"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Official Teaser: Marvel’s First Family Enters the MCU with Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach

Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach lead MCU's long-awaited The Fantastic Four adaptation as they face Galactus and Silver Surfer.

The partnership of comic book legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby might be considered the greatest writer-artist duo in comic book history. So, what would be their greatest comic book creation? Well, there's a lot to choose from, but many would rank The Fantastic Four at the top of that list. It could arguably be the greatest superhero team they ever created.

Originally published in November 1961, The Fantastic Four introduced readers to Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards), Invisible Woman (Susan Storm), Human Torch (Johnny Storm), and The Thing (Ben Grimm), a makeshift family of four scientists who gain superpowers after being exposed to cosmic rays during a scientific mission in space.

What set this team apart from other superhero books of that era was their humanistic flaws and struggles. These characters weren't depicted as perfect, idealized heroes. Instead, they wrestled with the reality of their newfound powers and how the world now saw them. Some embraced their abilities more easily, while others in the group struggled with the fact that their lives had changed forever.

The Fantastic Four also played a very important role in the greater Marvel Universe, as it was the first comic book to connect with other Marvel characters, setting the stage for what is known as Marvel's interconnectivity with current storylines. This interrelated world, sometimes mirroring real-world issues, is what makes Marvel, Marvel.

So, why is the MCU only now adding The Fantastic Four into their cinematic universe? Well, the film rights to the comic books were in the hands of 20th Century Fox for decades. Of course, there were a couple of well-known attempts to bring the superhero team to the big screen in the mid-2000s, with the first two films achieving moderate success but not quite capturing the magic fans were hoping for. Then, there was the infamous 2015 film featuring a younger version of the team, which failed at the box office and was panned by critics and audiences alike. The rights eventually reverted back to Marvel when Disney acquired Fox in the 2019 merger. This paved the way for the latest attempt to bring The Fantastic Four into the MCU, with hopes of doing the iconic superhero team justice.

And so, here it is—the moment fans have been waiting for. It's the first footage from the upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps, starring Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian, The Last of Us) as Reed Richards, a.k.a. Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby (Mission: Impossible, The Crown) as Sue Storm, a.k.a. Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things, A Quiet Place: Day One) as Johnny Storm, a.k.a. Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear, Netflix's The Punisher) as Ben Grimm, a.k.a. The Thing.

This is the first official teaser trailer for the upcoming film, which officially places the Fab Four into the MCU for the first time. And fingers crossed—it'll be so awesome that the team finally takes its rightful place as one of the main leaders of the MCU, alongside The Avengers.

The teaser shows off the team in a retro, alternative 1960s world where they’ve already gained their powers and presumably are known around the world as The Fantastic Four. While still adjusting to their newfound fame and status, these superheroes must prepare for an impending doom from intergalactic threats. As they face this mysterious danger, they must fight together "as a family."

But here's the thing—the film is being released this July, just two weeks after the debut of James Gunn's new Superman movie. So, to say the box office competition is fierce might be an understatement. If The Fantastic Four pulls off a major win this summer, the MCU might be back on the right track. However, if Superman takes the lead, the MCU will be dealt a major blow. Worst-case scenario? Both Fantastic Four and Superman underperform at the box office, signaling that the superhero genre is truly on the downswing. Best-case scenario? Both movies perform well, and Hollywood is saved by a big box office summer.

Here's the official synopsis for The Fantastic Four: First Steps:

Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach)—as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.

Co-starring John Malkovich, Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles, the film is directed by Matt Shakman, an Emmy-nominated television director whose credits include episodes of Game of Thrones, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Shakman is also known for his critically acclaimed work on WandaVision, for which he directed all nine episodes of the season.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is slated to open in theaters nationwide on July 25. Watch the trailer, above.