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, along with their robotic companion, HERBIE. The retro-futuristic design is striking, and the trailer's tone feels refreshingly different from other MCU projects. While the July 25, 2025 release date has us buzzing, one character towers above the rest: Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.
Doctor Doom's Absence and Galactus' Prominence
While Doctor Doom is notably absent from this trailer, Galactus' appearance is already far superior to the previous cinematic attempt in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Let's delve into why The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears poised to finally deliver a truly iconic Galactus.
Who is the Devourer of Worlds?
For the uninitiated, 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, becoming the first being of the new universe. Now Galactus, he roams the cosmos, sustaining himself by consuming life-bearing planets. He 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 broke his neutrality to save Earth. The FF battled the Silver Surfer, but ultimately, the Human Torch had to retrieve the Ultimate Nullifier – capable of harming Galactus – from Galactus' worldship, Taa II. Threatened with the Nullifier, Galactus spared Earth. This established Galactus as a morally ambiguous figure, surviving by consuming planets, not inherently "evil." Despite his iconic status, previous film adaptations have fallen short.
AnswerSee ResultsA Reimagined GalactusWhile Galactus has appeared in cartoons and video games (including the '90s Fantastic Four cartoon and Marvel vs. Capcom 3), his previous film appearance in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer was underwhelming. The film's version, a featureless cloud, lacked the iconic comic design and was easily defeated.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears to rectify this. The trailer, along with a drone light show at San Diego Comic-Con, suggests a faithful adaptation of Jack Kirby's classic design. Marvel's choice of Galactus as the villain for their reboot speaks volumes; they clearly aim to correct past mistakes. With Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom potentially reserved for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, Marvel can fully focus on Galactus' MCU debut.
This is crucial given the MCU's recent struggles. Galactus represents a powerful villain with the potential to revitalize the franchise. A successful portrayal could significantly boost the MCU's reputation and generate excitement for the upcoming Avengers films, in which the Fantastic Four are slated to play major roles.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 Stills
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The past anticipation for the Fantastic Four's rogues' gallery (Doctor Doom, Annihilus, and Galactus) in the MCU highlights Galactus' significance. While the Fantastic Four's current positive reception is welcome, Galactus and related characters could be the key to rejuvenating the MCU post-Multiverse Saga.
Galactus is a prime Fantastic Four character, and a compelling live-action portrayal is long overdue. Judging by the trailer, The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears to be on the right track.
