This summer, The Fantastic Four: First Steps will hit theaters and introduce a brand-new generation to Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm, aka Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and The Thing.
This marks the first time the characters have been introduced in the MCU, and it is the third overall movie adaptation of the beloved characters that were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
Now, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach will be playing Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben, respectively.
While a lot is being kept under wraps about this highly-anticipated movie, what we do know is that it’s set in the 1960s and follows the Fantastic Four having to protect Earth from some iconic villains: Galactus and Silver Surfer.
And now, we finally have our first official trailer for the film, which means there are a ton of details and Easter eggs to breakdown that you might’ve missed. So, here are 17 of the best I spotted:
1.
First, Sue and Reed welcome everyone to the Baxter Building in the opening seconds of the trailer. The Baxter Building first appeared in Fantastic Four Issue #3 (1962) and it’s considered the first comic book superhero lair that is well-known to the public.
2.
Reed mentions that they do family dinners every Sunday at 7 p.m. In the Fantastic Four comics, Reed, Sue, Johnny, Ben, and more are often depicted having big dinners together, notably on Thanksgiving.
3.
Similar to WandaVision, director Matt Shakman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps team play with the aspect ratio in the trailer. You can see it shift after Reed and Sue introduce the Baxter Building.
4.
Ben is seen cooking in the kitchen with H.E.R.B.I.E., who first appeared in The New Fantastic Four animated TV series in 1978. Then, he made his first comic book appearance in Fantastic Four Issue #209 in 1979. H.E.R.B.I.E. was created by Reed and Master Xar, who hoped the robot would help them find Galactus.
5.
There’s a quick glimpse of Reed working on some sort of invention/experiment, and it appears to be plans for a Multiverse Bridge. In Dark Reign: Fantastic Four Issue #1 (2009), Reed is tasked with creating the Bridge to observe parallel worlds.
6.
The trailer shows Ben, Reed, Sue, and Johnny as astronauts. In the comics, Reed notably recruits Ben, who is a test pilot and astronaut, to accompany him on a mission to space. Sue and Johnny insist on joining them, too.
7.
Prior to the trailer’s release, Marvel had a countdown sponsored by the Future Foundation, so I’m assuming that is who Ben, Reed, Sue, and Johnny are working for in the film. In the comics, the Future Foundation was created by Reed to better serve humanity’s future.
8.
We catch a glimpse of the spaceship the Fantastic Four take. In the comics, it’s known as Marvel-1. It appeared in the very first issue of Fantastic Four in 1961. Reed designed the rocket with an experimental hyperdrive.
9.
In the trailer, Reed mentions that after their first flight, all of them developed powers like Ben becoming a rock, Johnny catching on fire, and Sue being able to turn invisible. In the comics, this first test flight is when the Fantastic Four are bombarded with cosmic rays and get their superpowers.
10.
While Ben is watching an old interview with himself and Reed, you can see that the TV is on sale at “Kaplan’s.” Jeff Kaplan is one of the writers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
11.
Just a cool little style choice, but when Johnny flames on for the first time in the trailer, you can see that it appears to highlight the dirt, fingerprints, and spots on the camera’s lens.
12.
The Thing masks that the three children are wearing while the city gets attacked look similar to a rare The Thing face mask that was sold in 1967.
13.
There is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it look at a blue car that appears to be titled Fantasticar. The car first appeared in Fantastic Four Issue #3 (1962) and it’s a flying car and the primary mode of transport for the Fantastic Four.
14.
While who he is playing is still unannounced, there is a quick glimpse of John Malkovich’s character. There have been some theories that he could be Ivan Kragoff/Red Ghost, who is a notable villain who first fought the Fantastic Four. His first appearance was in Fantastic Four Issue #13 (1963).
15.
One of the biggest moments to note in the trailer is the shadow that is seen over NYC. This is Galactus, who first appeared in Fantastic Four Issue #48 (1966). He is a cosmic entity — who was once a regular human — who now literally consumes planets to stay alive. He’s one of the biggest villains in the Fantastic Four comics.
16.
Now, at the very end, we see the Fantastic Four all together for the first time in their superhero outfits. The design for them matches the comic books, complete with the all-blue outfits and white gloves and boots.
17.
And finally, the design of the stage is also similar to the famous stage that The Beatles performed on during their first performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.
What did you think of the trailer? Did you catch any other Easter eggs or details? Or have a better theory for one mentioned above? Tell me everything in the comments below!
The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25, 2025.
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