Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for The Fantastic Four: First Steps.The Fantastic Four: First Steps makes a surprising move with The Thing, which opens the door for a Marvel Cinematic Universe theory to be true and raises many questions. Marvel’s latest release is easily the best live-action Fantastic Four movie. While the bar was not exactly right, it was exciting to see the MCU perfectly adapt all of the characters.

Each member of the Fantastic Four had their time to shine in the MCU movie, instantly making the team one of Marvel’s most intriguing, going into the upcoming Avengers movies. Being the Fantastic Four member brought to life with CGI, I was concerned about how Ben Grimm would work. Thankfully, there were no issues, though some questions were raised.

The Thing’s Rock Beard Is A Fascinating Design Decision For The Fantastic Four: First Steps That Immediately Raises Several Questions

Marvel Studios Does Not Have A Problem With Inviting Conversation

In The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s The Thing grows a beard. Were that to happen to any other male character in the movie, no one would have batted an eye. However, the MCU giving The Thing a beard was a surprising choice, as it unnecessarily made things more complicated in a way.

Superhero movies and TV shows have struggled with CGI in the past few years. The Thing’s beard does play a role in the story, but it is not integral to the character. Marvel could have focused on Ben Grimm taking back his idenтιтy and confidence in another way. However, the studio went for the road that made the VFX more complex.

Adding to that, The Thing’s beard is seen on different stages, with him shaving it throughout the movie. That makes it even harder to get the CGI right. Another aspect of The Thing’s beard that intrigued me is that by giving him one, Marvel invited fans to question his physiology. I believe The Thing is still aging regularly, as the beard shows.

The Thing’s Rock Beard Makes An Avengers Movie Theory Seem More Likely

While it does lead to questions as to why Marvel would make the movie’s VFX harder to perfect and also invites too many questions about how one of the Fantastic Four’s members works, The Thing’s beard is the perfect lead-up to an Avengers movie theory. With the multiverse, multiple versions of the Fantastic Four could show up in the Avengers movies.

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After all, Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm and John Krasinski’s Reed Richards have already appeared in past MCU movies. If Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s The Thing were to meet Ben Grimm variants, the beard could help distinguish them. Thinking more about it, I like the choice. It sets up a solution to a potential problem and boosts Ben’s confidence in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.