Kevin Feige shares howThe Fantastic Four: First Stepswill honor the characters' comic book roots ahead of theirMarvel Cinematic Universedebut. When it comes to the Fantastic Four in live-action, the beloved group has not always had the best track record, but the MCU is about to change that.The Fantastic Four: First Stepsmovieis just around the corner, since there is only a little more than a month left to go before its release, the MCU reboot of Marvel’s First Family has already shown signs of being more accurate to the comics.
While speaking toEmpire Magazinein their newest edition, Feige opens up about the lessons he learned from producing the originalFantastic Fourmovies for Fox in 2005 and 2007 before the MCU franchise kicked off. Since Feige now gets to bring Marvel’s First Family into the MCU throughThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, the Marvel Studios president shared the following on how the 2025 installment will be different from the original live-actionFantastic Fourfilms:
I was around for those early Fantastic Four movies… and like all of the pre-MCU movies, I learned a lot. I always thought, if we ever got creative autonomy ourselves, we might do things a little differently… It was a different time… there was still a bit of a fear of being silly.
What Kevin Feige’s Comments Mean For The Fantastic Four: First Steps
It’s worth remembering that before the MCU,Hollywood studios were hesitant about investing in the comic book genre, after how the late 1990s resulted in films likeBatman & Robin. Even thoughthe Fantastic Four charactersare some of Marvel’s most iconic heroes, bringing them to life in the early 2000s was easier said than done, as there was also an attempt to appeal to general audiences who had never read the comics. However, while having memorable moments, it can’t be denied that Fox’s originalFantastic Fourfilms didn’t tap into the beloved elements that Feige is talking about.
With Feige’s commitment to honoring the team’s legacy in the MCU, it also explains why the reboot took as long as it did to get made,afterthe MCU’sFantastic Fourmoviewas announced to be in development all the way back in July 2019. SinceThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsis positioning the heroes to have a central role in the MCU going forward, this was never a film that could be rushed. That includes Feige and Marvel Studios figuring out how to elevate the source material while also making it work through the lens of the MCU franchise.
Our Take On Kevin Feige’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps Comments
Based on Feige’s vision forThe Fantastic Four. First Stepsand what has been revealed through the trailers and marketing material,it’s clear that the MCU will be the franchise to give a solid depiction of the Marvel icons. Since theFantastic Four characters will be back inAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars, there is already so much to look forward to with Phase 6 for these characters. After years of gettingThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsready for release, it looks like Feige’s hard work will have paid off.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Cast
The Fantastic 4: First Steps features Marvel’s First Family navigating their dual roles as superheroes and family members in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. They defend Earth from a formidable space god, Galactus, and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer, testing their familial bonds and heroic resolve.
