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

The first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps has dropped, giving us our first look at Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Marvel's First Family, along with their robotic companion, HERBIE. The retro-futuristic design is striking, and the trailer's tone feels refreshingly different from other MCU projects. While the July 25, 2025 release date has us excited, one character particularly stands out: Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.

Doctor Doom's Absence and Galactus' Prominence

While Galactus is only glimpsed, his appearance is already a significant improvement over the portrayal in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Let's examine why The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears poised to finally deliver a truly iconic Galactus.

Who is the Devourer of Worlds?

For the uninitiated, Galactus is a cosmic entity from the Marvel comics, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #48. Originally Galan, a mortal survivor of a previous universe, he was transformed by the merging with his universe's sentience into the first being of the new universe. Now Galactus, he roams the cosmos, consuming life-bearing planets to survive. He employs heralds to locate these planets, the most famous being the Silver Surfer.

His first encounter with the Fantastic Four involved a warning from the Watcher, who broke his neutrality to save Earth. The team battled the Silver Surfer, but failed to prevent Galactus' arrival. Ultimately, the Human Torch retrieved the Ultimate Nullifier, a weapon capable of harming Galactus, forcing him to spare Earth. This event marked the beginning of Galactus' significant role in the Marvel universe, with subsequent confrontations against the Fantastic Four and Thor revealing more of his backstory. While not traditionally "evil," he's a morally ambiguous figure, surviving by consuming planets. However, previous big-screen portrayals have fallen short.

A Reimagined Galactus

Despite appearances in cartoons and video games, Galactus' previous cinematic appearance in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer was underwhelming. His design was drastically altered, and his portrayal lacked the impact of his comic book counterpart.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears to rectify this. The trailer, along with a drone light show at San Diego Comic-Con, suggests a closer adherence to Jack Kirby's original design. Marvel's choice of Galactus as the villain for their reboot signifies a desire to correct past mistakes. With Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom reportedly reserved for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, the focus can be entirely on giving Galactus a fitting MCU debut.

This is crucial given the MCU's recent challenges. Galactus, with his established history, presents an opportunity to revitalize the franchise. A successful adaptation could significantly improve the MCU's reputation and build anticipation for the next Avengers films, in which the Fantastic Four are expected to play major roles.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 Stills

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The past anticipation for the Fantastic Four's rogues' gallery in the MCU, including Galactus, highlights his importance. While the Fantastic Four's current positive reception is welcome, Galactus and associated characters could be key to reinvigorating the MCU after the Multiverse Saga.

Galactus is a premier Fantastic Four villain, and a compelling live-action portrayal is long overdue. Judging by the trailer, The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears to be on the right track.