Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Marvel endeavors to bring back the Fantastic Four, its most well-known team of superheroes, to the silver screen. Honestly, it is long overdue for the First Family to return home.
The team has been featured in Marvel Comics since its inception, but the studio’s 2025 releaseFantastic Four: First Stepsmarks the return of the famed superheroes for the first time in over two decades.
All the prior iterations of theFantasticfamily, and there were quite a few, were pure disaster. It was a shame that a team of superheroes so successful in print had a streak of failure in cinematic form.
These films were box office bombs and resulted in the canceled sequels. With such underwhelming performances, adapting Fantastic Four was a feared endeavor. And for good reason.
The firstFantastic Fourto grace the silver screen
Box Office Collection:$333,535,934(viaBox Office Mojo)
Since its inception, theFantastic Fourstoryline has appeared in four live-action films. But only three of them have been able to make it to the big screen. The first one to do so was Tim Story’sFantastic Fourin 2005. For a $100 million budget, the film performed decently at the box office. But it was significantly less compared to what other superhero films were grossing at the time. Furthermore, critics and Marvel fans were unhappy with this subpar iteration of the superhero comic characters.
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ and ‘Superman’ Are Repeating a Famous Marvel vs DC Trend We Saw 7 Times in the Past
In Chris Evans’ first outing as a Marvel superhero, the attempts at wit were underwhelming, the storytelling lacked power, and the acting was bland. A sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), was a chance for redemption, but it performed more poorly than its predecessor, resulting in 20th Century Fox pulling the plug on the franchise at the time.
FANT4STICwas a box office bomb
Box Office Collection:$167,849,187(viaThe Numbers)
An attempt at revival came almost a decade later, when 20th Century Fox recruited Josh Trank, to make anotherFantastic Fourmovie. Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, and Jamie Bell were cast in lead roles. Trank co-wrote the screenplay which was loosely based on the Ultimate Fantastic Four comic books.
Fantastic Four: Before Samuel L. Jackson, We Almost Had the Perfect Nick Fury in the Late Andre Braugher but Marvel Interfered
Earning what it did with a budget of $120,000,000, the film was nothing short of a box office bomb. It garnered extremely negative reviews and was accused of being “too dark”, which does not gel well with the family aesthetic of the superheroes. A sequel was originally planned to be released in 2017 but was canceled considering the last two films.
Marvel’sFantastic Fourreboot
Things changed when Disney acquired Fox Studios in 2019, and the rights toFantastic Fourreverted to Marvel Studios. And given the franchise’s history, it was only natural for Marvel to plan a reboot and relaunch its first family. It was first teased as an idea by having an alternate version of Reed Richards appear inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness(2022). And in 2024, Evans was seen reprising his role as Johnny Storm inDeadpool & Wolverine.
And now in 2025, Marvel is on its way to revamp and reclaim the franchise forever. Since its trailer release, fans have liked the way the authenticity of the characters and the storyline is keptand are already theorizing and easter-egg hunting about the movie. The cast seems promising. This film might just redeem theFantastic Fourfranchise forever.
Fantastic Four: First Stepswill be in theatres starting July 25.
Arpita Joshi
Articles Published :73
Arpita Joshi is an Evergreen Content Writer at FandomWire. With almost two years of experience, she has learned intricate details of writing in different niches, particularly entertainment.
More from Arpita Joshi
Is Lucasfilm Boss Kathleen Kennedy Related to John F. Kennedy?
10 Costliest TV Shows from the 1990s, Ranked
American Idol Judge’s Salary: Here’s How Much Katy Perry and Lionel Richie Earned From the Show
Recommended
New ‘Harry Potter’ BTS Image Reveals Nick Frost’s Shockingly Perfect Look as Hagrid
Upload Season 4: How Many Episodes Will the Final Season Have?
Japan’s 10 Most-Watched Anime of 2025: Naruto Not Even in Top 5
18 Years Later, 47%-rated Mark Wahlberg Action Blockbuster Is Still Conquering Streaming
Ne Zha Ending Explained: How The Major Deaths Set Up Ne Zha 2?
When Is Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black: Season 2 Releasing?
Fantastic Four in MCU
