Face front, True Believers! The first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps has landed, giving us our initial glimpse at Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach stepping into the roles of Marvel's First Family. Alongside them, we see the robot companion HERBIE and get a taste of the film's retro-futurism-inspired art design. This trailer strikes a unique tone, setting it apart from other MCU projects, and we're already buzzing with anticipation for its July 25, 2025 release. But one character who truly captures our attention is Galactus, the devourer of worlds, who looms large over the proceedings.
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While we only catch a fleeting glimpse of Galactus in the trailer, his presence feels more true to the comics than the previous attempt in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Let's delve into why The Fantastic Four: First Steps seems poised to finally do justice to this iconic Marvel character.
Who Is The Devourer of Worlds? Galactus Explained
For those unfamiliar with Galactus, here's a quick rundown of his history in the comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #48, Galactus began life as Galan, a mortal from the previous universe before the Big Bang. As the sole survivor, Galan merged with the sentience of his universe, transforming into the cosmic entity known as Galactus. This giant figure roams the cosmos, consuming life-bearing planets to sustain himself. Over time, Galactus employed heralds to scout planets for him, with the Silver Surfer being the most renowned.
During the first confrontation with the Fantastic Four, the team was alerted to Galactus' arrival by the Watcher, who broke his oath of non-interference to save Earth. Despite battling the Silver Surfer, the FF couldn't prevent him from signaling Galactus. When Galactus arrived to devour Earth, the Human Torch ventured into Taa II, Galactus' worldship, to retrieve the Ultimate Nullifier—the only weapon capable of threatening Galactus. Mr. Fantastic then used the Nullifier to force Galactus to leave Earth, but not before the devourer exiled the Silver Surfer to the planet for his betrayal.
Since then, Galactus has been a pivotal figure in the Marvel Universe, clashing with the Fantastic Four and other heroes like Thor, where his backstory was further explored. Despite being a morally ambiguous figure rather than traditionally evil, Galactus has yet to be portrayed satisfactorily on the big screen—until now.
The Second Coming of Galactus in The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Galactus has appeared in various cartoons and video games, such as the '90s Fantastic Four cartoon and Marvel vs. Capcom 3. However, his cinematic debut in Tim Story's 2007 film Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer left much to be desired. The film deviated from the comic's iconic purple-armored design, presenting Galactus as a nondescript cloud that lacked the character's essence and was easily dispatched by the Silver Surfer.
Contrastingly, the glimpses we've seen of Galactus in The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer, along with a drone light show at last year's San Diego Comic-Con, suggest a faithful adaptation of Jack Kirby's original design. Marvel's decision to feature Galactus as the primary antagonist in their Fantastic Four reboot indicates a commitment to rectifying past mistakes. With Robert Downey, Jr's Doctor Doom reserved for future Avengers films, the focus is squarely on delivering a compelling debut for Galactus in the MCU.
This is particularly crucial given the MCU's recent struggles in the Multiverse Saga. With many villains already introduced, Galactus stands out as a character with the gravitas to revitalize the franchise. A successful adaptation could rejuvenate interest in the MCU and set the stage for the Fantastic Four's significant roles in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
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When the Fantastic Four were in exile due to the Fox-Marvel feud over film rights, fans expressed more interest in seeing their rogues gallery, including Doctor Doom, Annihilus, and Galactus, in the MCU. Now, with the FF back in the spotlight, the hope is that they'll win over fans again (check out Ryan North's current run on the comics for a fantastic take on the team). However, it's undeniable that Galactus and other FF-related characters could be the key to rejuvenating the MCU after the Multiverse Saga.
Galactus remains one of the most compelling characters linked to the Fantastic Four, and it's high time we see him portrayed accurately in live-action. As we approach the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps this July, the trailer suggests that Marvel is on the right track to deliver a worthy adaptation of this cosmic giant.
