After the official trailer dropped this week, Marvel fans around the world were introduced to a new piece in Marvel's sacred timeline. However, this "new" film certainly feels a bit too familiar.
With entries like X-Men '97 and some of the more comic-accurate designs seen in Deadpool & Wolverine and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Marvel seems to be getting back to its roots with more and more material. However, the new Fantastic Four flick seems to be the prime example of a comic-book movie, not just an entry in the MCU.
A blast from the past with hope for the future.
Right from the redesign of the Marvel Studios logo, it's clear that we aren't dealing with the typical NYC setting seen across multiple pieces of Marvel media. With the art deco styles and retro-futurist designs, it feels like we have stepped into the panels of one of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's comic books.
Given the fact that Marvel's First Family stepped onto the scene in 1961, it makes total sense that the studio would want to shake things up with a period piece that harkens back to the team's glory days. With the recent performance of some of the more modern entries (like The Marvels), it's high time we had some true heroes again.
The use of '60s design choices isn't the only element at work here, as themes of the family unit and cultural influences of the time positively saturate the screen. Although it's certainly noble of Marvel to get back to basics and pay tribute to the creators, what else can fans expect?
From the footage above, we are seeing the birth of a new era. The '60s were the time of a cultural revolution that shook the world as the Space Race kicked off, new trends in pop culture emerged, and a wealth of technology changed life as we know it. There's even a Beatles reference in there for good measure.
In this writer's opinion, one of the main themes of this film should be that of change. As Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm transform into Mr. Fantastic, The Invisible Woman, The Human Torch, and The Thing, so too did their world around them as the decade progressed.
Comic books, especially Marvel's, have often been regarded as a reflection of the current culture. With the X-Men series representing the Civil Rights movement and various sci-fi entries (like the Fantastic Four) representing the effects of the Nuclear age, change (like Thanos) is inevitable.
Based on what we've seen thus far, it feels like we are at the precipice of a new era for the MCU. Kevin Feige and his team at Marvel Studios seem to be pushing the back-to-basics narrative, and longtime fans of the comics and source material are in for a "fantastic" ride.
Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theatres on July 25, 2025.