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The Star
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
How 'Fantastic Four: First Steps' sets a foundation for the future of the MCU
After three previous movie incarnations of the Fantastic Four which have been some of the most uncreative and blasphemous portrayals of the team, we finally have a movie that is worthy of the word 'fantastic'. Fantastic Four: First Steps finally does justice to Marvel's First Family, with strong performances by the leading actors, a fun, comic book-like 60s retro feel, and a Galactus that is truly worthy of the name 'Devourer of Worlds'. The new movie stars current King Of Pop Culture Pedro Pascal ( The Last Of Us , The Mandalorian ) as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby ( The Crown ) as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Ebon Moss-Bachrach ( The Bear ) as Ben Grimm/The Thing. and Joseph Quinn ( Stranger Things ) as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch. It also stars Julia Garner as the female Silver Surfer, and Ralph Ineson as Galactus. In tribute to the First Family's return to the big screen, here is a brief recap of what it means to be 'fantastic'! The Fantastic Four's first steps into the MCU couldn't have gone better. — Photos: Marvel Comics Although it's called 'First Steps', this is hardly the first time the Fantastic Four have been on the big screen, of course. Unfortunately, the actual cinematic first steps the team was supposed to take back in 1994 never really materalised, and hogged the headlines for the wrong reasons. 30 years ago, low-budget specialists Roger Corman and Bernd Eichinger made The Fantastic Four for a budget of less than US$1mil (RM4.2mil). For comparison, First Steps cost almost US$200mil (RM843mil) to make! The English-language German superhero movie was made (or rather rushed) to allow Eichinger to keep the FF film rights. The first ever Fantastic Four movie in 1994 was never released. To be fair, the movie (by comic book movie standards back then) was actually quite true to the comics, but Marvel Studio founder Avi Arad was concerned that releasing the low-budget film might cheapen the then-fledgling brand. In the end, Arad decided to purchase the film for a couple of million dollars and ordered all the prints destroyed, thus preventing its release (or so he thought). Fun fact: The original cast from the unreleased film – Alex Hyde-White, Rebecca Staab, Jay Underwood, and Michael Bailey Smith – all make cameos in First Steps . It took over a decade for the FF to have another outing on the silver screen, and I personally loved Tim Story's Fantastic Four (2005), which made enough to spawn a sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer , in 2007. The team dynamics was wonderful, with a real-life cast that mirrored the comic characters (who can forget Chris Evans' Johnny Storm, Michael Chiklis' rocky rendition of the Thing, a highly visible Jessica Alba as Sue Storm, and the scintillating Silver Surfer). The 2005 movie (and its sequel in 2007) were fun and true to thecomic books (except for space cloud Galactus!) Sure, it was a very campy cinematic take of the FF, but it was fun and entertaining. Plus without it, we would not have that iconic scene of Chris Evans going 'Flame On!' in Deadpool & Wolverine ! The only thing that spoiled it for me and the legions of Marvel fans was the way Galactus was depicted in the second movie... as nothing but a giant space cloud of dust! By 2015, the popularity of the MCU was almost at its 2019 Endgame peak, and superheroes were dominating the box office. So, it made sense for 21st Century Fox to come up with a 'reboot' of the Fantastic Four (plus they needed to make one just to hold on to the cinematic rights at the time). Unfortunately, Josh Trank's 2015 'Fant4stic Four' was an abomination that has since been dubbed one of the worst superhero films ever made. I remember watching it during the pandemic and thinking that it was an experience even worse than getting Covid-19! The less said about the 2015 'Fant4stic' abomination, the better. Besides being an utterly uninspired take on the superheroes, it also blasphemously changed the FF's origins – instead of cosmic