Comic-Con: Breaking Down Fantastic Four Footage and the Rest of the MCU

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Comic-Con: Breaking Down Fantastic Four Footage and the Rest of the MCU

Summary

  • San Diego Comic-Con showcased exciting footage for upcoming Marvel films, including
    Captain America 4
    ,
    Thunderbolts*
    , and
    Fantastic Four
    .
  • Captain America: Brave New World
    introduces adamantium from a Celestial, potentially setting up the X-Men in the MCU.
  • The Fantastic Four: First Steps
    teaser promises a retrofuturistic epic film treatment with a Galactus teaser at the end.

As a lifelong fan of comic books and Marvel in particular, I have eagerly anticipated the upcoming slate of films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Growing up, the Fantastic Four were always my favorite superhero team, and I was devastated when previous attempts to bring them to the big screen fell short. So, when I heard that Marvel Studios was finally going to give us a new take on The Fantastic Four, I couldn’t contain my excitement.

2024’s major happening at San Diego Comic-Con was Marvel Studios’ Hall H Panel on Saturday, July 27th. This followed the special Deadpool & Wolverine screening on Thursday. The studio put on a spectacular drone display to hint at their upcoming projects, with Galactus’s head towering over the San Diego Convention Center and the Fantastic Four logo illuminating the sky. Excited fans camped out for days just to get into Hall H, eager to catch a glimpse of what lies ahead in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

As a passionate gamer, I was beyond fortunate to be among the select few at Hall H for the Marvel Studios panel. Although the footage displayed isn’t accessible to the general public yet, let me share my insights on what we were treated to – sneak peeks from their upcoming trio of films: “Captain America: Brave New World”, “Thunderbolts”, and “Fantastic Four: First Steps”. Here’s a rundown of the tantalizing glimpses Marvel shared, along with key revelations about what we can anticipate from these future MCU movies set to hit the screens in 2025.

Captain America: Brave New World Footage

Two weeks ago, Marvel Studios unveiled a trailer for “Captain America: Brave New World,” giving us fans a sneak peek at what’s to come in the next Captain America installment. The glimpse we got was an expanded look at some scenes from the movie, as well as fresh footage that’s been added to the trailer itself.

In a crucial moment, President Ross (Harrison Ford) convened with international leaders at a significant meeting. He discussed how, following the appearance of the celestial being Tiamut in the Indian Ocean after the events of Eternals, global powers have been vying for dominion over it. However, he revealed that thanks to Captain America’s (Anthony Mackie) endeavors, a remarkable new resource had been uncovered – adamantium. President Ross then introduced this discovery to the world.

Comic-Con: Breaking Down Fantastic Four Footage and the Rest of the MCUComic-Con: Breaking Down Fantastic Four Footage and the Rest of the MCUComic-Con: Breaking Down Fantastic Four Footage and the Rest of the MCU

Indeed, The Celestial will supply adamantium for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, potentially paving the way for the X-Men’s future within the main Marvel storyline. As the scene concludes, it appears to be the same sequence as in the trailer where Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) attempts to shoot President Ross at this location.

1. In the upcoming sequence (previously shown at Cinema-Con), a portion has been trimmed for the film’s promotional trailer. President Ross urges Captain America to reassemble The Avengers. Sam Wilson brings up that Ross disbanded The Avengers by enforcing the Sokovia Accords, but now Ross claims he supports them because they helped restore half of the nation. This echoes a concern Black Widow raised in “Captain America: Civil War” about what happens when the Avengers and Ross clash, but don’t see eye-to-eye, to which Ross replies that they should collaborate. The scene ends before an answer is provided.

1. In this sequence, Sam Wilson suddenly enters a control room, ordering everyone to depart. However, Ruth (Shira Haas) refuses to leave. Ross advises Sam that she remains, but Sam shares his concerns about potential infiltration within the president’s inner circle. Ross instructs Ruth to halt this situation, and when Sam confronts Ross over it, he explains that it’s politics. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ruth is a character portraying Sabra, a figure who has sparked much debate. Here, she has been revamped from a Mossad-trained superhero into a former Black Widow and seems to be playing an antagonistic role.

As a devoted fan, I must say that the recently unveiled footage was nothing short of breathtaking! It showcased an exhilarating medley of action sequences, yet what truly captured my attention was the stunning revelation of The Red Hulk. Although the trailer had hinted at his appearance, the Comic-Con footage seemed to depict General Ross’s first transformation into this iconic character.

The Thunderbolts* Trailer Was Revealed

Comic-Con: Breaking Down Fantastic Four Footage and the Rest of the MCUComic-Con: Breaking Down Fantastic Four Footage and the Rest of the MCUComic-Con: Breaking Down Fantastic Four Footage and the Rest of the MCU

At San Diego Comic-Con, the crowd was treated to an exclusive sneak peek of the Thunderbolts* trailer, due out in cinemas next year in May 2025. The trailer isn’t expected to hit the wider audience until late this year, so it will be intriguing to compare the two versions. The scene opens with Yelena Belova (played by Florence Pugh) approaching her adoptive father, Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), at his shabby apartment. She asks him if he’s content with his life, and despite his living conditions, he insists that he is.

