Marvel Studios is going new playbook with its movie Fantastic Four, which hits theaters July 25, 2025. Rather than re-milling on the familiar origin story, the movie brings the popular team—Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm—into the fold as already established family already in play. It is not a reboot, but a wake-up.
Filmed in stylized alternate 1960s, the film weaves mid-century utopianism and cutting-edge technology with tributes to legend comic book artist Jack Kirby and Stanley Kubrick movies. The new aesthetic is visually distinctive niche of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that looks to the past and future.
Pedro Pascal is fantastic, tormented Reed Richards, and Vanessa Kirby is brassy, unapologetic Sue Storm. Joseph Quinn is hot-headed Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach adds a shot of heart and gruffness to portray Ben Grimm, a.k.a. The Thing.
WandaVision director Matt Shakman assures the movie firmly is a family film. “It’s about connection, legacy, and how this amazing group of people are connected to one another in this strange new reality,” he reports. “There’s action, sure—but at its heart, this is an emotional story.”
With its character-driven narrative and world-building that is sensually immersive, Fantastic Four will bring something new to the MCU—and remain faithful to one of Marvel’s greatest teams’ tone.
