Marvel fans are eagerly waiting for Fantastic Four: First Steps, the film that will finally bring Marvel’s first superhero family into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The movie is set to hit theatres on July 25, 2025, and features a star-studded cast including Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
Directed by Matt Shakman, this new version of the Fantastic Four is not just another reboot. While there have been live-action films before—most notably the Fox Studios’ versions—this one promises a fresh take on the story. And one of the biggest changes fans will notice is the main villain.
Instead of the usual bad guy Doctor Doom, Fantastic Four: First Steps will feature the cosmic villain Galactus, also known as the Devourer of Worlds. So why the change?
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, director Matt Shakman explained his decision. “Doom is an amazing character,” he said. “But he takes up a lot of space in a movie. Most previous versions tried to do both the origin story and include Doom at the same time. We’re doing something different—we’re skipping both of those.”
This means First Steps is not focused on the Fantastic Four’s origin or Doctor Doom’s story. Instead, the filmmakers wanted to start the team’s journey in the MCU from a brand-new angle. This approach gave them the creative freedom to introduce Galactus as the movie’s main villain.
Galactus will be played by Ralph Ineson, known for his deep voice and intense presence. He’ll appear in a purple and blue costume, which is much closer to his classic comic book look. The filmmakers decided not to go with a fully CGI version of the character like before. Shakman said, “We didn’t just want to use motion-capture. We’ve built a full costume and did many camera tests to make sure the scale and look were just right.”
In the comics, Galactus was first introduced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and he’s one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe. In the 2007 movie Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Galactus was shown as a giant cloud, which many fans didn’t like. This time, Fantastic Four: First Steps brings him back to his colorful and larger-than-life form from the comics.
Interestingly, Doctor Doom hasn’t been forgotten. In fact, fans were shocked when Robert Downey Jr. was announced to play Doom in future Marvel projects. This marks his return to the MCU after his iconic role as Iron Man.
So while Doom isn’t in First Steps, he will definitely return later. For now, fans can look forward to seeing how the Fantastic Four face off against the mighty Galactus in their big MCU debut.
Get ready for a cosmic adventure with new characters, a fresh story, and a powerful villain when Fantastic Four: First Steps lands in theatres on July 25, 2025.
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