Marvel Studios has teased the debut trailer for the highly anticipated upcoming movie, *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*. A short clip, titled ‘PREPARE 4️⃣ LAUNCH,’ captures a group of excited children dashing towards a shop window where a crowd is already fixated on retro television sets. The screens display a rocket soaring into the sky and the Fantastic Four donning space suits, accompanied by the message ‘Prepare 4 Launch.’ Although two other screens are partially obscured by the onlookers, the visible content and overall aesthetic of the shot suggest that *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* is set in a 1960s retro-futuristic world.
The Future Foundation invites you to take your first steps into a fantastic new era.
Launch coverage begins at 7AM ET | 4️⃣AM PT: https://t.co/kiqb0cCVc2 pic.twitter.com/OVgPh3Qi36
— Fantastic Four (@FantasticFour) February 3, 2025
Marvel refers to this event as ‘Launch coverage,’ which is set to start at 7am ET on February 4, which translates to a challenging 4am PT. The video description tantalizingly states, "The Future Foundation invites you to take your first steps into a fantastic new era."
Scheduled for release on July 25, 2025, *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing. Ralph Ineson portrays the formidable Galactus, and Julia Garner takes on the role of the enigmatic Silver Surfer. The film also features Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles. Directed by Matt Shakman and produced by Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige, the movie promises to be a thrilling addition to the MCU.
Here’s the official synopsis for *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*:
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family — Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.
At New York Comic-Con (NYCC) in October, fans were treated to artwork showcasing key figures from the MCU, including the first live-action glimpse of The Fantastic Four’s Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics, a.k.a. H.E.R.B.I.E.
Speculation is rife among fans that Robert Downey, Jr. might return to the MCU as the iconic villain Doctor Doom, either in *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* or hinted at in some way. Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige has confirmed that the Fantastic Four will play a significant role in the upcoming films *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Avengers: Secret Wars*.
