Fantastic Four: First Steps Final Trailer Reveals Galactus and a Dark Twist for the MCU
The final trailer for Fantastic Four: First Steps is here and, honestly, it’s not what many fans expected. Instead of the usual superhero victory vibes, this one leans into pure tragedy. With the movie’s release date just around the corner—July 25—the looming presence of Galactus, the legendary Eater of Worlds, is impossible to ignore. This cosmic villain, hidden in shadows throughout earlier teasers, finally gets a full reveal in the latest trailer, showing off just how massive and terrifying the MCU’s newest threat really is. And if you’re hoping for a happy ending, you might want to prepare yourself for something closer to Avengers: Infinity War than the feel-good start of Iron Man.
- Final trailer for Fantastic Four: First Steps released
- Galactus revealed as the main villain
- Film’s tone leans towards tragedy, not triumph
- References to classic Stan Lee & Jack Kirby comics
- Potential for a game-changing ending in the MCU
The Legendary First Encounter With Galactus
Fans of the comics will recognize this storyline. Back in 1961, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby introduced Galactus and his herald, the Silver Surfer, in Fantastic Four #48. As the Watcher ominously put it, Galactus is “the ultimate danger — perhaps the final danger.” Even the all-knowing Watcher gets nervous when the Surfer arrives to prepare Earth for his master’s cosmic hunger. Galactus isn’t evil—he’s just hungry, making him a uniquely complex villain.
First Steps seems to draw inspiration straight from these classic issues. The original “Galactus Trilogy”—a three-part story arc—redefined superhero comics by giving us a villain the Fantastic Four simply couldn’t beat. Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, Ben Grimm, and even the Silver Surfer are completely outmatched. It takes a desperate trip across the universe and a powerful device called the Ultimate Nullifier to make Galactus back off. The deal? Galactus leaves Earth alone, for now, but only after being threatened with total annihilation.
First Steps: Not Your Average Superhero Movie
The new trailer shows Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards looking genuinely scared—he admits he’s not sure Earth will survive this time. The Fantastic Four are totally out of their depth, and to make things even more intense, there’s a new baby in the mix. The scale of Galactus’ threat is clear, and the team’s confidence is seriously shaken.
There’s also a hint that First Steps won’t end with a classic superhero showdown. Based on the ending of Thunderbolts*, the movie might wrap up with a massive sacrifice that changes the multiverse forever, rather than a big fight scene. That’s a bold move for the MCU, but it could make for one of the most memorable Marvel movies yet. At least we can all look forward to what might be the biggest popcorn bucket in cinema history.
