50 Fun Facts About The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Who plays Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps?

Adam Driver reportedly declined; Pascal wanted a Mid-Atlantic accent but Marvel asked for his natural voice.

Who plays Sue Storm?

Emma Stone reportedly turned it down; Kirby wove in elements of Sue's dark 'Malice' persona from the comics.

Which star of The Bear plays Ben Grimm / The Thing?

He performs the Thing via motion capture and got tips from Mark Ruffalo, and the character grows a rocky beard like in the comics.

Who plays Johnny Storm?

The Stranger Things actor and Kevin Feige agreed the old womanising Johnny would not read as 'sexy' to modern audiences.

Who directed The Fantastic Four: First Steps?

The WandaVision director replaced Jon Watts, who stepped down in April 2022 to take a break from superhero films.

In which decade is the film's retro-futuristic world set?

Shakman called it 'part what you know from the '60s, but part what you've never seen'.

What is the numerical designation of the universe the film is set on?

The number comes from Jack Kirby's birthday, August 28, 1917, revealed at the end of the credits.

What anniversary is the world celebrating as the film opens in 1964?

Unlike every previous Fantastic Four film, the origin story is skipped entirely.

What philanthropic organisation founded by Sue has brought global demilitarisation and peace?

Its headquarters is at the base of the Baxter Building, on the site of the real United Nations HQ.

What news do Reed and Sue share early in the film?

The world immediately wonders whether the baby will have powers, and Galactus soon has his own interest.

Who plays the Silver Surfer, here named Shalla-Bal?

She took surfing lessons despite a fear of the ocean, and performs the character via motion capture.

What is the name of the Silver Surfer's home planet?

She agreed to serve Galactus to spare it, a deal she comes to regret.

Who plays Galactus?

Bardem was the first choice but clashed with F1; Ineson had played a Ravager pilot in Guardians of the Galaxy.

What does Galactus offer in exchange for sparing Earth?

He senses the child's cosmic power could take on his hunger; the team refuses and flees.

What is the name of Reed and Sue's son?

He is born aboard the ship after Galactus induces Sue's labour, and later revives his mother.

What celestial object helps the team escape the Silver Surfer, at the cost of their FTL system?

Its gravity delays the Surfer and slingshots them home, a month-long trip.

What is Reed's plan for saving Earth from Galactus?

It needs huge teleportation bridges built across the globe.

Where is the last teleportation bridge, the one Galactus is lured to?

An entire Pinewood backlot was given over to the Times Square set.

How does Johnny get through to the Silver Surfer?

He plays her recordings from planets she helped destroy, and she flees in remorse.

Who is Harvey Elder, played by Paul Walter Hauser?

A former enemy turned ally, he agrees to evacuate New York's citizens underground; Shakman likened him to a union leader.

Who finally pushes Galactus through the portal?

She stops Johnny from sacrificing himself and goes through with Galactus as the portal closes.

What happens to Sue after she uses all her power to hold Galactus?

It is the first sign of just how powerful the baby is.

Who is the man in the green cloak holding a metal mask in the mid-credits scene?

Robert Downey Jr. shot the uncredited cameo during production of Avengers: Doomsday; his face is never shown.

What is the name of the Fantastic Four's robot assistant?

Matthew Wood voices him; his abilities change with the data tape inserted in his head.

What is the Fantastic Four's spaceship called?

It takes its name from Stan Lee's catchphrase and was designed with help from a former NASA astronaut.

Where is the Baxter Building located in the film's New York?

Its rocket launch platform juts out over the East River.

Which Stanley Kubrick film inspired the look of Reed's three-room lab?

A red room for inventions, a yellow room with blackboards for thinking, and a blue room for monitoring.

Who plays talk show host Ted Gilbert?

The Sherlock co-creator's show is where the team makes its big announcements.

Natasha Lyonne's schoolteacher Rachel Rozman is thought to be named after whom?

She is Ben Grimm's love interest.

Which actor's role as Red Ghost was cut entirely from the finished film?

Shakman called it heartbreaking; the Surfer took over Red Ghost's role of destroying the bridges in the climax.

Cast members from which earlier Fantastic Four project make cameos as journalists and civilians?

Alex Hyde-White, Rebecca Staab, Jay Underwood and Michael Bailey Smith all appear.

Two Timely Comics employees seen drawing when the Surfer arrives are nods to whom?

Timely was Marvel's original name; the film also ends with a Kirby quote.

Which video game did Kevin Feige share a clip from as a reference for portraying Galactus?

Feige had long wanted to use the villain from the comics' Galactus Trilogy.

Which Spanish city hosted filming for the Baxter Building lobby and assembly hall?

Four days at the Palace of Congresses in November 2024, after the main shoot at Pinewood in England.

Who composed the score for First Steps?

His Fantastic Four and Galactus themes were previewed during a drone show at San Diego Comic-Con 2024.

First Steps opened which era of the MCU?

Thunderbolts* had closed Phase Five just weeks earlier and teased the team's arrival.

Roughly how much did First Steps gross worldwide?

That made it the highest-grossing Fantastic Four film, ahead of the 2005 film's $333 million.

What Rotten Tomatoes score did First Steps earn?

It was the first Fantastic Four film with a mainly positive critical reception, and audiences gave it an A- CinemaScore.

Where did the film premiere in July 2025?

It opened wide four days later, on July 25.

Which two actors were reportedly Marvel's first picks for Reed and Sue before salary talks fell through?

Feige was said to be trying to contain the studio's talent spending.

Where did the main shoot take place from July to November 2024?

Thirty sets across eight sound stages and two backlots, with practical props wherever possible.

What does the film's closing Jack Kirby quote say you will find if you look at his characters?

'A little of yourself must remain there,' the quote continues.

Under what working title was The Fantastic Four: First Steps shot at Pinewood Studios?

Filming began on July 30, 2024, and the movie was shot for IMAX with WandaVision cinematographer Jess Hall.

Which sound designer voices the robot H.E.R.B.I.E. in First Steps?

He had previously voiced the Quantumnauts, Kang's foot soldiers, in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

First Steps is which numbered film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

It is also the second reboot of the Fantastic Four film series, and deliberately skips the team's origin story.

At which Dorset landmark was a Johnny Storm scene filmed, only to be cut from the movie?

Another deleted scene had Johnny talking with the Silver Surfer at the Baxter Building.

The first teaser was launched at a fan event in which Alabama city, known as 'Rocket City'?

Pascal, Kirby, Quinn and Moss-Bachrach appeared at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center on February 4, 2025.

What was notable about the way the film's Los Angeles premiere was shown to fans?

It was the first Disney premiere to be live-streamed, complete with a performance of Giacchino's musical suite.

Who plays Lynne Nichols, Chief of Staff of the Future Foundation?

Her casting was only revealed in mid-November 2024, near the end of the main shoot.

What release date did Kevin Feige originally announce for the film at Comic-Con in 2022?

The date slipped to May 2, 2025 during the 2023 strikes and eventually to July 25, 2025.