The fans gearing up to witness Reed Richards and company in a retro-futuristic 1960s MCU timeline, it’s exciting to see how their powers have evolved for this new cinematic journey. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect.
Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards (Mr Fantastic)
The leader of the Fantastic Four, Reed Richards retains his signature ability to stretch and reshape his body. But this version introduces a twist: Reed doesn’t just bend like rubber, he manipulates space itself, allowing for near-limitless elasticity. Combined with his superhuman intellect, he remains one of the MCU’s most formidable scientific minds. His stretching is portrayed with a quantum shimmer, emphasizing spatial manipulation over cartoonish stretching.
Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm (Invisible Woman)
Often underestimated, Sue Storm emerges as the tactical and emotional anchor of the team. She can render herself and others invisible, but her true strength lies in generating psionic force fields that are powerful enough to block attacks from missiles to interdimensional energy. In this iteration, Sue is portrayed not as a secondary character, but as the strongest among them.
Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm (Human Torch)
Johnny Storm, the team’s resident hothead, returns with enhanced pyrokinesis. He not only lights up in flames and flies at sonic speeds but now can absorb and redirect massive explosions, using them for propulsion or as weapons. His control over fire is now portrayed as almost elemental. His ability to survive and manipulate cosmic-level heat makes him a threat in battles beyond Earth.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (The Thing)
Ben Grimm is the emotional core of the team. Even though he is encased in rock, he is deeply human inside. This version sticks to tradition, portraying him with immense physical strength and near-invulnerability. He’s the first to charge into battle, but the last to give up on his humanity. The film gives greater attention to Ben’s internal struggle, emphasizing pathos alongside power.
Franklin Richards
Teased but not confirmed, trailers have hinted at the birth of Sue and Reed’s son, Franklin Richards — a character known in the comics for reality-warping abilities that rival the likes of Kang and Scarlet Witch. While he may not play a major role in First Steps, his presence sets up future cosmic-level arcs.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits the Indian theatres on July 25, 2025 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu
