Marvel’s long-troubled heroes finally get the adaptation they deserve.
Marvel’s history with the Fantastic Four has been a chain of misfires — three official films, none worth revisiting. For years, these characters felt like the MCU’s awkward relatives: too important to ignore, too mishandled to celebrate. When First Steps was announced, skepticism wasn’t just expected — it was the only rational response, especially after Marvel’s scattered and often disappointing Multiverse phase.
And yet, against all odds, this time it works. Director Matt Shakman (WandaVision) finds the sweet spot between cosmic spectacle and grounded human drama. The film embraces the wild science and galaxy-sized stakes that define the Fantastic Four, but constantly pulls us back to the smaller, human-scale moments. Whether it’s cooking lunch, wrestling with a baby seat, or feeling the emotional gravity of Franklin Richards’ birth, these scenes ground the larger-than-life heroes in relatable reality.
Shakman’s approach makes the cosmic feel personal, and the personal feel epic. The balance between scales never tips too far in one direction. A quiet kitchen conversation can feel as pivotal as a showdown with Galactus, and in this movie, sometimes they are equally important.
The cast is a major reason for this success. Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards wrestles with a devastating moral choice that no amount of intellect can easily solve. Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Richards anchors the film with quiet strength, becoming the emotional heartbeat of the team. Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Thing blends gruffness with unexpected tenderness, giving the character his most human interpretation yet. Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm still exudes swagger, but here it serves the story — his charm becomes the bridge to understanding Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer in a surprisingly moving subplot.
Visually, First Steps captures the tone of the comics better than any previous attempt. The production design leans into retro-futurism without feeling dated, and the action sequences are framed with a clarity that lets the emotional stakes shine through. The movie understands that spectacle means more when you care about who’s in danger.
It’s the closest Marvel has come to translating a comic book’s soul to the screen since Iron Man (2008). Whether the studio can maintain this quality going forward is uncertain — history suggests they won’t.
But for now, First Steps stands as proof that even after multiple failed attempts, the Fantastic Four can still surprise us. And maybe, just maybe, that’s worth insisting on.
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