The first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps has dropped, giving us our first look at Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Marvel's First Family, alongside their robotic companion, HERBIE. The retro-futuristic aesthetic is striking, and the overall tone feels refreshingly different from typical MCU fare. While the July 25, 2025 release date has us eagerly anticipating the film, one character particularly commands attention: Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.
Doctor Doom's Absence and Galactus' Prominence
While Doctor Doom's presence is minimal in the trailer, Galactus' depiction appears significantly closer to his comic book counterpart than previous attempts, notably the underwhelming portrayal in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. This article explores why The Fantastic Four: First Steps seems poised to finally deliver a faithful adaptation of this iconic Marvel villain.
Who is Galactus? A Cosmic Overview
For those unfamiliar, Galactus is a cosmic entity from the Marvel universe, co-created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #48. Originally Galan, a mortal survivor of a previous universe, he was transformed by the merging with his universe's sentience into the first being of the new universe. Now Galactus, he roams the cosmos, sustaining himself by consuming life-bearing planets. He often employs heralds to locate these planets, the most famous being the Silver Surfer.
His first encounter with the Fantastic Four involved a warning from the Watcher, who violated his non-interference oath to save Earth. The FF battled the Silver Surfer, but ultimately, the Human Torch had to retrieve the Ultimate Nullifier – a weapon capable of harming Galactus – from Galactus' worldship, Taa II. Threatened with the Nullifier, Galactus spared Earth. This established Galactus as a recurring antagonist, battling the Fantastic Four and Thor on numerous occasions. While not traditionally "evil," he's a morally ambiguous figure driven by survival. However, previous big-screen adaptations have fallen short.
AnswerSee ResultsA Reimagined Galactus
Despite appearances in cartoons and video games, Galactus' only previous cinematic appearance was in 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, a widely criticized portrayal. The film's version, a featureless cloud, lacked the iconic comic book design and was easily defeated.
This time, however, the trailer and previous teases (like the drone light show at San Diego Comic-Con) suggest a much more faithful adaptation, closely resembling Jack Kirby's original design. The choice of Galactus as the main villain for the reboot is significant, indicating Marvel Studios' awareness of past shortcomings and their commitment to getting it right. With Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom seemingly reserved for future Avengers films, Marvel can fully focus on giving Galactus the MCU debut he deserves.
This is crucial given the MCU's recent challenges. Galactus represents one of the few remaining high-profile villains with the potential to revitalize the franchise. A successful adaptation could significantly improve the MCU's reputation and build excitement for the upcoming Avengers films, in which the Fantastic Four are expected to play major roles.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 Stills
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The anticipation for seeing iconic Fantastic Four villains like Galactus has always been high. While the focus has shifted to the team itself, Galactus' presence remains a significant factor in the MCU's potential resurgence after the Multiverse Saga. This trailer suggests that Marvel is finally giving Galactus the live-action treatment he deserves. Only time will tell if this adaptation succeeds, but initial impressions are promising.
