Marvel just dropped new clip and couple of tie-in TV spots for The Fantastic Four: First Steps promoting the NBA Western Conference Finals. The retro-futuristic tone that I love about the film is front and center.
The clip sees Reed Richards, Sue Storm and Johnny Storm in an elevator going to the top of the Baxter Building, where Ben Grimm and H.E.R.B.I.E. are making dinner. Johnny is eager to catch the start of the game, and considers “flaming on” to fly ahead.
We already knew First Steps was going to take us to an alternate version of the 1960s, a world where technology has advanced far beyond even our modern world, but still looks and feels like the Space Race-era.
That blend of retro optimism and bif futurism is what gives this film its unique pulse, and the latest TV spot leans into that aesthetic. We also get a shot of Ben Grimm jumping intot the drivers seat of the car.
Much of this universe’s progress is thanks to Reed Richards aka Mister Fantastic whose mind-bending tech has reportedly reshaped the very course of human evolution in this timeline.
Director Matt Shakman recently described the film’s visual approach as “a blend of Jack Kirby’s vibrant artistry and Stanley Kubrick’s epic, otherworldly vision.” That gives us a pretty good idea of the creative ambition behind this thing. It’s cosmic, it’s colorful, and it’s daring in a way that feels like a fresh jolt to the Marvel formula.
“Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ben Grimm/The Thing—as they face their most daunting challenge yet.
“Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.”
Directed by WandaVision’s Matt Shakman, the film boasts a high-profile cast led by Pedro Pascal (Reed), Vanessa Kirby (Sue), Joseph Quinn (Johnny), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben), with a supporting lineup that includes John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, and Sarah Niles in yet-to-be-revealed roles.
The script was originally written by Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer, it was revised by Cameron Squires and Avatar: The Way of Water co-writer Josh Friedman, with Eric Pearson (Thor: Ragnarok, Black Widow) giving it the final pass.
