It's out in theaters Wednesday: "Fantastic Four: First Steps," the new Marvel installment, doesn't disappoint.
Cedric Coppola Published on 07/22/2025 at 8:05 p.m., updated on 07/22/2025 at 8:08 p.m.
Conceived by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1961, Fantastic Four is back on the big screen... with the ambition of relaunching a franchise that failed to seduce during a previous reboot ten years ago.
By wiping the slate clean and relying on a solid cast, led by Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby, respectively in the role of Reed Richards (Mr Fantastic), a scientist with extraordinary intelligence capable of stretching his body, and Sue Storm (the Invisible Woman), who manipulates force fields, this 2025 version by Matt Shakman, the mastermind behind the WandaVision series, sets itself the mission of revitalizing an MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) that has been losing momentum since the arc dedicated to Thanos.
"The approach is inspired by the origins of the comics. Matt and producer Kevin Feige's goal was to evoke the nostalgia of the 1960s while capturing the family experience that has characterized the franchise since its beginnings," explains Vanessa Kirby, whose superheroine is pregnant in this installment.
She explains: "Reading their adventures, we see that Reed and Sue are a long-standing couple, with an iconic love story, but also difficult times. They go through hardships, sometimes separations, but they always end up finding each other again. The key question was: why do they stay together? What unites them deeply, even in times of crisis? We wanted to preserve this authenticity."
His co-star, Pedro Pascal, adds: "It was about making sure that the feelings remained at the heart of the film. The Fantastic Four have the distinction of being the first family of superheroes seen in Marvel. They went through a transformation together and are united. This makes them different from other teams like the Guardians of the Galaxy ."
A team brought to evolve in a retro-futuristic aesthetic… which has not been entirely recreated in CGI ( computer-generated imagery , digital special effects).
"Certain sets enhanced our immersion. I'm thinking of Times Square in particular; it was impressive. It was like stepping into another era. It really helped us bring our heroes to life. Personally, my wish was for Reed to be grounded in reality and remain human while exploring the connection with the other members."
Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/The Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are sent into space to confront the terrible Galactus… Sue's pregnancy and the presence of the mysterious Silver Surfer complicate their mission.
To the delight of fans, the Marvel of the summer is finally here and it doesn't disappoint! For once, no more complexity, no more multiverse, no more interwoven stories... The strength of this reboot of the Fantastic Four is to offer a clear, limpid story that puts the family of superheroes facing an all-powerful enemy, the titan Galactus who, aided by the Silver Surfer, threatens to absorb the Earth, unless Reed Richards and his loved ones agree to a major sacrifice.
Faced with a moral dilemma – not unlike that of Joel, also played by Pedro Pascal in The Last of Us – the fine team uses their intellect as much as their strength.
The balance between the different phases is a model of the genre and the action phases, from a space chase to a memorable finale that takes place in Times Square, are successful.
In this pure entertainment, Matt Sharkman also imposes his mark, with his retro-futuristic aesthetic inspired by the 1960s, consistent from start to finish.
He also nurtures the relationship between his quartet, who already possess their powers at the beginning of the film. The key is not to determine how they will succeed in overcoming their differences (they have none, or very few), but to capitalize on their positive energy.
The energy they manage to convey to the viewer. A good point, even if The Thing and The Human Torch remain in the background compared to their two sidekicks.
BY MATT SHAKMAN (United States). With Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn. Fantasy film. 1 hour 55 minutes. Our rating: 4/5
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