The Return of Galactus in The Fantastic Four: First Steps Could Mean Big Things for Marvel

Prepare for lift-off, True Believers! The first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps has blasted onto the scene, giving us our initial glimpse at Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Marvel's First Family, alongside their robotic companion, HERBIE. The retro-futuristic aesthetic is striking, and the trailer's tone feels refreshingly distinct from other MCU offerings. While the July 25, 2025 release date has us buzzing, one character truly towers above the rest: Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.

Doctor Doom's Absence and Galactus's Prominence

While Doctor Doom's presence is minimal in the trailer, Galactus's appearance is far more substantial and closer to his comic book counterpart than previous cinematic iterations (think Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer). Let's delve into why The Fantastic Four: First Steps seems poised to finally deliver a truly iconic portrayal of this Marvel legend.

Unveiling the Devourer: Galactus Explained

For the uninitiated, Galactus is a cosmic entity within the Marvel universe, co-created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #48. His origins trace back to Galan, a mortal survivor of a previous universe, who merged with its sentience, transforming into the first being of our universe. Now known as Galactus, he's a colossal figure traversing the cosmos, sustaining himself by consuming life-bearing planets. He often employs heralds to locate these planets, the most renowned being the Silver Surfer.

The Fantastic Four's initial encounter with Galactus involved a warning from the Watcher, who violated his non-interference vow to save Earth. The team battled the Silver Surfer, ultimately failing to prevent Galactus's arrival. Despite convincing the Surfer to betray Galactus, the Human Torch had to retrieve the Ultimate Nullifier—a weapon capable of harming Galactus—from his worldship, Taa II. Threatened with the Nullifier, Galactus spared Earth, but banished the Silver Surfer as punishment.

Since then, Galactus has remained a pivotal figure in the Marvel universe, clashing repeatedly with the Fantastic Four and Thor, revealing more of his history. He isn't inherently "evil," but rather a morally ambiguous character driven by survival. However, despite his iconic status, previous big-screen portrayals have fallen short. Until now.

Despite appearances in cartoons and video games (including the '90s Fantastic Four cartoon and Marvel vs. Capcom 3), Galactus's previous cinematic appearance in Tim Story's 2007 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer was underwhelming. While the film followed the basic comic book storyline, Galactus's portrayal—a featureless cloud—was a significant departure from his iconic comic book design. His lack of dialogue and unceremonious demise disappointed fans.

Galactus represents one of the few remaining Marvel villains with the potential to revitalize the MCU.

However, the trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, along with hints from last year's San Diego Comic-Con drone show, suggests a course correction. Galactus's design appears closer to Jack Kirby's classic vision. Marvel Studios' choice of Galactus as the primary antagonist is significant, indicating a desire to rectify past shortcomings. With Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom seemingly reserved for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, Marvel can fully focus on delivering a fitting MCU debut for Galactus.

This is particularly crucial given the MCU's recent challenges in the Multiverse Saga. With its vast roster of villains, Galactus stands out as a character with the potential to reinvigorate the franchise. A successful adaptation could significantly boost the MCU's reputation and generate excitement for the upcoming Avengers films, in which the Fantastic Four are expected to play major roles.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 Stills

20 ImagesFans previously expressed a greater interest in seeing the Fantastic Four's rogues' gallery (Doctor Doom, Annihilus, Galactus) in the MCU than the team itself. While the Fantastic Four's popularity is now firmly established, Galactus and other associated characters could be the key to rejuvenating the MCU after the Multiverse Saga concludes.

Galactus is a quintessential Fantastic Four antagonist, and it's about time he received a proper live-action portrayal. Judging by the trailer, Marvel's approach to Galactus and the Fantastic Four seems promising.