Fantastic Four: release date, cast, director, and everything else we know

After years of waiting, the Fantastic Four are here. That's right, Marvel is bringing the gang back in Marvel Phase 6 for a new movie titled The Fantastic Four: First Steps. 

There's a lot to talk about here, such as Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach joining the MCU as Marvel's First Family. We can confirm that the movie will be set in an alternate universe in the '60s, as the official synopsis is finally here. There's even a familiar robot hiding in the first reveal, and Doctor Doom may be making an appearance as well. We know what you're thinking: It's a lot to take in. That's where we come in.

We've broken down everything you need to know about the Fantastic Four release date, cast (including a certain Silver Surfer), and everything we know about the plot so far. So buckle in Marvel fans, and let's learn all about one of the most exciting upcoming Marvel movies down below!

The Fantastic Four: First Steps release date

After a shake-up in the Marvel release schedule, The Fantastic Four: First Steps will hit theaters on July 25, 2025. 

That's the third time it's been delayed. It was originally slated for November 8, 2024, then moved to February 14, 2025, and then moved to May 2, 2025. Luckily, filming begins in July of 2024. "We start shooting at the end of July," Kevin Feige confirmed. "The day after Comic-Con [International: San Diego] is the first day of filming on Fantastic Four."

The Fantastic Four: First Steps cast

The Fantastic Four cast has been confirmed! After many, many rumors, here's who will be who in Marvel's First Family and the supporting cast:

• Pedro Pascal - Reed Richards
• Vanessa Kirby - Sue Storm
• Joseph Quinn - Johnny Storm
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach - Ben Grimm
• Julia Garner - Silver Surfer/Shalla-Bal
• Ralph Ineson - Galactus 

The confirmation means that John Krasinski will not be back as Mister Fantastic. He played the character briefly in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but he is just a variant of the character.

The main four were announced in February, with Julia Garner joining the cast as the Silver Surfer in April. After reports that Galactus will enter the fray as the "main villain." – and Marvel adding fuel to the fire by using a QR code on a Fantastic Four poster to link to a handful of ominous comics – Ralph Ineson, who starred in A24's The Witch, is set to play the galactic supervillain.

Emmy winner and Cobra Kai actor Paul Walter Hauser has been cast in an undisclosed role. Legendary actor John Malkovich has also joined the cast in a mysterious role. We also know that Robert Downey Jr has been cast as Doctor Doom for Avengers 5 (now titled Avengers: Doomsday). 

While he isn't on the cast list above, Doctor Doom made his first comic book appearance in the '60s. So it would make sense to see him at some point in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, especially if the flick is set in that era. Who knows, he may pop up in a post-credit scene. We'll keep you posted as more details head our way!

The Fantastic Four: First Steps plot

Thanks to the surprise release of some press material, the official synopsis for the film is here: "Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel's First Family – Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) 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."

Well, Kevin Feige was right when he said that the film won't be another origin story. The quartet originally gained superpowers after being exposed to cosmic rays on a scientific mission to outer space, but this will seemingly not be portrayed on screen again. 

"A lot of people know this origin story. A lot of people know the basics. How do we take that and bring something that they’ve never seen before? We’ve set a very high bar for ourselves with bringing that to the screen," Feige previously said at San Diego Comic-Con.

Since the origin story has formed the premise of the previous adaptations, it makes sense that Marvel would use a different approach for the upcoming movie. As well as this, the studio does tend to shy away from traditional storylines in their MCU movies. And given the Fantastic Four first debuted back in 1961, there are plenty of other directions they could head in. 

After that test footage was shown during SDCC 2024 of Galactus, we knew immediately that he was main villain. Although, according to industry insider Daniel Richtman, the film is set to "feature multiple villains in small roles, appearing in the film's first act." So, who knows, we may see Doctor Doom pop up as well. 

The first poster gives us a bit more of an idea about where Marvel could be heading with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The first look includes many 1960s references, including a magazine that seems to be Life's December 13, 1963 edition. In an episode of Marvel's new The Official Marvel Podcast, Kevin Feige confirmed the film's 1960s alternate universe setting. 

"Yes, yes, very much so. It is a period. There were a lot of smart people, who noticed that that cityscape didn't look exactly like the New York that we know, or that existed in the '60s in our world. Those are smart observations, I'll say." It's not yet clear if this time period will be in the normal MCU timeline or if we're in for some more multiversal shenanigans. 

We also have another introduction spotted in the poster: H.E.R.B.I.E., who was first introduced in the animated series The New Fantastic Four in 1978. He later debuted in the comics as well, but his inclusion here is intriguing. As a character, he was originally brought in to replace the Human Torch, but we're not yet sure what his role in the MCU will be.

Speaking of posters, a new poster of Fantastic Four's Johnny Storm seems to suggest we are in an alternate universe (which has now been confirmed). Check out that backdrop.

Who is directing The Fantastic Four: First Steps?

As revealed at D23, WandaVision director Matt Shakman is officially directing The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

When Fantastic Four was announced, Jon Watts was signed on to direct the film. The filmmaker is behind the hugely successful trilogy Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home for Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios. However, he’s now confirmed he’s stepped back from taking on another superhero movie. 

He told The Hollywood Reporter: "Making three Spider-Man films was an incredible and life-changing experience for me. I’m eternally grateful to have been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for seven years. I’m hopeful we’ll work together again, and I can’t wait to see the amazing vision for Fantastic Four brought to life." 

Looking for more Marvel? Check out our guide to how to watch the Marvel movies in order as well as what you need to know about the Marvel timeline.