After years and years and YEARS of waiting, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is finally welcoming Marvel’s first superhero team and family: The Fantastic Four. 
Marvel Studios
This summer, The Fantastic Four: First Steps will hit theaters and introduce a brand-new generation to Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm, aka Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and The Thing. 
Marvel Studios
This marks the first time the characters have been introduced in the MCU, and it is the third overall movie adaptation of the beloved characters that were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. 
20th Century Fox / Everett Collection Previously, the characters appeared in two films in 2005 and 2007, which starred Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, and Michael Chiklis.
Then, the franchise was rebooted again with 2015’s Fantastic Four, which starred Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, and Jamie Bell.
Since then, the characters have been alluded to in recent MCU movies, with alternate versions of Reed Richards and Johnny Storm, being played by John Krasinski and Chris Evans, appearing in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Deadpool & Wolverine.
Now, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach will be playing Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben, respectively. 
Amy Sussman / WireImage / Getty Images Of course, Pedro is best known for his work in films and shows like The Last of Us, Gladiator II, Game of Thrones, and more.
Vanessa has previously starred in The Crown, Pieces of a Woman, and the Mission: Impossible films.
Joseph had his breakout performance in Stranger Things and has since gone on to star in A Quiet Place: Day One and Gladiator II.
And, Ebon is best known for his Emmy Award-winning work in The Bear. He’s also starred in Girls, Andor, The Punisher, and more.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is also directed by Matt Shakman, who notably directed WandaVision.
While a lot is being kept under wraps about this highly-anticipated movie, what we do know is that it’s set in the 1960s and follows the Fantastic Four having to protect Earth from some iconic villains: Galactus and Silver Surfer. 
Marvel Studios
And now, we finally have our first official trailer for the film, which means there are a ton of details and Easter eggs to breakdown that you might’ve missed. So, here are 17 of the best I spotted:
1. First, Sue and Reed welcome everyone to the Baxter Building in the opening seconds of the trailer. The Baxter Building first appeared in Fantastic Four Issue #3 (1962) and it’s considered the first comic book superhero lair that is well-known to the public. 
Marvel / Via youtube.com In the comics, the Baxter Building is located in NYC, on 42nd and Madison Ave.
2. Reed mentions that they do family dinners every Sunday at 7 p.m. In the Fantastic Four comics, Reed, Sue, Johnny, Ben, and more are often depicted having big dinners together, notably on Thanksgiving. 
Marvel / Via youtube.com
3. Similar to WandaVision, director Matt Shakman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps team play with the aspect ratio in the trailer. You can see it shift after Reed and Sue introduce the Baxter Building. 
Marvel / Via youtu.be
4. Ben is seen cooking in the kitchen with H.E.R.B.I.E., who first appeared in The New Fantastic Four animated TV series in 1978. Then, he made his first comic book appearance in Fantastic Four Issue #209 in 1979. H.E.R.B.I.E. was created by Reed and Master Xar, who hoped the robot would help them find Galactus. 
Marvel / Via youtube.com Previously, H.E.R.B.I.E. appeared as a cameo on Fantastic Four (2005) in an extended cut of the film.
Also, there have been a few instances in the comics where Ben cooks, and I love that they are making Ebon a chef in this universe.
5. There’s a quick glimpse of Reed working on some sort of invention/experiment, and it appears to be plans for a Multiverse Bridge. In Dark Reign: Fantastic Four Issue #1 (2009), Reed is tasked with creating the Bridge to observe parallel worlds. 
Marvel / Via youtu.be
6. The trailer shows Ben, Reed, Sue, and Johnny as astronauts. In the comics, Reed notably recruits Ben, who is a test pilot and astronaut, to accompany him on a mission to space. Sue and Johnny insist on joining them, too. 
Marvel / Via youtube.com
7. Prior to the trailer’s release, Marvel had a countdown sponsored by the Future Foundation, so I’m assuming that is who Ben, Reed, Sue, and Johnny are working for in the film. In the comics, the Future Foundation was created by Reed to better serve humanity’s future. 
Marvel / Via x.com You can even see that there are four circles and four lines in the logo. The colors for the lines also seemingly correspond to each member of the Fantastic Four.
8. We catch a glimpse of the spaceship the Fantastic Four take. In the comics, it’s known as Marvel-1. It appeared in the very first issue of Fantastic Four in 1961. Reed designed the rocket with an experimental hyperdrive. 
Marvel / Via youtube.com
9. In the trailer, Reed mentions that after their first flight, all of them developed powers like Ben becoming a rock, Johnny catching on fire, and Sue being able to turn invisible. In the comics, this first test flight is when the Fantastic Four are bombarded with cosmic rays and get their superpowers. 
Marvel / Via youtube.com
10. While Ben is watching an old interview with himself and Reed, you can see that the TV is on sale at “Kaplan’s.” Jeff Kaplan is one of the writers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. 
Marvel / Via youtu.be Not to have total Wanda Maximoff brain, but I also was like, “BILLY KAPLAN?!?!” at first, LOL.
11. Just a cool little style choice, but when Johnny flames on for the first time in the trailer, you can see that it appears to highlight the dirt, fingerprints, and spots on the camera’s lens. 
Marvel / Via youtu.be
12. The Thing masks that the three children are wearing while the city gets attacked look similar to a rare The Thing face mask that was sold in 1967. 
Marvel / Via youtu.be
13. There is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it look at a blue car that appears to be titled Fantasticar. The car first appeared in Fantastic Four Issue #3 (1962) and it’s a flying car and the primary mode of transport for the Fantastic Four. 
Marvel / Via youtu.be
14. While who he is playing is still unannounced, there is a quick glimpse of John Malkovich’s character. There have been some theories that he could be Ivan Kragoff/Red Ghost, who is a notable villain who first fought the Fantastic Four. His first appearance was in Fantastic Four Issue #13 (1963). 
Marvel / Via youtu.be If you have another good theory on WHO he could be playing, hit me up in the comments.
15. One of the biggest moments to note in the trailer is the shadow that is seen over NYC. This is Galactus, who first appeared in Fantastic Four Issue #48 (1966). He is a cosmic entity — who was once a regular human — who now literally consumes planets to stay alive. He’s one of the biggest villains in the Fantastic Four comics. 
Marvel / Via youtu.be The figure we see looming near the Statue of Liberty looks exactly like the helmet in Galactus’ comic book design, too.
16. Now, at the very end, we see the Fantastic Four all together for the first time in their superhero outfits. The design for them matches the comic books, complete with the all-blue outfits and white gloves and boots. 
Marvel / Via youtu.be
17. And finally, the design of the stage is also similar to the famous stage that The Beatles performed on during their first performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. 
Marvel / Bettmann / Getty Images / Via youtu.be
You can watch the full first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps below: 
Marvel / Via youtube.com
What did you think of the trailer? Did you catch any other Easter eggs or details? Or have a better theory for one mentioned above? Tell me everything in the comments below!
The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25, 2025.
