10 Ways ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Will Be Different From The Old Movies
After years of cinematic disappointments, Marvel’s First Family is finally getting the movie treatment they deserve — and it’s going to be nothing like what came before. From retro-futuristic aesthetics to skipping tired origin stories, here’s how Fantastic Four: First Steps plans to fix everything that went wrong with previous attempts.
Look, we’ve been burned before. Multiple times. The Fantastic Four have had more failed movie attempts than most superheroes get origin stories, and frankly, it’s been painful to watch. But The Fantastic Four: First Steps might actually be the one that gets it right. With Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach suiting up as Marvel’s First Family, this MCU entry seems determined to fix everything that went wrong before. And based on what we know so far, they’re making some pretty bold choices.
A “Retro-Future ’60s” Aesthetic
Forget everything you think you know about how a superhero movie should look. First Steps is going full retro-futurism, channeling that optimistic 1960s vibe when Stan Lee and Jack Kirby first dreamed up these characters. We’re talking sleek chrome, bold colors, and that “what people in the ’60s thought the future would look like” aesthetic. It’s a complete 180 from the drab, realistic approach of earlier films. This isn’t just about costumes either—everything from the technology to the set design screams mid-century space age. Honestly? It’s about time someone remembered that the Fantastic Four were born in an era of boundless scientific optimism. This visual choice alone sets the movie apart from anything we’ve seen before.
Skipping the Origin Story (Mostly)
Thank god. Seriously. How many times do we need to see four people get hit by cosmic rays? This MCU version starts with the team already powered up and ready to go. Sure, they’ll probably throw in some flashbacks or news footage to explain how they got their abilities, but the bulk of the movie won’t be spent on setup we’ve seen twice already. This means more time for actual adventure, more space for character development, and — here’s a wild idea — maybe we’ll actually get to see the Fantastic Four being fantastic instead of just becoming fantastic.
Emphasizing the “First Family” Dynamic
Here’s what previous movies never quite grasped: the Fantastic Four aren’t just a superhero team. They’re a family. A messy, complicated, loving family that happens to have superpowers. Reed and Sue aren’t just colleagues who happen to be dating. Johnny isn’t just the comic relief. Ben isn’t just the muscle. These are people who’ve chosen each other, who drive each other crazy, who would die for each other without hesitation. The new film gets this, focusing on the relationships that make these characters special. When your biggest strength isn’t individual power but how you work together as a unit, family dynamics become everything.
A More Comic-Accurate Galactus and Silver Surfer
Remember that embarrassing cloud thing from Rise of the Silver Surfer? Yeah, we’re pretending that never happened. This time around, Galactus is showing up in all his towering, cosmic glory — exactly like he appears in the comics. No more “space cloud” nonsense. And Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer? She’s playing Shalla-Bal, which is already more interesting than the previous version. Finally, we’re getting cosmic villains that actually feel cosmic, not watered down for some misguided attempt at “realism.” When you’re dealing with a planet-eating entity, embrace the absurdity.
A Visually Evolved Thing
Poor Ben Grimm has had it rough in live-action. From stiff rubber suits to early CGI that looked like it belonged in a video game, The Thing has never quite looked right on screen. Ebon Moss-Bachrach is changing that with full motion capture technology. This isn’t just about making him look more realistic — it’s about making him more expressive, more human despite his rocky exterior. The Thing works best when you can see the gentle soul underneath all that orange rock, and modern technology finally makes that possible. No more suits that limit movement or CGI that looks fake. Just pure, emotional Ben Grimm.
A Different Take on Johnny Storm’s Charisma
Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm is apparently getting a personality upgrade. Instead of the shallow, womanizing hothead we’ve seen before, this Human Torch has some emotional intelligence. He’s still charismatic, still the team’s source of energy, but he’s also more considerate of others’ feelings. It’s a small change that could make a huge difference. Johnny works best when he’s the heart of the team, not just the comic relief. Making him more self-aware while keeping that spark? That’s character development done right.
A Stronger, More Nuanced Sue Storm
Sue Storm has been criminally underused in previous films, often relegated to “the girl on the team” status. Vanessa Kirby’s version sounds like it’s fixing that problem. This Sue is a scientist, a leader, potentially a mother — she’s a fully realized character with her own agency and motivations. The Invisible Woman is often considered the most powerful member of the team, and it’s about time a movie acknowledged that. Her force fields aren’t just defensive tools; they’re weapons. Her invisibility isn’t just about hiding; it’s about strategy. Finally, Sue Storm gets to be a complete character instead of just Reed’s girlfriend.
Focus on Sci-Fi Exploration and Wonder
The Fantastic Four work best when they’re exploring the unknown, diving into cosmic mysteries, and encountering things that make your brain hurt in the best possible way. Some of the previous films felt too grounded and too concerned with making things “realistic.” But the FF comics are about wonder, about scientific curiosity, about pushing boundaries. This new movie seems to understand that. Expect dimensional travel, cosmic entities, and the kind of mind-bending sci-fi concepts that make the Fantastic Four unique. When your lead character is the smartest man alive and your team regularly travels to other dimensions, why limit yourself to Earth-based threats?
No Doctor Doom (for now)
Victor Von Doom is sitting this one out, and honestly? Good call. Doom is the Fantastic Four’s greatest enemy, but he’s also their most complex one. Rushing into that relationship without properly establishing the team first would be a mistake. Galactus works better as a first big bad anyway — he’s a cosmic threat that requires the whole team working together. Save Doom for later when you can really dig into his relationship with Reed, his tragic backstory, and all the political intrigue that makes him fascinating. Sometimes the best villain move is knowing when not to use your ace in the hole.
The MCU’s Signature Tone
Here’s the thing about Marvel Studios — they just get it. While other studios were still figuring out how to make superhero movies that didn’t suck, Marvel cracked the code years ago. They know when to be funny, when to be serious, and how to make you care about characters even when they’re dealing with world-ending threats. The previous Fantastic Four movies were either too grim and serious or too campy and ridiculous. Marvel has this weird ability to make you laugh at a talking raccoon one minute and cry over a robot the next. That’s exactly what the Fantastic Four need — a studio that won’t be embarrassed by the source material but also won’t treat it like a joke. Finally, after all these years of disappointment, Marvel’s First Family might actually get the movie they deserve.
