Spoiler alert! This article contains spoilers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
The Fantastic Four: First Stepsintroduces Marvel’s First Family to theMCUin a bold, emotionally-driven adventure along with a slew of other characters. Director Matt Shakman delivers a team that feels fresh yet faithful, with a star-studded ensemble and unexpected additions from Marvel lore.First Stepslayers character moments with franchise-building intent, introducing several characters tothe MCU timeline.
From the core four to surprise supporting roles and a major villain tease, themarvelousFantastic Four: First Stepsfeatured a wealth of Marvel characters new and old. Notably set apart from previous iterations,First Stepscenters the Fantastic Four’s humanity alongside their heroism. Every character contributes to this tone, providing a highly effecti ensemble.
13Reed Richards Played By Pedro Pascal
AKA Mister Fantastic
Pedro Pascal takes on Reed Richards with an emphasis on intellect over muscle. As the elastic genius of the Fantastic Four, Pascal avoided echoing past performances. Instead, he crafted a Reed inspired by the character’s many comic book interpretations, leaning into hisinsatiable curiosity and visionary thinking.
With Pascal, Reed’s mind – his ability to see the world differently – is his true power. That mindset informs the performance, portraying Reed as a soft-spoken leader whoprocesses emotions through logic. This version is less egocentric and more compassionate, making him the emotional and scientific heart of the team, without losing that signature Reed complexity.
12Sue Storm Played By Vanessa Kirby
AKA Invisible Woman
Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm is a powerhouse in intellect and empathy. As well as her invisibility and forcefield-generating powers, Sue is the founder of the Future Foundation, which has led to a globally demilitarized society.Director Matt Shakman called Sue Stormthe most emotionally intelligent person on Earth, and Kirby brings that to life withgravitas and grace.
Drawing from a wide range of Sue’s comic iterations, Kirby emphasized a central through-line of motherhood. That choice roots Sue’s story in nurturing strength, balancing her protective instincts with sharp scientific acumen. Her portrayaloozes warmth and emotional depth, making her the Fantastic Four’s soul and its quiet strategist.
11Johnny Storm Played By Joseph Quinn
AKA Human Torch
Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm is a far cry from the reckless hothead of earlier versions. While still flashy and full of swagger, this Human Torch has a more self-aware edge. Quinn brings in layers of vulnerability anda surprising level of introspectionthroughoutThe Fantastic Four: First Steps.
He’s no longer oblivious to others' emotions and gone are the publicity stunts and gratuitous flirting. The result is a version of Johnny who feels younger, wiser, andmore in tune with his role as a superhero. Quinn balances the comedy and pathos, with some particularly compelling moments.
10Ben Grimm Played By Ebon Moss-Bachrach
AKA The Thing
Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm is unlike any Thing previously seen on screen. Realized through motion capture and CGI instead of prosthetics, his portrayalcaptures a rich emotional range. Moss-Bachrach received advice from Mark Ruffalo on mo-cap acting, and the result is a Thing that feels authentic and grounded.
This Ben doesn’t see his transformation into a rocky powerhouse as a curse – he’s accepted his identity and wears it with pride. His relationship with his hometown and the people around him adds dimension, especially in scenes with Rachel Rozman. Moss-Bachrach’s comedic timing, coupled with real pathos, makes this version of the Thingthe emotional cornerstoneof the team.
9Galactus Played By Ralph Ineson
The Devourer Of Worlds
Ralph Ineson brings gravitas to Galactus with his deep voice and imposing presence, made even morestriking by a comic-accurate look. Gone is the ambiguous space cloud ofRise of the Silver Surfer– this Galactus wears regal purple-and-blue armor constructed forIneson to wear on theFirst Stepsset.
His presence looms throughoutFirst Steps, with hints of future complications. Rather than a chaotic cosmic force, Galactus here is a calculated, philosophical entity driven by hunger. Ineson’s restrained but powerful delivery ensures Galactus is a towering threat wholeaves a lasting impression.
8The Silver Surfer Played By Julia Garner
AKA Shalla-Bal
Julia Garner delivers a sleek, haunting take on the Silver Surfer – now reimagined as Shalla-Bal instead of Norrin Radd. Her performance is stoic yet elegant, embodying bothcosmic detachment and flickers of emotional conflict. Garner’s Surfer is not a former lover turned herald but a desperate mother (like Sue) who operates with quiet persistence.
The redesign retains the iconic chrome look while her femininity adds new dimensions to the character’s aura. She interacts memorably with the Fantastic Four and leaves a mysterious, lingering impression. Her scenes shimmer with a mythic quality, hinting that this version of the Surferhas far more story to tell.
7Franklin Richards Played By Ada Scott
AKA Powerhouse
Franklin Richards is the most powerful being in the Marvel Universe, but spends all ofThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsin diapers. Played by a rotation of infants including Ada Scott, Franklin is introduced when Sue gives birth during the team’s return from space. Though a baby throughout the film,his presence is central.
The movie hints at his extraordinary potential subtly with Galactus’s focus, but it’s when he revives Sue at theend ofThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsthat his importance truly clicks. His existencesolidifies the family’s new dynamicand deepens Sue and Reed’s arcs. While he doesn’t speak, Franklin’s symbolic role in the film’s themes of legacy and responsibility is crucial, even in baby form.
6Lynne Nichols Played By Sarah Niles
Original MCU Character
Lynne Nichols, played with poise by Sarah Niles, is a brand-new addition to the Marvel mythos. As Chief of Staff of the Future Foundation, Lynne supports Sue Storm in both scientific and diplomatic endeavors. Her role is vital, especially in scenesshowcasing the organization’s influence on world peace.
Lynne appears throughoutFirst Stepsaiding Sue. Most memorably, she warns Sue of an incoming diplomat so she can turn invisible and hide. Lynne adds gravitas and support, serving as both logistics manager and friend. Her inclusionsubtly enhances the world-buildingwithout distracting from the main team.
5Ted Gilbert Played By Mark Gatiss
Mark Gatiss plays Ted Gilbert, a talk show host whose program bookends the film. Inspired by Ed Sullivan, Gilbert’s show acts as a narrative device to explain the Fantastic Four’s origin to the public – and the audience. The team makes their debut here, and the tone cleverly mirrors 1960s variety TV,establishing the film’s retro-futuristic vibe.
Gilbert’s humor is dry and self-aware, allowing the film toexplore the team’s early heroics. He’s set to host them again at the end ofThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, but their abrupt departure due to a new crisis adds a touch of irony. Gatiss brings charm to this fun cameo as a wholly new Marvel character.
Rachel Rozman, played by Natasha Lyonne, is an original character but bears some similarities to Ben Grimm’s former paramour Debbie Green. She’s a teacher working in Ben Grimm’s old neighborhood, andFirst Stepshints at a blossoming connection between the two. Rozman appears in just a handful of scenes, but her presencebrings out Ben’s softer side.
Their dynamic adds subtle character shading to the Thing,exposing his lingering ties to his roots. Lyonne’s trademark wit and sincerity make Rozman feel lived-in, and her chemistry with Moss-Bachrach is effortlessly sweet. While not a major player, she adds warmth and humanity to Ben’s personal journey.
