Marvel Studios has just delivered a jaw-dropping trailer for ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’, offering the most in-depth look yet at the MCU’s long-awaited debut of Marvel’s First Family. Additionally, it’s clear that this is not just another superhero origin story.
It’s a cosmic epic that brings the Fantastic Four into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a massive way. Fans have been overly excited ever since the casting of Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn as the core team. However, now, with this new trailer, the speculation is giving way to genuine awe.
The MCU’s New Silver Surfer Is Finally Here
Arguably the most electrifying reveal in the trailer is our first look at Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal, the MCU’s Silver Surfer. Marvel has made a bold choice here, swapping out the classic Norrin Radd for his iconic love interest and it’s already paying off. Garner’s Surfer is comic-accurate, strikingly designed with a sleek silver aesthetic and chrome white hair. However, despite all this, it’s her intensity that stands out.
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She doesn’t come as a passive messenger. She arrives with purpose. In a chilling moment, Shalla descends to Earth and calmly asks the Fantastic Four, “Are you the protectors of this world?” Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm responds with resolve, “Yes, we are.” It’s an exchange that sets the tone: the Fantastic Four may be new to this universe, but they’re already shouldering its survival.
And then comes the blow, the Silver Surfer solemnly declares Earth has been “marked for death.” This moment cements her as a figure who believes in her mission, no matter how catastrophic. The trailer also hints at Silver Surfer’s tragic backstory. Shalla-Bal, once Norin Radd’s great love, was left behind when he struck a deal with Galactus to save their planet, Zenn-La.
In this timeline, she’s now the one doing Galactus’s bidding. Whether out of revenge, belief, or manipulation, her intentions remain a mystery, but they’re clearly not benign. The scale only intensifies with a final shot including Galactus’s massive foot slamming into Earth’s surface, signaling his arrival. Moreover, this isn’t just another villain. This is the villain, one whose very presence could spell the end of the MCU’s current world.
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Trailer Showcases Reed Richards’s Powers And Sue Storm’s Pregnancy
Beyond the cosmic spectacle, the trailer also peels back the curtain on the personal dynamics that will drive ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’. For the first time, we get to see Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards stretching and morphing his body in battle and the CGI looks surprisingly good. But more than the visuals, it’s his calm, measured demeanor that defines him. He’s the heart of the team, but also its brain, and it’s clear the MCU is positioned as such.
In case you missed it: Why Mr. Fantastic’s Powers Are Hidden In ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Trailer
Then there’s Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm, not just a powerful force field-wielding hero, but a pregnant woman balancing imminent motherhood with the fate of the world. It’s a bold narrative move, adding layers of emotional stakes to an already intense setup. Longtime comic readers will recognize the potential here: Sue and Reed’s son, Franklin Richards, is one of the most powerful mutants in Marvel lore.
With ‘Secret Wars’ and multiversal plots on the horizon, this pregnancy could be the seed of something far bigger, Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm and Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm round out the team. And the public loves them, at first. The trailer opens with scenes of the Fantastic Four being celebrated, cheered, and adored. But as the threat of Galactus looms larger, we see that admiration begins to sour. So, fans can expect to see both the highs and the lows of the team.