rays from a space mission, they get their powers from an accident involving a 'Quantum Gate' designed by... Victor Von Doom. There are three things I (unfortunately) remember about the movie – Doctor Doom's low grade costume, Michael B Jordan as the most bored-looking Johnny Storm ever, and Trank publicly disassociating himself with the film prior to its release! Thankfully, Disney later bought 21st Century Fox and the rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four came with it, which leads us to... After experiencing the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in the FF's cinematic journey, another relaunch required substantial care, creativity and culmination of every ingredient that makes the FF ... Fantastic! Directed by Matt Shakman, First Steps is set in a 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic parallel Earth (designated Earth-828), with the team already four years into their role as the planet's protectors. With 'First Steps', Marvel's First Family finally has a movie that truly does justice to its name. The film returns to the 'space mission and cosmic rays' origin story (which is told via flashbacks), and focuses a lot more around the family bonds between the four. As the movie opens, however, we learn that four will soon be becoming five, as Sue is pregnant with a son! Soon, however, the FF face an immediate danger with the impending arrival of Galactus aka the Devourer of Worlds, preceded by a stark warning by his herald, the Silver Surfer! Expect more FF versus Doom mayhem in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday movie next year. If you're still looking for an origin tale to prepare yourself for the movie, Marvel has handily released a one-shot comic written by none other than former FF scribe Matt Fraction with art by Nark Buckingham, which serves as a prologue to the movie. My biggest gripe about comic book movies is that they are usually not in-sync with the comics. The new Fantastic Four continuing series is well worth the money. Fortunately, Marvel has learned from past mistakes and there is currently a new Fantastic Four regular series by Ryan North and Humberto Ramos. Ignoring the 22 variant covers, the story and art were worth spending US$5 (RM21) on, as they remind me of a Hickman-Byrne combo! The idea of setting the story four years after the team's inception is actually ... refreshing. It also makes sense for them to have a somewhat fresh start, as they were Marvel's first Silver Age heroes, paving the way for Spider-Man, the Avengers, the X-Men and the others to shine. The Fantastic Four have always focused on family above all else, even the squabbling bits. Speaking of the Silver Age, the movie also draws inspiration from legendary FF-scribes, such as creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, as well as latter-day maestros Jonathan Hickman and John Byrne. Best of all is the inclusion of reference characters and places iconic to the FF, such as H.E.R.B.I.E. the Robot, the Baxter Building, Yancy Street Gang, and the Future Foundation, which provides a nice fusion of old and new into the whole ecosystem. The inclusion of Franklin both completes and complicates things for the First Family. In the comics, Franklin is a vastly powerful being who possesses powers exceeding Omega-level Mutants, capable of creating pocket universes and warping entire realities. While he is still a toddler by the time First Steps ends, THAT Doom-related post-credit scene should indicate that he might have a huge part to play in Avengers: Doomsday next year. Franklin Richards is set to become a pivotal character in the MCU. Still, with the inclusion of Franklin, the FF's embodiment of the word 'family' is one that transcends cosmic realities. The team has always been a family, bonded by marriage, blood ties, friendship and a heavy dose of cosmic rays. While other super team comic book movies have the elements of dysfunctionality ( Guardians Of The Galaxy, Thunderbolts, Suicide Squad ) or have a shared common ground (the X-Men), the FF has always lived up to the moniker of 'First Family' in the Marvel Universe. And if this movie is any indication, it is definitely setting the right foundations for the future of the MCU.
