I Need Marvel’s Fantastic Four Trailer To Show Me These Three Things, And I Think I Know When We’ll See It

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With James Gunn and his team at DC Films revealing details about this summer’s Superman, comic book enthusiasts eagerly awaiting 2025 releases from Marvel Studios might be curious about when they can get a sneak peek of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Matt Shakman’s film, scheduled for release in July, is one of three Marvel movies slated for 2025, with February’s Captain America: Brave New World and May’s Thunderbolts having already released trailers. Now it’s high time for Marvel’s superhero family to give us a taste of what they’ve been working on.

It’s plausible that Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige is keeping quiet about the release of the Fantastic Four trailer, given it marks Marvel’s debut of this iconic team within the MCU. Since the initial footage will be under intense scrutiny by fans who have been disappointed by past film adaptations of the group, it’s crucial for everything to align perfectly. Here are three key elements I’d like to see in the ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ trailer that would reassure me (assuming they look authentic), and a speculation on when we might expect the trailer to drop.

The team in action, specifically The Thing and The Human Torch

Matt Shakman’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” and James Gunn’s “Superman” share a similarity as they both introduce their titular heroes with their powers already manifested. This eliminates the need for repetitive origin stories, allowing the audience to jump right into the action. Consequently, the trailer for “The Fantastic Four” could start off aggressively with scenes displaying the team employing their distinct abilities in combat, offering a sneak peek, theoretically, of the visual effects utilized to bring these characters to life on screen.

Previous iterations of the Fantastic Four movies have grappled with depicting the team’s powers convincingly. The Human Torch has generally been well-portrayed throughout the films, and looks impressive when we catch a glimpse of him in the latest version – portrayed by Chris Evans – from the amusing Marvel sequel Deadpool and Wolverine. I suspect that whatever Shakman and his visual effects team have devised will make Johnny Storm (played by Joseph Quinn) stand out compared to previous representations.

My interest is stirred by the enigmatic Thing. Will he be portrayed as a man in a suit or entirely computer-generated imagery (CGI), like Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk? The set photos for Eben Moss-Bachrach hint at a blend of both, but ensuring that Thing, Torchy, and the entire Fantastic Four appear cool and authentic is crucial to the film’s success. This movie marks their initial strides into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and beyond.

The team’s alternate universe

It’s a clever approach to place “The Fantastic Four” within a universe separate from the MCU that coexists alongside it. Marvel Studios has already laid the groundwork for the Multiverse, delving into it extensively through shows like “Loki,” “Deadpool,” and the animated series “What If?” By setting the story in an alternate New York City, it eliminates the need to explain their absence until now. This also allows Matt Shakman to create a unique world, which I’m eager to see more of when the trailer is released.

Fans of Fantastic Four comics are well aware that when science-fiction writers steer the story, the intelligent team shines brightest, taking readers and viewers on thrilling journeys to distant galaxies brimming with both wonder and peril. A sneak peek at an alternate world was given in the movie’s one-sheet poster, sparking our curiosity for more exploration. Questions abound: What does Fantastic Four’s Manhattan look like? Will it truly embody the 1960s art deco aesthetic suggested during production? How will the Baxter Building fit into the team’s blueprint, and is there any truth to the rumors that it will replace Stark Tower? We are eager to discover more about this alternate universe. Could Pizza Poppa, a character who sells pizza balls, be lurking among its streets? Now THAT would make for an exciting Easter egg!

Galactus and the Silver Surfer

I’m strongly advocating for Galactus and the Silver Surfer to make an appearance in the initial trailer of The Fantastic Four. Both characters have graced our screens before in live-action adaptations, but I believe they deserve a more faithful representation. I can’t wait to witness how Marvel Studios integrates them into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

I’m quite hopeful about Galactus, as Feige and Shakman seemingly hinted at its appearance during their San Diego Comic-Con presentation in 2024. In the sneak peek they shared, there was a brief glimpse of Galactus peering into a skyscraper’s window, which might have been the Baxter Building, although it was difficult to confirm. However, this quick shot gave us a taste of the grandeur and magnitude of the villain, and I can’t wait to see more dynamic scenes featuring him.

Also, he was not a cloud. (Pause for laughter at this inside joke.)

There’s speculation that additional iconic Fantastic Four adversaries could make an appearance in the final film, with some believing Paul Walter Hauser might portray The Mole Man, which would be exciting. In a similar fashion to Marvel films such as Captain America: The Winter Soldier introducing lesser villains like Batroc, it’s possible that they will be introduced first without relying on them for the main storyline. However, I suspect Galactus will be a crucial element in the narrative that Shakman and his team aim to tell in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, so keep an eye out for him in the trailer!

When might we see it?

It appears that there are two likely release dates for the trailer of “The Fantastic Four,” and both are coming up quite quickly.

It seems my estimation is that Marvel Studios will probably release the movie around the time when “Captain America: Brave New World” hits theaters. Most likely, we’re looking at a release date within the week of Valentine’s Day. The strategy here is to make it available online first as an added feature to screenings of “Captain America”. This has been a common practice among studios to generate excitement for the opening weekend.

It seems like my second hunch suggests that we might not need much time before we get our first glimpse of the Fantastic Four.

This is why it’s likely: The Super Bowl falls on Sunday, February 9. Traditionally, the Super Bowl serves as a platform for premiering major movie trailers. It wouldn’t surprise me if Marvel Studios unveiled a trailer snippet during the Super Bowl broadcast, leading fans to view the full trailer online. Once they’ve seen the extended version, it will be linked with Captain America. At that point, the First Steps campaign will officially kick off.

1) It’s almost here! Just under a month now, and I believe everything is doable since Superman’s premiere, scheduled a little before Fantastic Four, has already unveiled its trailer, implying Marvel should follow suit. However, if Fantastic Four decides to emulate Blade by shifting its release date, it would necessitate a more extensive production – let’s hope that doesn’t occur in the coming weeks.

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2025-01-14 22:37