The Return of Galactus in The Fantastic Four: First Steps Could Mean Big Things for Marvel

The first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps has dropped, giving us our first look at Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Marvel's First Family, along with their robot companion, HERBIE. The retro-futuristic aesthetic sets it apart from other MCU projects. While the July 25, 2025 release date is highly anticipated, one character particularly stands out: Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.

Doctor Doom's Absence and Galactus' Prominence

While Galactus is prominently featured, Doctor Doom is only glimpsed. However, this Galactus appears far more faithful to his comic book counterpart than the previous cinematic iteration in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

Who is Galactus?

For the uninitiated, Galactus is a cosmic entity from the Marvel universe, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #48. Originally Galan, a survivor of a previous universe, he was transformed by the merging with his universe's sentience into the first being of the new universe. Now Galactus, he sustains himself by consuming life-bearing planets. He employs heralds, the most famous being the Silver Surfer, to locate these planets.

The Fantastic Four's first encounter with Galactus involved a warning from the Watcher, a violation of his non-interference oath. Despite battling the Silver Surfer, they couldn't prevent Galactus' arrival. Ultimately, the Human Torch retrieved the Ultimate Nullifier, a weapon capable of harming Galactus, forcing him to spare Earth.

Since then, Galactus has been a recurring antagonist in the Marvel universe, clashing with the Fantastic Four and Thor, revealing his backstory. While not traditionally "evil," he's a morally ambiguous figure driven by survival. However, previous cinematic depictions have fallen short.

A Reimagined Galactus

While appearing in cartoons and video games, Galactus' only previous film appearance was in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). This portrayal was widely criticized for its deviation from the classic design, depicting him as a featureless cloud.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps promises a significant improvement. The trailer, along with a drone light show at San Diego Comic-Con, suggests a closer adherence to Jack Kirby's original design. Marvel's choice of Galactus as the villain for their reboot signifies a desire to rectify past shortcomings. With Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom seemingly reserved for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, the focus can be solely on Galactus' MCU debut.

This is crucial given the MCU's recent struggles in the Multiverse Saga. With a depleted roster of villains, Galactus' pedigree offers a chance to revitalize the franchise. A successful adaptation could significantly impact the MCU's reputation and build anticipation for the next Avengers films, in which the Fantastic Four are expected to play major roles.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 Stills

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The anticipation for Galactus' live-action portrayal has been high, especially considering past fan interest in the Fantastic Four's rogues gallery. While the Fantastic Four's reputation has improved, Galactus and other associated characters could be key to the MCU's post-Multiverse Saga rejuvenation.

This July, Marvel's take on Galactus and the Fantastic Four will be revealed. Based on the trailer, their initial steps appear promising.