Summary
TheMarvel Cinematic Universeproducer Kevin Feige recently revealed thatThe Fantastic Four: First Steps' villain draws surprising inspiration from the video gameFortnite.Everything known aboutThe Fantastic Fourpromises to give a unique superhero cinematic experience set in a brand new universe in the 1960s.Some footage of what this will look like was shown at San Diego Comic-Con, showing a retro-futuristic style.Since the film’s announcement, however, I’ve been wondering how exactly they plan to pull off the villain Galactus. New comments from Feige have given some insight into this.
Thecast ofThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsis incredible, featuring performers like John Malkovich and Natasha Lyonne in addition to its excellent lead cast. What is most interesting, however, is the casting of Ralph Ineson as the villain Galactus.Following an extended period where Antonio Banderas and Javier Bardem were rumored to be considered for the role, Ineson is a compelling contrast to those performers.His presence and voice are uniquely positioned to create one of the most iconic superhero villain characters of this generation.
The MCU’s Fantastic Four Villain: Galactus Powers & Comic History Explained
Galactus is officially confirmed to be the main antagonist of the Fantastic Four, so here’s a rundown of the powers and comic history of the villain.
Kevin Feige Revealed The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Fortnite Link At 2024’s D23
Marvel And Fortnite Have Collaborated Together Multiple Times
During D23, Kevin Feige revealed that he sent details of theFortniteseason event featuring Galactus to the team working on developingThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. The event was enormous, andthe spectre of Galactus was large enough to block out the horizon as players descended from the sky.This threat grew larger and larger, and the haunting presence standing in the backdrop of the island was a terrifying and foreboding sight. WhileThe Fantastic Fouris set to break a grim trendin one way, that kind of terror needs to be realized elsewhere, such as in Galactus.
This is not the first time that Marvel has collaborated withFortnite, and it will likely not be the last. More recently, the “Absolute Doom” season has taken off, with images referring to the Fantastic Four’s other most famous villain appearing in disturbing ways.The Thing has been turned into Victor’s chair, and Reed has been stretched and wrapped up into a ball.It seems clear thatFortnitehas a penchant for creating upsetting images with Marvel characters. I am sure this could be used effectively in crafting the Galactus villain for the big screen.
The Fantastic Four Finally Gives The MCU The Perfect Way To Correct A Major Spider-Man Complaint
Being one of Marvel’s most popular heroes, Spider-Man’s relationship with the Avengers team may change after the introduction of The Fantastic Four.
How The Fortnite Scene Is Set To Influence The MCU’s Fantastic Four Movie
First Steps Promises A Unique Visual Experience
Galactus should be frightening, and if Marvel follows the iteration fromFortnite, this may actually be able to be accomplished.The haunting inevitability of Galactus standing at the horizon is a creative bit of imagery that could translate exceptionally well if used in the upcomingFantastic Fourfilm.Images and interactivity drawn from this game are sure to influence the depiction of the villain in the forthcoming film. The violence that such an impossibly large villain can so easily inflict is an incredible prospect for compelling visuals.
As the shadowy force draws closer through the sky, a kind of tension builds in the game that could be well communicated in the upcoming film. In addition,Fortniteshowed exciting scenes of players and Avengers fighting against Galactus in the sky.Seeing this kind of enormous threat realized as an image, but also as an interactive opponent, is incredibly promising to me for how Marvel’s First Family will be able to square off with their opponent in the upcoming film.
Why The MCU’s Fortnite Inspiration Is A Good Thing
The Size And Scale Of Galactus Is A Difficult Thing To Portray
Galactus is not an easy villain to get right. The planet-eating cosmic entity is of such incredible size and scale that the thought of any human-sized figures standing against him is difficult for me to even picture.This ledFantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surferto rework the entity of Galactus into a cloud rather than a humanoid figure.Fortnite’s inspiration clearly contrasts the human-sized Fantastic Four characters and the giant, humanoid figure they face.
I believe that Galactus' presence needs to be physical, but it also needs to be felt as something bigger that is environmental and inevitable.Fortniteexecuted this well with the Galactus character, and even does so without:the premise of the game involves a shrinking map due to its destruction, providing tension and pressure throughout the run of the game.This kind of sequential development and destruction, and envisioning how the heroes will respond to that, promises a unique superhero experience whenFirst Stepsis released.
The Fantastic Four Ending Theory Gives The MCU Its Best Kang Replacement
Jonathan Major will no longer play Kang the Conqueror in the MCU, and a major The Fantastic Four theory explains who could be Kang’s replacement.
WithThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsset in a different universe, the terror of Galactus can be explored in a new effective way. This has led to compellingMCUFantastic Fourtheoriesabout the movie’s end. While if it was set in Earth-616, there would be certainty that the planet-eating entity would fail,I believe that Galactus eating the new Earth introduced inFirst Stepsis an actual possibility. Drawing from destructive games likeFortnitesuggests an unusual film that I cannot wait for whenThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsis released in 2025.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Cast
The Fantastic 4: First Steps features Marvel’s First Family navigating their dual roles as superheroes and family members in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. They defend Earth from a formidable space god, Galactus, and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer, testing their familial bonds and heroic resolve.
