Marvel’s “First Family” finally makes their official MCU debut in a movie that feels fresh and nimble, and avoids many recent pitfalls –– but not all.

Marvel Studios ruled the box office, setting the gold standard for superhero movies. The Marvel Cinematic Universe became the benchmark for success. But after the pandemic, the studio hit a rough patch.

Fourth time’s the charm. There have been three past cinematic iterations of Marvel’s First Family, including the Roger Corman-executive produced, low-budget The Fantastic Four (1994), Fox’s bigger-budgeted Fantastic Four duology (2005-2007),

First Steps not only has to introduce audiences to a new roster of heroes, villains, and scene-stealing side characters, but it also needs to reset the narrative surrounding the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

First Steps director Matt Shakman has reiterated that the movie is a standalone story that doesn't require any homework on Marvel fans' part. Speaking to TechRadar, Shakman says the forthcoming film isn't beholden to the same connective tissue that other Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) projects are because it exists in a parallel dimension.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had its many heads swirling in the mass confusion of a multiverse for the last few years. This, thank god, is soon coming to an end. MCU boss Kevin Feige has described the forthcoming abandoning of interweaving timelines as a “reset.” But definitely not a “reboot.”

One of the biggest movies to kick off Marvel’s Phase Six is the MCU’s newest movie, Fantastic Four: First Steps. Based on the FF trailer, the 2025 movie release not only stands apart due to its stellar casting,

Marvel Studios and MCU head Kevin Feige recently revealed that his son wasn't interested in Marvel characters until NetEase Games' Marvel Rivals launched.