Taking place in a universe completely different to the one inhabited by fan-favourite heroes like Thor, Spider-Man and the Guardians of the Galaxy, Fantastic Four: First Steps offers a fresh start for any newcomers to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Fantastic Four have seen quite a few interpretations on the silver screen over the years but to see them finally brought into the MCU is a dream come true, not least because of how great the casting is.
Given how much we all love Pedro Pascal right now, seeing him step into the role of Reed Richards feels like a no-brainer, whilst the wonderful Vanessa Kirby steals the show as the powerful Sue Storm. Johnny Storm is played by none other than Joseph Quinn who is one of the biggest rising stars of the last few years, and Ben Grimm is brought to life by Ebon Moss-Bachrach who is already familiar with the MCU for his performance in The Punisher.
The chemistry of these four actors onscreen is palpable, and it’s only made all the more fun by the retro-futuristic world that the film depicts, with plenty of technological advancements alongside a 1960s aesthetic. It’s so jam packed with detail that it’s exactly the type of film that’s worth watching a second time at your local Cineworld.
In fact, you might as well treat yourself by upgrading the experience to an IMAX screen (Galactus feels even more towering here) or a 4DX screen which brings you into the action with motion, water, scent and wind. It’s so immersive that you’ll consider yourself an honorary member of the team.
If you do decide to swing by for a second viewing then there are tons of easter eggs worth looking out for…
Fantastic Four #1 recreation
Those who have been reading the Fantastic Four comics since their 1961 debut might have picked up on this. For a split second near the beginning, when there’s a showreel of all the Fantastic Four’s recent achievements, there’s a brief moment when the gang fight a giant beast that’s burst forth from underground.
The beast is actually called Giganto, and the whole set-piece is almost an exact recreation of the cover that featured on the very first issue of the Fantastic Four. While we don’t get to see Giganto again after that, it is a wonderful nod to the group’s long and esteemed history as one of the most enduring Marvel superhero teams.
Doctor Doom’s home-turf
Unless you’ve been sleeping under a rock, you’ve probably heard that Doctor Doom is set to be the next big bad-guy of the MCU with none other than Robert Downey Jr himself taking up the mantle. Those who stuck around for the mid-credits sequence already know that Doctor Doom makes a last minute appearance, seemingly interested in Franklin Richards. While this no doubt sets up some of the plot we expect to see in Avengers: Doomsday, there’s actually a reference to Doctor Doom much earlier in the film.
During the aforementioned showreel, we see that on top of her crime fighting duties, Sue Storm has managed to bring about peace around the world through the Future Foundation. As the camera pans to show all of the countries that support Future Foundation’s efforts, there’s one seat that’s conspicuously unoccupied: that of Latveria. For those who don’t know, Latveria is where Doom resides as the country’s leader, so it isn’t too surprising that the villain hasn’t been forthcoming in efforts at establishing world peace.
A nod to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were the original creators of the Fantastic Four, so it only seems fitting that the two comic book legends were honoured in some way for the group’s first MCU flick. Thankfully there is such a reference, but it can be easy to miss.
When the Herald/Silver Surfer first appears in New York, her presence is spotted by two comic book writers in a nearby building. In the credits, these two artists are listed as Timely Employee #1 and Timely Employee #2 which isn’t just a nod to those legendary creators, but also Marvel’s history. Before Marvel became the powerhouse that it is today, the company once went under the name Timely Publications.
Wanda’s gone, but not forgotten
Director Matt Shakman has quite a few films under his belt, but the man is no stranger to the MCU, having already directed the franchise’s first-ever TV series, WandaVision. Although Wanda suffered a rather unfortunate fate in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, the character’s time in her own show does get a callout here.
If you pay attention to the stores of Times Square then you’ll see the words ‘Westview Appliances Television’ above one of them. Westview served as the setting for WandaVision, and the town that was reluctantly brought under Wanda’s control after the events of Avengers: Endgame.
The original Fantastic Four
Did you know that there was a Fantastic Four film made in the 1990s that was never released? Well, you do now. Even though the film never saw the light of day, its actors were given another chance to be in the spotlight as all four members of the original Fantastic Four appear in First Steps via cameos.
Alex Hyde-White and Rebecca Stab, who played Reed and Sue, appear as newscasters, while Jay Underwood and Michael Bailey Smith (Johnny and Ben) can be seen spotted amongst the workers at a power plant.
There are a few more easter eggs afoot but to see them all, you’ll have to book some tickets to another screening of the Fantastic Four: First Steps, whilst it’s still in cinemas.
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