Marvel Studios has put its spotlight on the Fantastic Four, launching a pivotal stage for the MCU’s next wave of stories.
Fantastic Four Delivers Big Opening Before Slowing Down
The wait for Marvel’s First Family finally ended with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, directed by Matt Shakman. The film united Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, officially kicking off Phase Six.
Coming after lower-than-hoped numbers for Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*, First Steps gave Disney and Marvel the type of premiere they needed.
That accessibility translated into a $218 million worldwide debut, outperforming early estimates of $190 million–$210 million. Domestically, it brought in $118 million, with an additional $100 million across 52 territories. Featuring Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal and Ralph Ineson as Galactus, the film made a significant summer impact.
It also drew direct comparisons to Warner Bros.’ Superman relaunch. Released two weeks earlier, that film scored $217 million (later revised to $220 million), making the two superhero reintroductions nearly tied at the global box office.
First Steps’ launch put it ahead of Marvel’s earlier 2025 releases—Brave New World at $180 million and Thunderbolts* at $162 million—cementing it as Marvel’s biggest opening of the year. Strong initial reactions hinted at a rebound for the franchise.
Still, the momentum slowed quickly. After a steep second-week decline, the film has earned $470.3 million worldwide after one month, according to Box Office Mojo.
Alongside the core cast, the film introduced Paul Walter Hauser as Harvey Elder/Mole Man, Mark Gatiss as Ted Gilbert, Sarah Niles as Lynne Nichols, and Natasha Lyonne as Rachel Rozman.
Natasha Lyonne’s Second MCU Role
Rozman is presented as a teacher in Ben Grimm’s synagogue, with the film teasing a possible romance between the two. Though her role is small, the character represents something new for Lyonne’s MCU journey.
Previously, she voiced Byrdie in What If…? Season 3, the hybrid daughter of Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) and Howard the Duck (Seth Green). Byrdie was introduced in “What If…Howard the Duck Got Hitched,” and, like Rozman, was created specifically for Marvel Studios.
That makes Lyonne the first actor to hold two MCU-exclusive roles not based on Marvel Comics, fitting with the Poker Face star’s unconventional career path.
Kevin Feige Outlines the MCU’s Next Stage
While Marvel Studios skipped San Diego Comic-Con this year, Kevin Feige offered a look at the road ahead.
He discussed lessons from Marvel’s streaming push and explained the choice to move away from Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) toward Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) as the saga’s central villain.
Feige also gave insight into what’s next for Marvel’s biggest team-ups. “Reboot is a scary word,” he told Variety. “Reboot can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Reset, singular timeline–we’re thinking along those lines […] X-Men is where that will happen next.”
His comments align with Joe and Anthony Russo, who previously shared that Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) would start a new chapter rather than wrap up an old one.
Before those films, audiences will see Tom Holland return in Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), bridging the way toward Doomsday. With another mysterious character teased for upcoming stories, the MCU’s shift toward its next saga is already in motion.
Do you think Marvel’s reset is the right step to prepare for the X-Men? Share your thoughts with us below.
