The churning of the rumor mill can finally die down – Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach are set to headline Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated Fantastic Four movie, as per a long-awaited official announcement.
After months of speculation on the casting for the new Fantastic Four movie, the big reveal finally came through a Valentine’s Day-themed artwork posted on social media platforms such as the official Marvel Studios X (formerly Twitter) account, depicting the chosen actors in their respective superhero roles.
Happy Valentine’s Day from Marvel’s First Family! Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn are The Fantastic Four.
Marvel Studios' #TheFantasticFour, in theaters July 25, 2025. pic.twitter.com/dOmLG0m7ie
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) February 14, 2024
The art depicts Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Susan Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing.
Crafted by artist Wesley Burt, the artwork and the accompanying Marvel Studios and Fantastic Four logos evoke the style of the 1960s, hinting at a possible period setting for the film, although official plot details are yet to be revealed. Even H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot is included in the teaser, a throwback to the 1978 Fantastic Four animated series.
The Fantastic Four was created during the height of the Cold War and the Space Race. Setting the film during that period would allow the MCU to chart a mostly unexplored era of superheroics other than brief glimpses in films like Ant-Man and Agent Carter.
The characters, initially astronauts, gain superpowers after exposure to cosmic rays in space. This is one of those classic comic superhero origins that in the real world wouldn’t affect you at all at best, or harm you horrifically at worst.
Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) gains the ability to stretch his malleable body, Susan Storm (Invisible Woman) can manipulate light to become invisible and project force fields, Johnny Storm (Human Torch) can self-immolate, and Ben Grimm (The Thing) undergoes a physical transformation gaining rock-like skin and super strength.
These iconic superhero characters, the brainchild of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, are pivotal figures in Marvel Comics history – not known as the first family for nothing – and fans are eager to see how this new iteration will unfold on the big screen.
Matt Shakman, known for his work on WandaVision and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, has promised a unique approach to storytelling and filmmaking that diverges from previous attempts to bring the Fantastic Four to cinemas.
Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige expressed excitement about incorporating the Fantastic Four into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), emphasizing their foundational role in Marvel Comics. He envisions the Fantastic Four as a significant pillar in the MCU’s future, paralleling their influence in comics for over five decades since the comic book industry’s Silver Age.
The Fantastic Four’s journey to the big screen has been tumultuous, with previous attempts by Roger Corman in the 1990s and mixed reviews for the 2005 and 2007 films. The 2015 reboot, produced by 20th Century Fox, faced criticism and failed both critically and at the box office.
Luckily the characters finally found their home in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox. The casting announcement brought about a change in release dates, with the Fantastic Four now slated for July 25, 2025, and Thunderbolts moving to May 2, 2025.
The F4 project joins other highly anticipated Marvel releases in 2025, such as Captain America: Brave New World in February and Blade in November. The following year, 2026, will see the release of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars among other Marvel Studios Phase Six titles.
Now that the cast is officially out, are you ready to witness the Fantastic Four’s extraordinary journey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Do you think third time’s the charm for Marvel’s First Family?
