Marvel dropped the first trailer for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” Tuesday morning, and fans have already been pouring over it to find Easter Eggs and hidden references. This marks the official debut of Marvel’s First Family into the MCU after Disney acquired 20th Century Fox and gained the rights to the heroes.
Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach star as Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic; Sue Storm, aka the Invisible Woman; Johnny Storm; aka the Human Torch; and Ben Grimm, aka The Thing. The four friends begin as regular astronauts exploring space, but return to Earth with super powers and form one of the most iconic teams in Marvel history.
Ralph Ineson plays the colossal villain Galactus, who has the power devour worlds. He appears at the end of the trailer and towers over Manhattan, which will likely become the first major test for the Fantastic Four. John Malkovich also plays a mystery character who shows up briefly; it’s unknown who he is playing, but fans already have some theories. The cast also includes Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, Sarah Niles and Julia Garner as Silver Surfer, the famous herald of Galactus.
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is helmed by Matt Shakman, who directed and produced the popular Marvel series “WandaVision” on Disney+. Like “WandaVision,” the trailer has a distinct tone that is unique from other projects in the MCU. There’s a retro-futuristic feel to the world of the Fantastic Four, which is separate from other dimensions seen in the Marvel multiverse.
See the full list of Marvel Easter eggs and references spotted in the trailer.
Mister Fantastic
Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards, aka the stretchy Mister Fantastic, is one of the smartest people in the Marvel universe. We don’t get a good look at his elastic powers, but we get an idea of his genius as he writes equations furiously on a chalkboard.
Invisible Woman
Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm, aka the Invisible Woman, can turn invisible and use her powers to create powerful force fields. She and Reed are the heart of the team, and they share a passionate kiss in the trailer.
Human Torch
Joseph Quinn is Johnny Storm, Sue’s hotheaded brother and the flying, fiery Human Torch. He can burst into flames and take flight instantly, which is usually accompanied by his catchphrase “Flame on!” In the trailer, he flies quickly around Manhattan and soars so high that he can look down at Earth.
The Thing
Ebon Moss-Bachrach is Ben Grimm, aka the rocky monstrosity The Thing. Ben is one of Reed’s oldest friends and a talented pilot who flies the group into space when they get their powers. He has super strength, but it comes at a cost as he frightens most onlookers due to his appearance. Ben keeps his sense of humor, though, and is known for his catchphrase “It’s clobberin’ time!”
Galactus
Ralph Ineson voices Galactus, a gigantic, world-devouring being from space that is one of the primary villains for the Fantastic Four and the entire Marvel universe. He looms large over the Statue of Liberty in the trailer and could spell disaster for the superheroes. Galactus is always joined by the flying Silver Surfer, his celestial, surfboard-riding herald who is played by Julia Garner in the movie.
Who Is John Malkovich Playing?
A bearded John Malkovich appears briefly in the trailer, but it’s unknown who he’s playing. Fans have speculated he may be playing Ivan Kragoff, a villain known as the Red Ghost who fights the Fantastic Four in the comics. Red Ghost is a Soviet scientist who replicates the team’s space accident and gains the ability to turn intangible. He also creates a team of Super Apes who have similar powers to the Fantastic Four. Malkovich certainly looks the part, but he could be playing another mystery character.
H.E.R.B.I.E.
Reed creates the adorable robot H.E.R.B.I.E., which stands for Humanoid Experimental Robot, B-Type, Integrated Electronics. It functions as an assistant and apparently a decent cook in the Baxter Building.
The Thing in Disguise
Due to his appearance, Ben, aka The Thing, puts on a trench coat and hat so he doesn’t scare anyone who looks his way. In the comics, Ben struggles the most with his newfound powers and finds it hard to connect with people. He does, however, find love with a blind sculptor named Alicia Masters, who many fans have speculated will be played by Natasha Lyonne in the movie.
The Baxter Building
The Fantastic Four reside in the Baxter Building, a skyscraper that towers over Manhattan and serves as the headquarters for the team. It’s another iconic, tall building in the Marvel universe, alongside Avengers Tower.
The Fantasticar
While it’s not confirmed that the retro, blue car seen in the trailer is actually the Fantasticar, the color alone lends some credibility to the theory — plus there’s a 4 logo on the front of it. In the comics, the Fantasticar is a hovering, four-seated vehicle that the team travels around in, and it made a brief cameo in last year’s “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
Heading to Space
Before they got their powers, Reed, Sue, Ben and Johnny were regular astronauts who traveled to space to explore the far reaches of the galaxy. It appears that they may work for the Future Foundation, a philanthropic organization founded by Reed to help humanity.
