Review
After my first viewing of the teaser trailer, I wasn’t immediately impressed. The CGI for The Thing felt off, his voice didn’t match my expectations, Reed’s powers were absent, and the trailer’s flow seemed rushed with poor sequencing.
However, after multiple rewatches, I believe this film has great potential—even though I still have some concerns.
Casting & Character Analysis
Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal)
My initial concerns about Pascal’s casting remain. While he’s a fantastic actor, I’m not yet convinced he fully embodies Reed Richards. Reed is obsessively driven by science and discovery, often to the detriment of his relationships—especially with Sue. Pascal has played loving father figures, villains, and conmen, but can he portray a husband who sometimes neglects his duties due to his intellectual pursuits? The teaser suggests he’s more focused on Sue than the challenges they’ll face. Hopefully, we’ll see him dive deep into multiversal travel, which may explain how this Fantastic Four arrives in the main MCU timeline.
Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby)
Kirby’s Sue Storm looks phenomenal (of course), and the visual effects for her light manipulation powers are stunning. Playing Sue convincingly requires strong acting In general, but especially with her hands, and the trailer suggests she’s up to the task. Sue has always been the heart of the team, keeping them together and grounded, and this is beautifully reflected in her conversation with Reed. I can't wait to see all the new ways they showcase her abilities in this movie.
Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach)
Ben Grimm’s portrayal is the most debated so far. His voice remains human rather than taking on a rougher, raspier tone, which some fans expected. I've seen some argue that this diminishes his “tough guy” persona, and I've seen others appreciate the choice for its emotional depth, appreciating the humanizing of Ben and making his transformation more tragic. I have to admit that the latter better aligns with Reed’s guilt over what happened to his best friend, which is a key aspect of their dynamic.
Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn)
Quinn looks great as Johnny Storm, and the shots of him as the Human Torch are visually stunning. However, we don’t hear much from him—his only line in the trailer is a simple “Hi.” As the least-known actor among the main cast, there’s significant pressure for him to deliver a strong performance, but we’ll need more footage to truly assess his take on the character.
Final Thoughts
While the teaser doesn’t show everything I hoped for, it lays a solid foundation. Pascal’s portrayal of Reed is my biggest concern, but that could change with more footage. The Thing’s voice choice remains divisive, but his overall design is comic-accurate. Sue and Johnny look fantastic, and the film’s commitment to the family dynamic is promising. I should add that there’s also speculation that Robert Downey Jr. could portray Doctor Doom from this universe, which would make his casting more acceptable if that's the route their aiming for. Galactus seems to be the big bad in this movie and we as fans have to agree that this is a big-well needed step up from the cosmic clouds we had to deal with before. Could Galactus force them to abandon their universe and enter the current MCU timeline? Will Reed and the team struggle with that moral dilemma? We'll have to wait to find out.
I’ll remain cautiously optimistic until we see more. Let’s hope Fantastic Four: The First Steps delivers the film this iconic team deserves!
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