The MCU’s Next Entry Has Already Broken a Big Record

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is about to chart fresh territory with the introduction of its First Family. The Fantastic Four: First Steps, debuting on July 25, 2025, is not just a long-awaited reboot—it’s the official launchpad for Phase Six of the franchise.

Director Matt Shakman helms the project, bringing in a stellar cast led by Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing. Joining them are Julia Garner as Shala-Bal/Silver Surfer and Ralph Ineson as Galactus, with John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, and Paul Walter Hauser cast in secretive roles.

John Krasinski previously appeared as a multiversal Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), but First Steps marks the canonical debut of the entire Fantastic Four team in the main MCU timeline.

Written by a six-person team—Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer, Josh Friedman, Cameron Squires, Eric Pearson, and Peter Cameron—the film is currently shooting at Pinewood Studios in London. Marvel’s official description hints at the unique tone of the movie: “Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world,” the story introduces the Fantastic Four “as they face their most daunting challenge yet.”

Yet this isn’t the same Marvel Earth seen in past films. As Entertainment Weekly reported, “So the new film will be set in the ’60s — just not our ’60s. First Steps is the 37th installment in the MCU, but it won’t be set on the same Earth as Iron Man or The Avengers.”

Rather than drawing from real-world history, this alternate world embraces the optimism of a different kind of 1960s. “In our timeline, the ’50s and ’60s were full of artists and thinkers who imagined utopian futures full of miracle inventions like flying cars and robot friends. In this world, Reed Richards exists to invent them.”

Shakman revealed the creative freedom that came with moving the story to another universe. “We knew that we’d be on another Earth, so we had a chance to reinvent what the ’60s looked like,” he told EW.

“I was really interested in imagining the Fantastic Four being astronauts,” he added. “Instead of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin going to the moon, what if it was Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben who were really the first to go into outer space, the first to push those boundaries?”

Running 130 minutes, per AMC listings, First Steps becomes the longest feature ever centered on the Fantastic Four. Prior versions ranged from 90 to 106 minutes, including 2015’s troubled reboot.

The casting process took time, especially due to the story’s emotional undertones. Shakman admitted it was “the hardest part.” Kirby’s Sue Storm is expecting a child in the film—a central element. “I looked to Sue’s darker comic alter ego, Malice, to add complexity to the role,” she told EW.

Joseph Quinn said the new Johnny Storm is more grounded than his predecessors. “He’s a man that leads with a lot of bravado, which can be an affront sometimes. But also, he’s funny,” Quinn explained. “Myself and [Marvel Studios boss] Kevin [Feige] were speaking about previous iterations of him and where we are culturally. He was branded as this womanizing, devil-may-care guy, but is that sexy these days? I don’t think so.”

“This version of Johnny is less callous with other people’s feelings, and hopefully, there’s a self-awareness about what’s driving that attention-seeking behavior.”

In the broader MCU timeline, First Steps follows Captain America: Brave New World, which weathered production challenges but still earned over $400 million globally. May 2025’s Thunderbolts* assembled a team of returning antiheroes, including Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, and Red Guardian.

Marvel’s Blade reboot was removed from the 2025 schedule amid creative upheaval, with Predator: Badlands from Dan Trachtenberg stepping into its slot.

Looking ahead, the Fantastic Four won’t be limited to a single film. They’re set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, due in 2026 and 2027. Kevin Feige confirmed the news during San Diego Comic-Con, and further details were unveiled in a live stream presentation.

One of the most talked-about announcements is that Robert Downey Jr. will return to the franchise, not as Tony Stark but as Victor Von Doom. Anthony and Joe Russo will direct Doomsday and Secret Wars.

Marvel’s upcoming releases include Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31, 2026), Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026), and Avengers: Secret Wars (December 17, 2027). With First Steps, the Fantastic Four reclaims their place at the center of Marvel storytelling—with a fresh setting and a bold direction.

What do you think of Marvel’s new take on the Fantastic Four? Let us know in the comments!