The MCU’s Newest Fantastic Four Update Makes a Mistake From the 2007 Marvel Film Even Harder to Avoid Repeating

Marvel’s latest update for The Fantastic Four: Getting Started suggests the film may repeat a critical mistake from the Fox film Fantastic Four films. MCU audiences have long been hoping for the Fantastic Four to join this universe, as Marvel could finally deliver a big movie featuring Marvel’s First Family. While Tim Story Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer have their fans, the films did not do well with critics and were not big hits with the public. They even did better than Josh Trank’s 2015 reboot, which was an absolute disaster.

The MCU is the Fantastic Four’s best chance at making a great movie, and there are many reasons to be optimistic. Matt Shakman is a talented director with a solid Marvel track record, and the film features an A-list cast with Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bacharach. An exciting addition to the cast is Ralph Ineson as Galactus, a villain whose MCU debut has been long awaited. It’s unknown what Galactus’ MCU future could be, but the latest plot synopsis for Fantastic Four: Getting Started suggests that Marvel could repeat Fox’s mistake with this villain.

Fantastic Four Plot Synopsis Makes Fox’s Original Live-Action Galactus Mistake Harder to Avoid

Marvel needs to treat Galactus differently than Fox

Fantastic Four: Getting Started premieres in July 2025, so more information will be shared as the premiere date approaches. However, Marvel recently shared the film’s first synopsis, which includes more details about the plot. Galactus is confirmed as the main villain and will be joined by Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer as his herald.

Set in a vibrant retro-futuristic world inspired by the 1960s, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” features Marvel’s First Family – Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/Human Torch and Ben Grimm /The Thing as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their familial bond, they must defend Earth from a voracious space god named Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it wasn’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.

It’s exciting that Galactus is the film’s central villain, but there is some concern with this synopsis. Galactus is one of the most powerful and famous villains in the MCUand many viewers want to see him more involved in the MCU later Fantastic Four. If the team kills Galactus, he could be a unique villain similar to his appearance in Rise of the Silver Surfer. He’s too powerful to be a one-off villain and Marvel needs to make sure there’s a way to bring him back.

Why the MCU’s Galactus will be significantly better than Fox’s

Marvel has a low bar to overcome with Galactus

Fox’s Galactus is one of the most disappointing interpretations of a Marvel character. The studio turned him into a giant planet-eating cloud, removing his iconic purple suit and intimidating giant stature. The controversial decision angered many comic book readers who had waited a long time to see Galactus in live action. This also meant that Silver Surfer was a much more instrumental character to the film than Galactus, who was the main threat.

Fortunately, the MCU is going in a different direction, casting Ineson to play this character. Ineson, star of films such as The Witch and The first omenhas a booming voice that suits Galactus perfectly. He also has an intimidating presence that makes him frightening in many performances. It’s good to see Marvel well-cast in the role, but It’s even better to see that Galactus will have a human form rather than a cloud.

Galactus’ form was teased during Marvel Studios’ Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con over the summer, and featured the hulking villain peering through a window. He was so big that only his eye and part of his face were shown. This indicates that not only will he be in human form, but he will also be the exact size of the comics and pose a serious threat to the Fantastic Four. Galactus will hover over the Fantastic Four’s planet and could be one of the most memorable villains in MCU history.

How Galactus could return even if the Fantastic Four killed him

Galactus’ MCU Future May Not Be Over After Fantastic Four

Even if Galactus is defeated in Fantastic Four: Getting StartedIt may not be his last MCU project. Marvel The Fantastic Four movie is set in an alternate universemeaning another Galactus could exist in the MCU or be created later. There is also the possibility that another Galactus exists somewhere in the multiverse, and could be a problem in the story of Avengers: Secret Wars. Marvel has many possible ways to bring him back, and the MCU will hopefully use him more than once.

Another reason why Galactus could return is that the MCU may want to introduce a different version of the Silver Surfer. Garner is reportedly playing Shalla-Bal, a separate female version of Norrin Radd, the version most viewers are familiar with. Radd can be part of the future of the MCU, but he needs to be accompanied by Galactus. Marvel’s First Family has a tough fight ahead with Galactus in The Fantastic Four: Getting Startedand he could be a nuisance in the MCU for a while.