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He might be a robot, but H.E.R.B.I.E. is still a member of the Fantastic Four as they enter the MCU, according to the film's director
Most robots in the Marvel Cinematic Universe inevitably turn evil but we've got high hopes for H.E.R.B.I.E.'s loyalty to The Fantastic Four.
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When Marvel’s First Family makes their triumphant entry into the MCU in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, they won’t be alone. In addition to the iconic four heroes played by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, there will be a little helper on screen. While the trailers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps showed him off, the film’s director Matt Shakman says that H.E.R.B.I.E. is just as much a part of the team as anyone else.
“He’s absolutely as important and as alive as any other member of the cast,” director Matt Shakman explained in a recent interview when asked about H.E.R.B.I.E. “He’s sometimes a slightly put-upon robot, but he is definitely a member of the family. He’s just so charming and adorable.” While we shouldn’t expect H.E.R.B.I.E. to do much in the way of fighting, the director does say that “He is really Reed’s right hand in the lab, capable of assisting him on any sort of experiment, always by his side, whether in New York City or out in space.”
While he's not literally a member of the team in this incarnation - that would make them the Fantastic Five - it's worth remembering that he was originally created (by original FF creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, no less) for the 1970s animated series The New Fantastic Four as a replacement for the Human Torch, who was unavailable to program makers due to rights issues. The idea of a H.E.R.B.I.E. who could do it all is, therefore, baked into the character's robotic DNA.
Shakman does warn that H.E.R.B.I.E. “will break your heart,” which does give us some concerns about his chances of surviving the Fantastic Four’s entry into the Sacred Timeline, but it is good to see that he’s getting his flowers after being the forgotten member of the team for so long. We all need a little robot companion in the lab sometimes.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, complete with H.E.R.B.I.E. on the team, pops into the Marvel Cinematic Universe 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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