True Believers, assemble! The first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps has dropped, giving us our first glimpse of Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Marvel's First Family, alongside their robotic companion, Herbie. The retro-futuristic art design sets a unique tone, a refreshing departure from typical MCU fare. While the July 25, 2025 release date has us buzzing, one character truly towers above the rest: Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.
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Though only briefly glimpsed, Galactus already looks far more faithful to his comic book counterpart than the previous attempt in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Let's delve into why The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears poised to finally do this iconic Marvel character justice.
Who Is The Devourer of Worlds? Galactus Explained
For the uninitiated, Galactus boasts a rich history in Marvel comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #48, he's a cosmic entity. Originally Galan, a mortal survivor of a previous universe, he was reborn after the Big Bang, merging with his universe's sentience to become the first being of the new universe. Now Galactus, he roams the cosmos, sustaining himself by consuming life-bearing planets. He often employs heralds to locate these planets, the most famous being the Silver Surfer.
In their first encounter, the Fantastic Four were warned of Galactus' arrival by the Watcher, who broke his vow of non-interference to save Earth. After battling the Silver Surfer, they failed to prevent Galactus' 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. Mr. Fantastic's threat with the Nullifier forced Galactus to spare Earth, sending the Silver Surfer into exile for his treachery.
Since then, Galactus has remained a significant figure in the Marvel Universe, repeatedly clashing with the Fantastic Four and Thor, revealing more of his backstory. He's not simply "evil," but morally ambiguous, driven by survival. Despite his coolness, previous big-screen portrayals haven't lived up to expectations. Until now, perhaps.
The Second Coming of Galactus in The Fantastic Four: First Steps
While appearing in cartoons and video games (like the '90s Fantastic Four cartoon and Marvel vs. Capcom 3), Galactus's only previous film appearance was in Tim Story's 2007 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. That portrayal was underwhelming, deviating from his iconic comic design—a purple-armored giant—to a featureless cloud, silent and easily dispatched by the Surfer. Far from what fans desired.
However, The Fantastic Four: First Steps seems to offer a significant improvement. The trailer's glimpse, along with the San Diego Comic-Con drone light show tease, suggests a closer adherence to Jack Kirby's classic design. Marvel's choice of Galactus as the villain is telling; they acknowledge fan dissatisfaction with the 20th Century Fox version and aim for redemption. With Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom seemingly reserved for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars (though a cameo in First Steps remains a possibility), Marvel can fully focus on Galactus's MCU debut.
This is crucial given the MCU's recent struggles in the Multiverse Saga. With numerous films and villains already utilized, Galactus's pedigree offers a chance to revitalize the franchise. A successful adaptation could significantly boost the MCU's reputation and generate excitement for the next two Avengers films, in which the Fantastic Four are set to play major roles.
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Fans previously expressed more interest in seeing the Fantastic Four's rogues' gallery (Doctor Doom, Annihilus, Galactus) than the team itself during the Fox-Marvel rights dispute. While the Fantastic Four's popularity is now firmly established (check out Ryan North's current comic run!), Galactus and other related characters could be the key to rejuvenating the MCU post-Multiverse Saga.
Galactus is a prime Fantastic Four villain, and a proper live-action portrayal is long overdue. Judging by the trailer, The Fantastic Four: First Steps seems to be on the right track. We'll see how Marvel's attempt plays out this July.
