Marvel Studios has unveiled a brand-new trailer for *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*, packed with exclusive footage and intriguing hints about the upcoming film. The preview gives fans a closer look at the team’s dynamic, showcasing The Thing with an unexpected twist—a rugged rock beard—while Human Torch flies him through the sky in one of the trailer's standout moments. Meanwhile, Mister Fantastic flexes his elastic abilities, Invisible Woman demonstrates more advanced control over her powers, and Galactus teases his presence with a dramatic but partial appearance, keeping his full reveal just out of reach.
The Silver Surfer also makes a more prominent appearance than ever before, her metallic voice echoing as she heralds the arrival of Galactus. One of the lighter moments in the trailer centers around The Thing’s humorous refusal to utter his iconic line, “It’s clobberin’ time!”—a running gag that adds some levity to the high-stakes action.
The revelation of The Thing sporting facial hair is particularly interesting, especially since we’ve only seen him clean-shaven up to this point. This suggests that the beard develops later in the story—possibly not until the third act. But if that’s the case, why wouldn’t Ben Grimm shave? Could this imply a longer timeline for the events of *The Fantastic Four*? Is there a significant time jump built into the narrative? And perhaps most curiously—can The Thing even shave? If so, how would he manage it? Marvel has left fans with plenty of questions surrounding this rocky new look.
Fans have speculated that the story spans several months rather than just days, especially after noticing visual clues like Sue Storm appearing both before and after giving birth to Franklin Richards—an important nod to the character’s comic book origins.
Despite the abundance of fresh footage, it’s clear Marvel Studios is still holding back key details. Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards—sporting a mustache that has sparked its own share of discussion—is shown stretching during an acrobatic move onto a platform and later appears to jab something into Galactus’ leg. However, the full scope of his powers remains under wraps, adding to the anticipation.
Galactus himself continues to be shrouded in mystery. While his face hasn't been fully revealed in live-action yet, the trailer offers a glimpse of his massive chest as he seems to awaken. He’s also seen stomping through an alternate history version of New York City, reinforcing the cosmic scale of the threat he represents.
Phase Six Begins Here
*The Fantastic Four: First Steps* is set to officially launch Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, setting the stage for major crossover events including next year’s *Avengers: Doomsday*. Director Matt Shakman recently addressed speculation about Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Doctor Doom, seemingly ruling out his appearance in *The Fantastic Four*. However, the director’s carefully worded response left many fans unconvinced.
What is confirmed is that the events of *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* will directly lead into *Avengers: Doomsday*, scheduled for release in December 2026. As Marvel prepares to introduce its first family and weave them into the broader universe, excitement continues to build for what promises to be one of the most ambitious chapters in the MCU yet.