After sharing her concerns that something is amiss with her, she watches as Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) enters a courtroom and John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell) peruses an article on his phone titled “Fall of a Hero,” with his child in a crib nearby. The Pixies tune “Where is My Mind” starts playing as Yelena enters a hidden laboratory, only to be ambushed by U.S. Agent.

Before the arrival of Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), two individuals engage in a fierce battle with each other. Subsequently, this skirmish gives way to an extensive brawl. Later on, they encounter Bob (Lewis Pullman), who appears to be Robert Reynolds, also known as The Sentry. Dressed in a hospital gown, Bob seems bewildered when Yelena queries about who sent him, suggesting he was unwillingly brought there. Suddenly, the room encloses them, revealing they have been ensnared in a trap.

In simpler terms, the trailer reveals that each character in it has a past as hired guns, with an unknown entity attempting to eliminate them all. A sequence of events unfolds, including Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis Dreyfus) attending a party at what seems like the old Avengers headquarters while Bucky is cleaning his Vibranium arm in a dishwasher. Soldiers attempt to shoot down Rob, but their bullets miraculously miss him. The tagline “Beware of who you bring together” precedes the assembly of the team inside an elevator, and Valentina Allegra de Fontaine warns them, “There are good people and bad people…but there are also really bad ones.” It’s unclear if she or someone else is the ominous “worse guy” she refers to.

1. In the closing scenes, there was a humorous coda where Red Guardian navigated a shabby vehicle, boasting they’d make a fantastic team worthy of a Wheaties box cover, while Yelena suggested ignoring him when he got chatty. Initially billed as “Marvel’s Suicide Squad,” it’s intriguing how the team came together not through official government orders but because someone aimed to eliminate them, eventually bonding in an uneasy partnership.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Footage

Comic-Con: Breaking Down Fantastic Four Footage and the Rest of the MCUComic-Con: Breaking Down Fantastic Four Footage and the Rest of the MCUComic-Con: Breaking Down Fantastic Four Footage and the Rest of the MCU

The most exciting piece of footage, though, was for the newly retitled The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The movie hadn’t even begun filming, and production does not start until July 30, 2024, but director Matt Shakman not only brought out the cast of the movie, including Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, but he showcased some test footage they had made. What was screened was a sizzle reel that sold the tone that the film was going for. While there is a chance none of this footage makes it into the finished film, it helps inform the audience what to expect, and it appears Marvel Studios will give audiences the Fantastic Four the epic film treatment they deserve.

A large portion of the video clips are presented in the 4:3 aspect ratio and have a grainy texture reminiscent of films from the 1960s. This content is provided by The Future Foundation and includes Reed Richards (played by Pascal) hosting an educational science show for kids titled Fantastic Science with Mr. Fantastic. In this program, he discusses the idea of parallel dimensions, subtly suggesting the movie’s connection to the multiverse. When the children appear disinterested, Reed promises to demonstrate an explosion and lights a rocket engine instead.

In this segment of footage, Reed Richards (Moss-Bachrach) and Ben Grimm (Moss-Bachrac) engage in lighthearted banter while wearing their flight suits during a pre-space interview. Following this, Susan Storm (Kirby) provides a quick sneak peek into their home, with Reed explaining that they have a weekly family dinner tradition. Additionally, there’s a glimpse of a romance game show featuring the three male members of the Fantastic Four, with The Thing’s shadow making an appearance.

Amidst these scenes, we alternate between captivating shots of the primary four characters in their spacesuits. They enjoy each other’s company and make their way leisurely towards the spacecraft, creating a sensation reminiscent of both “The Right Stuff” and “Apollo 13.” The atmosphere is further enhanced by the use of retro-futuristic visuals that one would expect from a live-action “Jetsons” film.

In the closing scene of the video, Galactus is revealed, looming outside a skyscraper, presumably the Baxter Building. This perspective effectively emphasizes his immense size. Although there’s a possibility this scene may be cut from the final movie, it offers an exciting prospect for viewers by suggesting the film will offer a grandeur unmatched by previous Fantastic Four adaptations and stay true to the comics’ famous tagline: “The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine.”

As a lifelong fan of Marvel comics and movies, I must admit that the recent ups and downs of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) have been a rollercoaster ride for me. Despite only one film underperforming at the box office, the past few years have felt like a struggle, leaving many fans like myself wondering if the magic was gone. However, after seeing the footage showcased at San Diego Comic-Con, I’m more optimistic than ever about the future of the MCU.

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2024-07-30 02:02