Eighteen years ago, Galactus was little more than a cloudy disappointment. Introduced in ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer’ as a vague cosmic storm, the iconic Marvel villain lost his intimidating persona in favor of what many fans considered a safe, diluted interpretation.
Fast-forward to 2025, and Marvel Studios is taking a bold leap in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps.’ This leap honors the source material while embracing the MCU’s cosmic expansion. Marvel boss Kevin Feige is leading the charge. And it’s clear he wants to ensure that Ralph Ineson’s Galactus is every bit as menacing as Stan Lee imagined.
Kevin Feige On Why The Time Was Right For A Comic-Accurate Galactus
Kevin Feige addressed why Galactus had to be comic-accurate this time around. According to Feige, the MCU is finally in a place where adapting outlandish, larger-than-life designs isn’t just possible, it’s essential. “The fear of something being silly is not a reason enough to not attempt it,” Feige explained (via ScreenRant). “Even for us going back, I think most things, the comics are not silly. I think they’re cool.”
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His point is simple yet profound. Where studios once second-guessed towering helmets and otherworldly beings, today’s audiences have embraced the fantastical. After all, the MCU has already introduced celestial beings like Arishem in ‘Eternals’. Then there was also the Living Tribunal in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’. Galactus, with his colossal presence and signature headgear, no longer feels too “out there.” In fact, he’s right on time.
Feige even compared Galactus to Loki’s horned helmet in 2011’s Thor. Despite being iconic now, the costume piece was initially seen as risky. “We don’t want to hide it. He’s got gigantic, almost makes no sense, huge horns, and we need to embrace that. And we have an actor in Tom Hiddleston who can pull it off. In Ralph Ineson, we have the same thing.”
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Post-Credit Scene Will Set The Stage For ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
If Galactus’ faithful adaptation wasn’t enough to excite fans, Marvel has another major surprise: the return of Joe and Anthony Russo. According to director Matt Shakman, the Russo brothers have directed a crucial post-credit scene for ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Additionally, the scene might directly tie into the upcoming ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’
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“Working at Marvel is like running a relay race; you pass the baton,” Shakman explained. “I passed it on to Joe and Anthony, and they’re off and running.” The fact that the Russo brothers are back in the director’s chair, even for a single scene, speaks volumes. It’s a declaration that the Fantastic Four are no longer on the sidelines. They’re being woven directly into the fabric of the MCU’s central storyline.
Moreover, the post-credit scene reportedly hints at the Fantastic Four’s integration into the main MCU timeline. Early reports suggest that it might show them encountering existing Avengers or reacting to a looming, multiversal threat that will unite Earth’s mightiest heroes once again.
