The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

·1 hr 58 min·5 clips

A lifelong Fantastic Four fan finally sees the characters executed properly on screen for the first time.

The episode begins with hosts Colton Robertson and Joseph George introducing their spoiler-free discussion of 'Fantastic Four: First Steps', released on July 25, 2025. They note the film's strong box office performance, surpassing $200 million globally. Colton, a self-professed lifelong Fantastic Four comics fan, expresses deep satisfaction with the adaptation, calling it the best screen version of these characters. The hosts compare the new cast favorably to previous iterations, arguing that Joseph Quinn's Johnny Storm avoids the 'dumbass' portrayal of past versions and that Vanessa Kirby's Sue Storm is the film's true lead. They analyze the film's premise, which skips the origin story to show the team already established and celebrating their fourth anniversary. The moral complexity of Galactus is debated, with the hosts framing him as an apex predator rather than a purely evil villain. The retro-futuristic production design, particularly of the Baxter Building, is praised and compared to the aesthetic of the TVA from 'Loki'. The hosts discuss the inclusion of Franklin Richards as a CGI baby and the portrayal of the Silver Surfer by Julia Garner. Connections to the broader MCU are explored, including the post-credit tease of Doctor Doom and the film's setting on Earth-828. The conversation shifts to the state of the MCU, with the hosts expressing optimism after recent films like 'Thunderbolts' but skepticism about Robert Downey Jr.'s casting as Doctor Doom in the upcoming 'Avengers: Doomsday'. They compare the interconnected nature of the MCU to the new DC Universe launched by 'Superman'. The episode concludes with tangential discussions about representation in projects like 'Ironheart' and the hosts' personal rankings of MCU films, placing 'Fantastic Four: First Steps' among their top favorites alongside the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' series.

As heard by us

A lively Fantastic Four discussion that connects visual confidence with Marvel's restrained Dr. Doom tease.

Geek With Me treats Fantastic Four First Steps as a signpost for Marvel's current direction, starting with the parts that register fastest: the theme, costumes, sets, and overall visual shape of the film.

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Why you'd press play

You get a spoiler-conscious Fantastic Four: First Steps chat that eases you in, then saves its Dr. Doom talk for the post-credit scene.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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