The Fantastic Four: First Steps Brings Marvel's First Family to Life
Marvel's retro-futuristic take on its founding superhero team leans into a stylish 1960s-inspired aesthetic.
By The ITSMOVIES Desk · July 25, 2025 · 4 min read
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, directed by Matt Shakman, brought Marvel's First Family into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a distinctive retro-futuristic style inspired by 1960s space-age design. The cast includes Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm.
The film's alternate-world setting and optimistic visual language set it apart from other recent superhero releases, embracing a clean, mid-century aesthetic rather than contemporary realism.
As one of Marvel's key 2025 releases, First Steps carried the added weight of finally establishing the Fantastic Four within the studio's larger plans after decades of the characters living at other studios.
