That might sound like no big deal, but after 2023’s “The Marvels,” this spring’s fourth “Captain America” movie and “Thunderbolts*” all underperformed by Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) standards, the new “Fantastic Four” may offer broader audience appeal by not pulling from other franchises.

First Steps is the second cinematic reboot of the Fantastic Four franchise, and there’s a lot riding on this film. While cinema-goers have responded enthusiastically to many of the films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe,

First Steps” is the third Marvel movie to hit theaters this year, but it packs way more hidden references and nods than “Captain America: Brave New World” or “Thunderbolts.” It’s not on the same level of Easter eggs as last year’s “Deadpool and Wolverine,

Doomsday's Doctor Doom hails from Earth-828, the reality inhabited by Marvel's First Family in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Read on for

Yes, that mysterious cloaked figure in Fantastic Four is indeed played by Robert Downey Jr. – as confirmed by the director himself.

The world devourer, played by Ralph Ineson, is finally given a comic book accurate look on the big screen, while his herald is given quite the makeover for First Steps. Rather than being introduced as Norrin Radd,

First Steps director Matt Shakman has revealed what the cut sequence featuring John Malkovich's Red Ghost entailed, and explains why we're unlikely to ever see it officially released.

Josh Trank deserved to see his vision for Fantastic Four fail for what it wanted to be, not what it was forced into becoming.

But there was a very simple way for the MCU to reboot its thirst traps in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. And Pedro Pascal didn't even need to go shirtless for it. He would have simply needed to unbutton a bit.