Geek Tyrant
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Marvel Fans Upset Over Trailer Scenes Cut From THE FANTASTIC FOUR
Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps has finally hit theaters, kicking off Phase 6 of the MCU with a fresh take on Marvel's First Family. While fans are loving the film and dynamic of the characters, some are frustrated about what didn't make the final cut. Shortly after the film's release, Marvel fans started pointing out that several scenes shown in early trailers were nowhere to be found in the actual movie. One fan even shared stills from three specific shots missing from the final version, noting that the Johnny Storm scene appears in the movie but not in the same way. "I believe the first and third shots may have been either scenes shot just for the trailer or scenes cut to trim down the film," one fan speculated. "The second shot is there, it was just edited in the first trailer not to show Silver Surfer with him but you see the full shot in the second trailer I believe." Others voiced their disappointment with the film's pacing and runtime, which comes in at 1 hour and 55 minutes. "The movie felt chopped asf, felt like it was forced down to be under 2 hours, could've easily given it another half hour, would've given more time for certain ideas and scenes to play out properly. Give us the extended cut of this Marvel," said another fan. While I liked that movie, that is something that I agree with about the film. The story could've played out a lot smoother. Some MCU fans are growing frustrated with this trend. "This is my biggest gripe with this, and most recent, MCU movies lately. They keep cutting and editing out great scenes that would've either been important or enhance the plot. It's not even to reduce a long runtime, the movie is 1h 55m ffs, the extra 10-15 mins wouldn't have hurt," one person shared. Another fan added, "Was waiting for some of those Sue shots I wish they kept it at 2:10 tbh but I'm more than satisfied with what we got. Just hoping they release an extended cut on Disney/blu-ray cause I'll be sick if not lmao." So, will Marvel give fans the extended cut they're asking for? Probably not. The chopping up of the film in post-production is a normal thing for Marvel, though. It's just how they work. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters now, and despite the missing moments, it's already sparking a ton of conversation about what's next for the team and the rest of Phase 6.
Gulf Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
The villains steal the show in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps'
More than six decades after Jack Kirby and Stan Lee created a superhero team to rival the Justice League, the Fantastic Four finally get a worthy big-screen adaption in a spiffy 60s-era romp, bathed in retrofuturism and bygone American optimism. Though the Fantastic Four go to the very origins of Marvel Comics, their movie forays have been marked by missteps and disappointments. The first try was a Roger Corman-produced, low-budget 1994 film that was never even released. But, after some failed reboots and a little rights maneuvering, Matt Shakman's 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' is the first Fantastic Four movie released by Marvel Studios. And a sense of returning to Marvel roots permeates this one, an endearingly earnest superhero drama about family and heroism, filled with modernist 'Jetsons' designs that hark back to a time when the future held only promise. 'First Steps,' with a title that nods to Neil Armstrong, quickly reminds that before the Fantastic Four were superheroes, they were astronauts. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm (a soulful Ebon Moss-Bachrach) flew into space but return altered by cosmic rays. 'We came back with anomalies,' explains Reed, sounding like me after a family road trip. They are now, respectively, the bendy Mister Fantastic, the fast-disappearing Invisible Woman, the fiery Human Torch and the Thing, a craggy CGI boulder of a man. In the glimpses of them as astronauts, the images are styled after NASA footage of Apollo 11, like those seen in the great documentaries 'For All Mankind' and 'Apollo 11.' But part of the fun of the Fantastic Four has always been that while the foursome might have the right stuff, they also bicker and joke and argue like any other family. The chemistry here never feels intimate enough in 'First Steps' to quite capture that interplay, but the cast is good, particularly Kirby. In the first moments of 'First Steps,' Sue sets down a positive pregnancy test before a surprised Reed. That night at dinner - Moss-Bachrach, now an uncle rather than a cousin, is again at work in the kitchen — Ben and Johnny immediately guess what's up. The rest of the world is also eager to find out what, if any, powers the baby will have. We aren't quite in our world, but a very similar parallel one called Earth-828. New York looks about the same, and world leaders gather in a version of the United Nations named the Future Foundation. The Thing wears a Brooklyn Dodgers cap. Someone sounding a lot like Walter Cronkite reads