'The Fantastic Four: First Steps': What to expect and why the end credits scene matters
It's clobberin' time for "The Fantastic Four: First Steps."
The highly anticipated film is director Matt Shakman's take on the group of four superheroes: Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Ben Grimm/The Thing and Johnny Storm/Human Torch.
At the world premiere of the film in Los Angeles earlier this week, Shakman shared that he's most excited for fans to see the film's focus on family.
"This is Marvel's first family," he said. "One of the reasons why they've been so popular for 60+ years is because they're a real family. They have the messiness, the love, the heart that we recognize that makes them very relatable. We all know what it's like to be a part of a family so that's what I think is most special about them as characters and what I'm excited for audiences to see."
As the film hits theaters today, we've broken down everything you need to know and are sharing what filmmakers and cast members have said.
What is 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' about?
According to a synopsis for the film, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" follows the iconic group of superheroes "as they face their most daunting challenge yet."
"Forced to balance their roles as superheroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer," the synopsis adds.
Who stars in 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps'?
The upcoming film stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch.
Executive producer Kevin Feige lauded the chemistry between Pascal, Kirby, Moss-Bachrach and Quinn and said that they weren't just a family on screen but off screen.
"They are a family," he said. "Marvel is about families, about found families, and the first time the four of them sat together to start doing a read-through of the script, the camaraderie was amazing."
Also starring in the film are Ralph Ineson as Galactus and Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer.
The cast includes Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, Sarah Niles and Mark Gatiss.
What has the cast said about the film?
At the film's world premiere, Pascal said he wants fans to "experience all the love that was put into the movie."
Kirby added that she's "excited" for fans to see the Fantastic Four family become a family of five. "I'm excited for fans to see how that happens because even though they're superheroes and even though they have this huge threat from out of space in the cosmos, ultimately, they're still a family, expecting a baby and I hope everybody can relate to the domesticity of that and the everydayness of who they are and I'm really hopeful about that."
Where is the film set?
In this "Fantastic Four" universe, the superheroes reside in a different universe called 828.
"It's a retro-futuristic 1960s," Shakman said. "The only superheroes in our world are the Fantastic Four. So no interconnection, no other Marvel heroes appearing, no other Easter eggs. That's it, just the Fantastic Four."
He added that their universe is a "complicated world," which includes robots, flying cars and more.
"It was about building this incredibly intimate family that felt real but also setting them in this big world with lots of stakes and high drama," Shakman said.
What do we know about the post-end credits scene?
While filmmakers of the movie couldn't give too much away, Feige shared why fans should make it a point to stick around for the post end credits scene.
"I used to really make it a point to try and convince people to stick around through the credits," Feige began. "I think most people do, they know it's a Marvel movie, they know they will be rewarded for staying in their seats after the film's over."
When does 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' hit theaters?
The film is in theaters now.
See the trailer below.
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