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The Fantastic Four: First Steps director says the Marvel team shares its DNA with Star Trek
The Fantastic Four's characterization in their upcoming First Steps movie embodies a sense of Space Race-era "optimism" that it shares with the fan-favorite sci-fi franchise, says director Matt Shakman
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps is unapologetically leaning into the ethos of 1960s America. With its retro-futuristic aesthetic, the First Steps film is embracing the origins of Marvel's First Family like never before onscreen. In contrast, the previous two iterations of the Fantastic Four onscreen were set in modern times, losing some of the original magic of the team. Giving the Fantastic Four a distinctly '60s feel for the MCU was a deliberate choice, as First Steps director Matt Shakman explains.
In an interview with Collider, Shakman said, "The comics were created in the ‘60s, and they're very much informed by the Space Race and that JFK sense of optimism. It really defined that decade, looking to the stars, and you see it not just in the Fantastic Four, but you see it in Star Trek, which is another project that is all about family and about optimism and about believing that the right head and the right heart in combination can solve any problem. You see it in Spock and Kirk, you see it in Sue and Reed, and so these are some of the similar thematics that we're dealing with."
(Wait, does this mean Sue is James T. Kirk in this parallel? Color us fascinated.)
The Fantastic Four first debuted in 1961's Fantastic Four #1, five years before Star Trek would hit televisions around the country. Fantastic Four creator Jack Kirby had a special interest in not only technological and scientific advancement, but also in social progressivism - a tie that also links the Fantastic Four with Star Trek. The 1960s would prove to be a transformational time not just for superhero comics, but for America as a whole, evident in the Civil Rights Movement, popular music, and beyond.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps will released in theaters on July 25, 2025.
Consider this a meta post-credits scene for Marvel fans - the four key articles you need to read next to continue the thrills:
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