The first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps has dropped, giving us our first look at Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Marvel's First Family, along with their robotic companion, HERBIE. The retro-futuristic design is striking, and the overall tone feels distinct from other MCU projects. While the July 25, 2025 release date has us excited, one character looms large: Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.
Doctor Doom's Absence and Galactus' Prominence
While Galactus is glimpsed, his appearance already promises a significant improvement over the portrayal in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Let's explore why The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears poised to finally do justice to this iconic Marvel villain.
Who Is Galactus?
For the uninitiated, Galactus is a cosmic entity from the Marvel universe, co-created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #48. Originally Galan, a mortal survivor of a previous universe, he was transformed by the merging with his universe's sentience into the first being of the new universe. Now Galactus, he consumes life-bearing planets to survive, often aided by heralds, most famously the Silver Surfer.
His first encounter with the Fantastic Four involved a warning from the Watcher, a violation of his non-interference oath. Despite the FF's efforts and the Silver Surfer's eventual defection, the Human Torch obtained the Ultimate Nullifier, capable of harming Galactus, forcing his retreat.
Since then, Galactus has remained a significant Marvel figure, clashing with the Fantastic Four and Thor, revealing his backstory. His actions, while destructive, stem from a need for survival, making him a morally ambiguous antagonist. However, past film adaptations have fallen short.
AnswerSee ResultsA Reimagined Galactus
Previous appearances in cartoons and video games aside, Galactus' only prior cinematic appearance was in 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, a disappointing portrayal. The film's version lacked the iconic comic book design, appearing as a featureless cloud, and was easily defeated.
This time, however, the trailer and previous teases suggest a faithful adaptation of Jack Kirby's design. Marvel's choice of Galactus as the villain for their reboot is significant, indicating a desire to rectify past mistakes. With Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom potentially reserved for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, the focus can be solely on Galactus.
This is crucial, given the MCU's recent challenges. Galactus represents a chance to revitalize the franchise, potentially boosting excitement for the upcoming Avengers films, in which the Fantastic Four will play major roles. The anticipation for seeing Galactus, a character many fans prioritized over the Fantastic Four themselves during the Fox-Marvel rights dispute, is high.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 Stills
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Galactus' inclusion is a significant opportunity for the MCU. This adaptation, judging by the trailer, seems to be on the right track, finally delivering a worthy live-action portrayal of this iconic character.
