Not to Include Him' (EXCLUSIVE) 'Fantastic Four,' Assemble: Director Matt Shakman on Casting Marvel's First Family Without Auditions and 'Corporate Pressures' Not Being 'My Burden to Shoulder' Mark Gatiss on His New Series 'Bookish,' the 'Romance of Crime' and Not Having to Worry About Spoiling 'Fantastic Four' He wrote, 'Combined with Matt Shakman's snappy, confident storytelling, this is an intriguing & satisfying first step for Marvel's new team (easily the best depiction of this quartet on-screen to date) as the MCU continues to regain control of the ship & steer it closer to 'Doomsday.'' Entertainment journalist Brandon Davis also took to X to share his thoughts. He wrote that 'Fantastic Four' was one of the 'best things Marvel has ever done' and compared the visuals to those of Christopher Nolan's 'Interstellar.' 'Galactus is awesome. Silver Surfer looks really, really good. VFX were often immaculate,' Davis wrote. 'Cosmically and on Earth, Matt Shakman dropped a visual feast.' People staffer Sharareh Drury echoed the praise, writing on X that 'Fantastic Four' was 'breathtaking.' She gave particular kudos to Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby, who play MCU power couple Reed Richards and Susan Storm, respectively. 'Stunning visuals, a moving story, witty banter and epic action. Marvel's First Family delivers one awesome ride,' she wrote. 'Pedro Pascal nails it as Mr. Fantastic. Vanessa Kirby stands out as Sue Storm – she's a shooting star.' Rounding out the leading four alongside Pascal and Kirby are Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, aka Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, aka The Thing. 'First Steps' follows the titular super squad as they defend Earth from the gargantuan planet-eating space tyrant Galactus. Matt Shakman directs with a script by Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson and Jeff Kaplan. Other cast members include Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, Natasha Lyonne, Sarah Niles and Paul Walter Hauser. Variety exclusively reported that John Malkovich was originally set to appear in 'First Steps' as one of the Fantastic Four's earliest foes, Red Ghost, but was ultimately cut out of the film. Shakman said it was 'heartbreaking not to include him in the final version of the movie,' adding that he was 'honored' Malkovich had joined the project in the first place. 'There were a lot of things that ultimately ended up hitting the cutting room floor,' Shakman said. 'When we were building a '60s retro-future world, introducing all of these villains, introducing these four main characters as a group, as well as individually, introducing the idea of a child — there was a lot of stuff to balance in this movie and some things had to go ultimately in terms of shaping the film for its final version.' 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' hits theaters July 24. Check out more first reactions below. '#FantasticFour is a story about family above all else, where each member of the team is equally important. No one is underserved; the movie excels when fleshing out the various bonds between Pedro, Vanessa, Ebon, & Joseph. The retro '60s aesthetic works on all fronts.' – '#FantasticFour Is a masterpiece. the visual effects and the score are a HUGE stand out. Galactus Is huge In IMAX. It's emotional and gives you hope. It beats you off and doesn't stop. STAY Until the END CREDITS.' – Deo (@frickyuu) 'Fantastic Four friggin' rocks! More than any Marvel movie before it, F4 feels like Jack Kirby's imagination brought to life on the big screen. Between this and Superman, 2025 might go down as the year movies finally embrace the wonderful weirdness of comic books.' – Chris Killian (@chriskillian) 'Nothing will prepare you for #TheFantasticFour First Steps. Pedro Pascal is the perfect Reed, but the entire cast shines and does right by these characters. It's funny, moving, gorgeous to look at, and non-stop FANTASTIC. This is @MarvelStudios at its brilliant best.' – Josh Wilding (@Josh_Wilding) Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who are Galactus and Silver Surfer? Meet MCU's new villains in Fantastic Four: First Steps
Fantastic Four: First Steps: Marvel is about to reintroduce the Fantastic Four, but this time, it's not just about stretchy arms or invisibility. The real buzz is around the cosmic villains, Galactus and the Silver Surfer. They're not your average bad guys. These two come from the far ends of space, and their presence signals a big shift in the MCU's tone. Instead of another city-level threat, Marvel is aiming for something way bigger, older, and stranger. If you're wondering who these two are and why the internet is so hyped, here's a quick, easy breakdown. Galactus: A god-like force of nature Ralph Ineson, known for his deep voice and serious screen presence, plays Galactus. But don't expect a typical villain. Galactus is older than the universe. He doesn't want to destroy — he needs to. He feeds on planets to survive, like a cosmic predator. As Ineson put it, "He's not evil. He's beyond good and evil." Galactus in 'THE FANTASTIC FOUR' Director Matt Shakman described Galactus as a '14-billion-year-old vampire,' which tells you a lot about the movie's tone. He's not going to give speeches or throw punches. He'll loom, he'll consume, and he'll make the Fantastic Four feel small. Visually, this Galactus looks more like the comics. No more cloud nonsense like in the 2007 version. He's huge, armored, and alien, with glowing eyes and a voice that could shake space. Silver Surfer: Tragic, powerful, and not who you expected Julia Garner plays Shalla-Bal, not the usual Norrin Radd. In the comics, she's from the same planet as Norrin and is often his love interest. In this version, she is the Silver Surfer — Galactus' herald, searching for planets he can consume. The first look at Silver Surfer in THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Garner says her Surfer is quiet, conflicted, and tragic. 'She doesn't speak much,' she explained in a recent interview. 'You feel her pain just from her body language.' She's not just a shiny alien on a board. She's someone who's lost everything and now serves a being who eats worlds. This version of Silver Surfer adds mystery to the film. Is she loyal? Is she planning something? Can the Fantastic Four reason with her? That tension runs through the film and adds more emotion to all the action. What is The Fantastic Four: First Steps about? Marvel hasn't released the full plot, but this isn't an origin story. The movie is set in the 1960s, on an alternate Earth. It picks up with the Fantastic Four already formed and working as explorers and scientists. According to early leaks and set reports, they get pulled into something cosmic, something way beyond science. That something turns out to be Galactus, the planet-eater, and his mysterious herald, the Silver Surfer. While Reed Richards and team try to stop them, the story also plays with themes of sacrifice, duty, and survival. Expect space travel, a retro vibe, and more serious emotions than your typical superhero flick.
