Spoiler alert! This article contains spoilers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family to the MCU in a bold, emotionally-driven adventure along with a slew of other characters. Director Matt Shakman delivers a team that feels fresh yet faithful, with a star-studded ensemble and unexpected additions from Marvel lore. First Steps layers character moments with franchise-building intent, introducing several characters to the MCU timeline.

From the core four to surprise supporting roles and a major villain tease, the marvelous Fantastic Four: First Steps featured a wealth of Marvel characters new and old. Notably set apart from previous iterations, First Steps centers the Fantastic Four’s humanity alongside their heroism. Every character contributes to this tone, providing a highly effecti ensemble.

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Reed Richards Played By Pedro Pascal

AKA Mister Fantastic

Pedro Pascal takes on Reed Richards with an emphasis on intellect over muscle. As the elastic genius of the Fantastic Four, Pascal avoided echoing past performances. Instead, he crafted a Reed inspired by the character’s many comic book interpretations, leaning into his insatiable curiosity and visionary thinking.

With Pascal, Reed’s mind – his ability to see the world differently – is his true power. That mindset informs the performance, portraying Reed as a soft-spoken leader who processes emotions through logic. This version is less egocentric and more compᴀssionate, making him the emotional and scientific heart of the team, without losing that signature Reed complexity.

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Sue Storm Played By Vanessa Kirby

AKA Invisible Woman

Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm is a powerhouse in intellect and empathy. As well as her invisibility and forcefield-generating powers, Sue is the founder of the Future Foundation, which has led to a globally demilitarized society. Director Matt Shakman called Sue Storm the most emotionally intelligent person on Earth, and Kirby brings that to life with gravitas and grace.

Drawing from a wide range of Sue’s comic iterations, Kirby emphasized a central through-line of motherhood. That choice roots Sue’s story in nurturing strength, balancing her protective instincts with sharp scientific acumen. Her portrayal oozes warmth and emotional depth, making her the Fantastic Four’s soul and its quiet strategist.

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Johnny Storm Played By Joseph Quinn

AKA Human Torch

Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm is a far cry from the reckless H๏τhead of earlier versions. While still flashy and full of swagger, this Human Torch has a more self-aware edge. Quinn brings in layers of vulnerability and a surprising level of introspection throughout The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

He’s no longer oblivious to others’ emotions and gone are the publicity stunts and gratuitous flirting. The result is a version of Johnny who feels younger, wiser, and more in tune with his role as a superhero. Quinn balances the comedy and pathos, with some particularly compelling moments.

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Ben Grimm Played By Ebon Moss-Bachrach

AKA The Thing

Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm is unlike any Thing previously seen on screen. Realized through motion capture and CGI instead of prosthetics, his portrayal captures a rich emotional range. Moss-Bachrach received advice from Mark Ruffalo on mo-cap acting, and the result is a Thing that feels authentic and grounded.

This Ben doesn’t see his transformation into a rocky powerhouse as a curse – he’s accepted his idenтιтy and wears it with pride. His relationship with his hometown and the people around him adds dimension, especially in scenes with Rachel Rozman. Moss-Bachrach’s comedic timing, coupled with real pathos, makes this version of the Thing the emotional cornerstone of the team.

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Galactus Played By Ralph Ineson

The Devourer Of Worlds

Ralph Ineson brings gravitas to Galactus with his deep voice and imposing presence, made even more striking by a comic-accurate look. Gone is the ambiguous space cloud of Rise of the Silver Surfer – this Galactus wears regal purple-and-blue armor constructed for Ineson to wear on the First Steps set.

His presence looms throughout First Steps, with hints of future complications. Rather than a chaotic cosmic force, Galactus here is a calculated, philosophical enтιтy driven by hunger. Ineson’s restrained but powerful delivery ensures Galactus is a towering threat who leaves a lasting impression.

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The Silver Surfer Played By Julia Garner

AKA Shalla-Bal

Julia Garner delivers a sleek, haunting take on the Silver Surfer – now reimagined as Shalla-Bal instead of Norrin Radd. Her performance is stoic yet elegant, embodying both cosmic detachment and flickers of emotional conflict. Garner’s Surfer is not a former lover turned herald but a desperate mother (like Sue) who operates with quiet persistence.

The redesign retains the iconic chrome look while her femininity adds new dimensions to the character’s aura. She interacts memorably with the Fantastic Four and leaves a mysterious, lingering impression. Her scenes shimmer with a mythic quality, hinting that this version of the Surfer has far more story to tell.

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Franklin Richards Played By Ada Scott

AKA Powerhouse

Franklin Richards is the most powerful being in the Marvel Universe, but spends all of The Fantastic Four: First Steps in diapers. Played by a rotation of infants including Ada Scott, Franklin is introduced when Sue gives birth during the team’s return from space. Though a baby throughout the film, his presence is central.

The movie hints at his extraordinary potential subtly with Galactus’s focus, but it’s when he revives Sue at the end of The Fantastic Four: First Steps that his importance truly clicks. His existence solidifies the family’s new dynamic and deepens Sue and Reed’s arcs. While he doesn’t speak, Franklin’s symbolic role in the film’s themes of legacy and responsibility is crucial, even in baby form.

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Lynne Nichols Played By Sarah Niles

Original MCU Character

Lynne Nichols, played with poise by Sarah Niles, is a brand-new addition to the Marvel mythos. As Chief of Staff of the Future Foundation, Lynne supports Sue Storm in both scientific and diplomatic endeavors. Her role is vital, especially in scenes showcasing the organization’s influence on world peace.

Lynne appears throughout First Steps aiding Sue. Most memorably, she warns Sue of an incoming diplomat so she can turn invisible and hide. Lynne adds gravitas and support, serving as both logistics manager and friend. Her inclusion subtly enhances the world-building without distracting from the main team.

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Ted Gilbert Played By Mark Gatiss

Original MCU Character

Mark Gatiss plays Ted Gilbert, a talk show host whose program bookends the film. Inspired by Ed Sullivan, Gilbert’s show acts as a narrative device to explain the Fantastic Four’s origin to the public – and the audience. The team makes their debut here, and the tone cleverly mirrors 1960s variety TV, establishing the film’s retro-futuristic vibe.

Gilbert’s humor is dry and self-aware, allowing the film to explore the team’s early heroics. He’s set to host them again at the end of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but their abrupt departure due to a new crisis adds a touch of irony. Gatiss brings charm to this fun cameo as a wholly new Marvel character.

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Rachel Rozman Played By Natasha Lyonne

Original MCU Character

Rachel Rozman, played by Natasha Lyonne, is an original character but bears some similarities to Ben Grimm’s former paramour Debbie Green. She’s a teacher working in Ben Grimm’s old neighborhood, and First Steps hints at a blossoming connection between the two. Rozman appears in just a handful of scenes, but her presence brings out Ben’s softer side.

Their dynamic adds subtle character shading to the Thing, exposing his lingering ties to his roots. Lyonne’s trademark wit and sincerity make Rozman feel lived-in, and her chemistry with Moss-Bachrach is effortlessly sweet. While not a major player, she adds warmth and humanity to Ben’s personal journey.