the news. And there's a lot to read when the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) suddenly hovers over the city, announcing: 'I herald your end. I herald Galactus.' The TV blares, as it could on so many days: 'Earth in Peril. Developing Story.' Yes, the Earth (or some Earth) might be in danger, but did you get a look at that Silver Surfer? That's Johnny Storm's response, and perhaps ours, too. She's all chrome, like a smelted Chrysler Building, with slicked-back hair and melancholy eyes. He's immediately taken by her, but she shoots off into space. In a rousing, NASA-like launch (the original Kirby and Lee comic came eight years before the moon landing), the Fantastic Four blast off into the unknown to meet this Galactus. But if the Silver Surfer made an impression, Galactus (voiced by Ralph Ineson) does even more so. Fantastic Four movies have always before gone straight for Doctor Doom as a villain, but his entrance, this time, is being held up for 'Avengers: Doomsday.' Still, Galactus, a planet-eating tyrant, is no slouch. A mechanical colossus and evident fan of Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis,' he sits on an enormous throne in space. Sensing enormous power in Sue's unborn child, he offers to spare Earth for the baby. What follows casts motherhood — its empowerments and sacrifices — onto a cosmic plane. There's a nifty chase sequence in space that plays out during contractions. The two 'Incredibles' movies covered some similar ground, in both retro design and stretchy parent and superhuman baby, with notably more zip and comic verve than 'The Fantastic Four.' Associated Press
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
'The Fantastic Four' Smashes 'Superman' Box Office Record
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors "Superman" may have had an early lead on Marvel's First Family, but now it looks like the FF could still leave the Man of Steel in their dust. DC's "Superman" previously held the record for highest box office sales in Thursday night previews for 2025, with $22.5 million. Now, Marvel is reporting "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" sped past that figure, earning $24.4 million in Thursday previews. Read More: 'Fantastic Four' Star Wants A Spider-Man Team-Up If those numbers are a preview of things to come, then things look very good for "The Fantastic Four." Deadline offered up numbers in comparison, including 2019's "Captain Marvel which earned only $20.7 million in previews, and 2016's "Captain America: Civil War," which did only slightly better with $25 million in previews. Both "Captain Marvel" and "Captain America: Civil War" would go on to earn above and beyond the $1 billion mark. Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing in "The Fantastic Four: First Steps". Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing in "The Fantastic Four: First Steps". DISNEY The preview numbers are also much more impressive than either of Marvel's other offerings this year: "Captain America: Brave New World" ($12 million) and "Thunderbolts*" ($11.5 million). If things continue to trend well for "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," it will be a welcome and much-needed shot in the arm for Marvel Studios, which has been suffering a rough year. While "Deadpool & Wolverine" did well in 2024, both "Thunderbolts*" and "Brave New World" underperformed at the box office, inspiring more conversations about superhero fatigue or if Marvel had lost its spark. The success "The Fantastic Four" has garnered so far is no doubt helped by the near-unanimous critical praise heaped upon the film since early reactions started coming out. Critic Nick Zednik summed up many of the high points named by other reviewers when he wrote that the film "is pun-intended, fantastic and the best pure MCU film since GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 and that's not hyperbole The story is clear, tight, and the family dynamic is so emotionally effective. Giacchino score rocks. Visually astounding. Galactus was great and it's just the right amount of everything. Vanessa Kirby ate and left no crumbs. Kirby and Stan would be proud of this one." #TheFantasticFour is pun-intended, fantastic and the best pure MCU film since GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 and that's not hyperbole The story is clear, tight, and the family dynamic is so emotionally effective. Giacchino score rocks. Visually astounding. Galactus was great and… — Nick Zednik (@NickZednik) July 22, 2025 "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is in theaters now. The film is directed by Matt Shakman. It stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne, Julia Garner, Ralph Ineson, Mark Gatiss, and Sarah Niles More Comics: 'Fantastic Four' Early Reactions Are Overwhelmingly One-Sided John Malkovich Cut From 'The Fantastic Four' DC Finds Its 'Wonder Woman' Reboot Writer
Arab Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
The villains steal the show in 'Fantastic Four: First Steps'
