Marvel's Galactus Emerges in Fantastic Four

The first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps has dropped, giving us our first look at Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Marvel's First Family, alongside their robotic companion, HERBIE. The retro-futuristic design is striking, and the trailer's tone feels refreshingly different from typical MCU fare. While the July 25, 2025 release date has us excited, one character particularly stands out: Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.

Doctor Doom's Absence and Galactus's Promising Debut

While Doctor Doom is noticeably absent from this trailer, Galactus's brief appearance is far more faithful to his comic book counterpart than the previous attempt in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Let's explore why The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears poised to finally deliver a compelling portrayal of this iconic Marvel villain.

Understanding Galactus: The Devourer of Worlds

For the uninitiated, Galactus is a cosmic entity from the Marvel universe, co-created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #48. Originally Galan, a mortal survivor of a previous universe, he was transformed by the merging with his universe's sentience into the first being of the new universe. Now Galactus, he roams the cosmos, sustaining himself by consuming life-bearing planets. He employs heralds to locate these planets, the most famous being the Silver Surfer.

His first encounter with the Fantastic Four involved a warning from the Watcher, who violated his non-interference oath to save Earth. The FF battled the Silver Surfer but failed to prevent Galactus's arrival. Ultimately, the Human Torch retrieved the Ultimate Nullifier, a weapon capable of harming Galactus, forcing him to spare Earth. This event, and subsequent encounters with the Fantastic Four and Thor, solidified Galactus's place in the Marvel universe. While not traditionally "evil," he's a morally ambiguous figure driven by survival. Despite his iconic status, previous big-screen depictions have fallen short.

A Reimagined Galactus

While Galactus has appeared in cartoons and video games (including the '90s Fantastic Four cartoon and Marvel vs. Capcom 3), his previous cinematic appearance in 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer was widely criticized. His design was drastically altered, and his portrayal lacked the impact of his comic book counterpart.

However, The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears to rectify these past shortcomings. The trailer, along with a drone light show at San Diego Comic-Con, hints at a design closely adhering to Jack Kirby's classic artwork. Marvel's choice of Galactus as the villain for their reboot suggests a deliberate attempt to address fan dissatisfaction with previous adaptations. With Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom potentially reserved for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, Marvel can fully focus on giving Galactus the MCU debut he deserves.

This is crucial given the MCU's recent struggles in the Multiverse Saga. Galactus, with his significant history, represents an opportunity to revitalize the franchise. A successful adaptation could significantly improve the MCU's reputation and build excitement for the next Avengers films, in which the Fantastic Four are expected to play major roles.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 Stills

20 Images

The anticipation surrounding the Fantastic Four's rogues gallery, including Galactus, has been high. While the Fantastic Four themselves have gained wider acceptance, Galactus and other associated characters could be the key to reinvigorating the MCU after the Multiverse Saga concludes.

Galactus is undeniably one of the Fantastic Four's most compelling antagonists, and a fitting live-action portrayal is long overdue. Judging from the trailer, The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears to be on the right track.