The first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps has been released, and it met my high expectations for The Thing, who looks much better in the Marvel Cinematic Universe than he did in Fox’s last Fantastic Four film. I’m a big fan of the 2000s Fantastic Four cast. I think most, if not all, actors who were part of those two Fantastic Four movies were a great fit for their roles. Then came the worst of the live-action Fantastic Four movies, 2015’s Fantastic Four, aka FANT4STIC.
There were quite a few issues with the project, which I hope are not repeated in The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ story. Based on the first trailer for the MCU project, I have to say that it seems like Marvel Studios understood the ᴀssignment and is going for the more beloved route of the comics than the bumpy road of the team’s other live-action films. After 2015’s Fantastic Four, I was afraid of how Marvel would handle The Thing, but now that the trailer was released, I’m happy with how things are working out.
The Fantastic Four: First Step’s Trailer Has Finally Revealed What The Thing Looks Like In The MCU
Marvel Has Done Right By A Beloved Character
After a slightly controversial release strategy for the Fantastic Four movie trailer, Marvel Studios released the first extended look at the upcoming movie. I loved the first The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer. The tone of the film is consistent with the hopeful and fun style of the team’s comics, with the MCU doing a great job of making every character look good. Chief among them is The Thing. Due to the CGI vs practical effects debate, I believe that a lot more has to go into getting The Thing right than where the other characters are concerned.
In the first Fantastic Four movie trailer, Marvel Studios shows the character in several different scenarios. The Thing’s CGI is put opposite both darker and brighter backgrounds, which offer different results. As there are still five months until the movie’s release, the VFX will continue to be polished until then, so any imperfections should be worked out before release. The MCU’s design for The Thing is very close to how he looked when Ben Grimm debuted in Marvel Comics. Based on how this is the team’s first MCU appearance — set in the 1960s — I think the choice works.
I’m So Happy With How The MCU Has Handled The Thing’s Design
The Perfect Mix Of Emotion And Action
I’m a fan of what I have seen of Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s version of The Thing so far. The Fantastic Four movie managed to make the character have some of the stiffness one would expect from what is essentially a walking statue, but also left room for the character’s emotions to come through. The Thing is happy, sad, determined, and more in The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ trailer. Every nuance in Moss-Bachrach’s performance was perfectly captured by the crew working on The Thing’s CGI, and the result was quite impressive.
As I thought the design for Michael Chiklis’ The Thing from the 2000s Fantastic Four movies was good, I’m happy that Marvel went for a different take on the character that still managed to make him as exciting. While a practical The Thing stand-in was spotted when The Fantastic Four: First Steps was filming, actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach has commented on the many animators working on the character’s CGI look, revealing “literally hundreds of people” are involved in the process. With a classic design that makes The Thing look intimidating and endearing at the same time, the MCU has done great.
The MCU Getting The Thing Right Is Even More Crucial After Fox’s Fantastic Four Mishandling
The Latest Fantastic Four Movie’s The Thing Was Not That Good
The main reason I was worried about how The Thing would look in the MCU is because I disliked his design in 2015’s Fantastic Four. That movie as a whole was far from ideal, but talking specifically about where Ben Grimm is concerned, I never found Jamie Bell’s look as the rocky character appealing. The CGI did not blend quite as well as it does in The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ trailer, which excels particularly in its darker scenes. I think the MCU has done a better job of making The Thing feel real.
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The 2015 Fantastic Four presented a generic design for The Thing. However, the MCU does the complete opposite, going to one of the character’s most iconic periods in the comics for inspiration. The result, while possibly jarring for those who have only watched the Fantastic Four in movies or animated series, is very exciting to me. It shows that a lot of love was put into the project, with Marvel intending to make it stand out from the rest of the team’s live-action offerings. After Fox’s failure, The Thing’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps design is a reason to celebrate.
All Announced Upcoming MCU Movies
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Captain America: Brave New World
- Release Date
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February 14, 2025
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Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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Spider-Man Homecoming 4
- Release Date
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July 24, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
- Release Date
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May 7, 2027
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