LOS ANGELES, July 24, (AP): More than six decades after Jack Kirby and Stan Lee created a superhero team to rival the Justice League, the Fantastic Four finally get a worthy big-screen adaptation in a spiffy '60s-era romp, bathed in retrofuturism and bygone American optimism. Though the Fantastic Four go to the very origins of Marvel Comics, their movie forays have been marked by missteps and disappointments. The first try was a Roger Corman-produced, low-budget 1994 film that was never even released. But, after some failed reboots and a little rights maneuvering, Matt Shakman's "The Fantastic Four: First Steps' is the first Fantastic Four movie released by Marvel Studios. And a sense of returning to Marvel roots permeates this one, an endearingly earnest superhero drama about family and heroism, filled with modernist "Jetsons' designs that hark back to a time when the future held only promise. "First Steps,' with a title that nods to Neil Armstrong, quickly reminds that before the Fantastic Four were superheroes, they were astronauts. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (a soulful Ebon Moss-Bachrach) flew into space but return altered by cosmic rays. "We came back with anomalies,' explains Reed, sounding like me after a family road trip. They are now, respectively, the bendy Mister Fantastic, the fast-disappearing Invisible Woman, the fiery Human Torch, and the Thing, a craggy CGI boulder of a man. In the glimpses of them as astronauts, the images are styled after NASA footage of Apollo 11, like those seen in the great documentaries "For All Mankind' and "Apollo 11.' But part of the fun of the Fantastic Four has always been that while the foursome might have the right stuff, they also bicker and joke and argue like any other family. The chemistry here never feels intimate enough in "First Steps' to quite capture that interplay, but the cast is good, particularly Kirby. In the first moments of "First Steps,' Sue sets down a positive pregnancy test before a surprised Reed. That night at dinner - Moss-Bachrach, now an uncle rather than a cousin, is again at work in the kitchen - Ben and Johnny immediately guess what's up. The rest of the world is also eager to find out what, if any, powers the baby will have. We aren't quite in our world, but a very similar parallel one called Earth-828. New York looks about the same, and world leaders gather in a version of the United Nations named the Future Foundation. The Thing wears a Brooklyn Dodgers cap. Someone sounding a lot like Walter Cronkite reads the news. And there's a lot to read when the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) suddenly hovers over the city, announcing: "I herald your end. I herald Galactus.' The TV blares, as it could on so many days: "Earth in Peril. Developing Story.' Yes, the Earth (or some Earth) might be in danger, but did you get a look at that Silver Surfer? That's Johnny Storm's response, and perhaps ours, too. She's all chrome, like a smelted Chrysler Building, with slicked-back hair and melancholy eyes. He's immediately taken by her, but she shoots off into space. In a rousing, NASA-like launch (the original Kirby and Lee comic came eight years before the moon landing), the Fantastic Four blast off into the unknown to meet this Galactus. But if the Silver Surfer made an impression, Galactus (voiced by Ralph Ineson) does even more so. Fantastic Four movies have always before gone straight for Doctor Doom as a villain, but his entrance, this time, is being held up for "Avengers: Doomsday.' Still, Galactus, a planet-eating tyrant, is no slouch. A mechanical colossus and evident fan of Fritz Lang's "Metropolis,' he sits on an enormous throne in space. Sensing enormous power in Sue's unborn child, he offers to spare Earth for the baby. What follows casts motherhood - its empowerments and sacrifices - onto a cosmic plane. There's a nifty chase sequence in space that plays out during contractions. The two "Incredibles' movies covered some similar ground, in both retro design and stretchy parent and superhuman baby, with notably more zip and comic verve than "The Fantastic Four.' That's part of the trouble of not getting a proper movie for so long: Better films have already come along inspired by the '60s comic. But as good as Vanessa Kirby is in "First Steps,' the movie is never better than when the Silver Surfer or Galactus are around. Shakman, a former child actor who's directed mostly in television (most relevantly, "WandaVision' ), proves especially adept at capturing the enormous scale of Galactus. "First Steps' may be, at heart, a kaiju movie. What it certainly is, though, is a very solid comic book movie. It's a little surface over substance, and the time capsule feeling is pervasive. This is an earnest-enough superhero movie where even the angry mob protesting the superheroes turns quiet and pensive. I was more likely to be moved by a really handsome chalkboard than I was by its vision of motherhood. But, especially for a superhero team that's never before quite taken flight on screen, "First Steps' is a sturdy beginning, with impeccable production design by Kasra Farahani and a rousing score by Michael Giacchino. Even if the unifying space-age spirit of Kirby and Lee's comic feels very long ago, indeed.
