Did You Hear? is a weekly examination of headlines in the entertainment industry and a take on what they could mean for the future of the industry and (often), the little geeky bubble that we occupy!
Full Fantastic Four Trailer is Here!
Two months ago Disney and Marvel Studios graced us with the first teaser of the upcoming THIRD effort at a Fantastic Four movie:
The Fantastic Four: First Steps | Official Teaser | Only in Theaters July 25
Welcome to the family. Marvel Studios’ #TheFantasticFour: First Steps arrives in theaters July 25. ► Watch Marvel on Disney+: https://bit.ly/2XyBSIW ► Subscribe to Marvel on YouTube: http://bit.ly/WeO3YJ Follow Marvel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/marvel Like Marvel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marvel Reward your Marvel fandom by joining Marvel Insider! Earn points, then redeem for awesome rewards.
… and yesterday we were graced with the accompanying (and highly anticipated), full length trailer:
The Fantastic Four: First Steps | Official Trailer | Only in Theaters July 25
Together. As a family. Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives in theaters July 25. ► Watch Marvel on Disney+: https://bit.ly/2XyBSIW ► Subscribe to Marvel on YouTube: http://bit.ly/WeO3YJ Follow Marvel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/marvel Like Marvel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marvel
… along with this new accompanying poster:
In fairness, the trailer debuted not too long ago at CinemaCon and generated buzz among press and influencers in attendance. It seems that no matter how many terrible Fantastic Four movies we’ve had in the past (four, that’s FOUR, so far!), the power of the first family of Marvel Comics will draw us in over and over and over again.
I, personally, credit the adorableness of H.E.R.B.I.E. (long missing from live action Fantastic Four adaptations), for the reason folx have been so excited!
Both promotional images carry clues as to what we can expect from Fantastic Four. The subtitle of the trailer on Marvel Entertainment’s Official Youtube channel reads:
First Steps
… wild the slogan at the bottom of the top reads:
Welcome to the family.
It should have come as little surprise when the opening moments of the trailer confirm Sue Storm’s first pregnancy through a bit of a hammy series of “late” double entendres. As a die-hard lover of The Future Foundation the promise of Franklin and/or Valeria Richards appearance is very exciting.
From a macro-cosmic view of the Marvel Cinematic Universe from an in-world narrative perspective it’s also smart to introduce a younger character. Yes, we have Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm, but Marvel and Disney+ have been not-so-subtly building a roster of Young Avengers (Cassie Lang, Kate Bishop, Billy Kaplan, Maximoff, Eli Bradley, Yelena Belova), to which younger Fantastic Four members would make a logical addition either in movies or in a streaming television series.
From a macro-macro cosmic view of the MCU from a business standpoint the Fantastic Four movie is arriving at a time full of industry baggage with its own piles of baggage in tow. The MCU has been lacking a breakout grand success cinematically and on Disney+. Daredevil: Born Again arrived to mild acceptance – but certainly no fanfare – and Loki is the only live action series, of the many there have been, to justify a second season.
Although there have been several youngsters in the MCU, as listed above, one thing we haven’t seen yet in the slough of Marvel movie offerings is a functioning, happy family. This is a niche Fantastic Four could easily slip into. If I may sprinkle some of my own opinions about the team here: you have to present the Fantastic Four this way or Reed Richards becomes the most deeply unlikeable person to ever grace the pages of Marvel Comics in any medium. If we can’t understand why Sue and Ben and Johnny love him so much they would follow him into space and that Reed, in turn, loves them so much he spends the rest of his life making them rich celebrities to make up for the accident which grants them superpowers the whole concept is dead on arrival.
Further to this: the only successful Fantastic Four movies are The Incredibles duology. And The Incredibles are – WHAT? Films about families!
In the wake of Deadpool and Wolverine Marvel Studios really needs a movie set in their home Universe with their squeaky-clean, family-friendly sensibility to succeed from a brand standpoint. Disney is also about to make a big push into their post-pandemic/post-strikes slate which they need to succeed from a financial standpoint. Snow White flopped. There’s now even more onis on Fantastic Four to pick up the slack when it comes to the box office.
TL;DR all that matter is the Sue is pregnant, H.E.R.B.I.E. is cute, and opening weekend, July 25th, is going to be FASCINATING!
