At SDCC 2024, we finally got new details on the upcoming MCU film Fantastic Four. This includes the film’s new title, Fantastic Four: First Steps, and confirmation that the film will indeed be set in the 1960s.
During the Marvel Studios panel, Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman confirmed that the movie would be set in the 1960s with a retro-futurism vibe to it. “We’re not just doing the 60s, we’re doing retro future 60s… it’s part what you know from the 60s, but part what you’ve never seen before,” Shakman said during the panel. “With the right heart and mind, you can do anything.”
Since Marvel revealed the cast for the Fantastic Four on Valentine’s Day, many began to dissect the illustrated show of the team. Many fans began to speculate the film was set in the 1960s for a few reasons; most notably, The Thing can be seen reading an issue of Live magazine, specifically a December 1963 issue that included President Lyndon B. Johnson on the cover.
Alongside time period confirmation and a new title, attendees also caught a glimpse of Fantastic Four footage. The clip shown was Pedro Pascal, who was cast as Mr. Fantastic hosting a science-themed show akin to Bill Nye the Science Guy. Additionally, the Thing played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, is shown on a dating show.
Just announced in Hall H:
Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps begins production on Tuesday. Only in theaters July 25, 2025. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/iPAlXlajnr
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
The reveal follows a full week of teases at San Diego Comic-Con. After its big Deadpool & Wolverine panel on Thursday night, Marvel threw a drone show over the convention center, where the light display teased Galactus and Fantastic Four news to come in the subsequent days. Plus, Fantastic Four banners (in the style of the concept art that was previously released) could be spotted all along San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter.
Back at Marvel’s massive 2022 SDCC panel, the studio revealed that the new Fantastic Four film will kick off Phase 6, which will end with Avengers: Secret Wars. Marvel announced who will actually be playing its new Fantastic Four this past Valentine’s Day: Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm.
Additional castings have been revealed since then, including Ralph Ineson as Galactus and Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer. The film just recently began filming, as Pascal posted the first photo of the cast together on Instagram earlier this week.
The Fantastic Four is set to hit theaters on July 25, 2025. For more from San Diego Comic-Con, check out our roundup of everything announced.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
