The upcoming Marvel Studios film titled Fantastic Four: First Steps, slated for release in 2025, is eagerly awaited by many superhero enthusiasts. However, instead of unbridled enthusiasm, there seems to be growing apprehension among long-time fans. Interactions with the cast and creative team have stoked fears that the movie might repeat the “woke” mistakes Marvel has made in the past, focusing more on social commentary and identity issues rather than the thrilling adventure and familial bonds that originally defined the Fantastic Four as an iconic group.
Fans initially raised concerns based on the actors’ statements about how their characters are being revamped to align with contemporary values. For instance, Joseph Quinn, portraying Johnny Storm, openly shared his Human Torch will deviate from past depictions. “The old character was labeled as a womanizer and carefree, but is that appealing today? I don’t think so. This new Johnny is less indifferent towards others’ feelings, and hopefully he shows some self-awareness about the motivations behind his attention-seeking behavior.” To many, this appears to be a conscious decision to replace the charismatic, yet flawed Johnny that fans adored, with a more sanitized, socially acceptable character.
Vanessa Kirby, assuming the part of Sue Storm, has emphasized that her portrayal of Invisible Woman will reflect modern gender dynamics. As Kirby stated, “An exact ’60s Sue character would come off as rather passive today, so understanding how to encapsulate the essence of what she symbolized for each generation, given the differing gender politics, and embody that in a contemporary context, was one of the most delightful aspects of this role.” Though modernizing Sue’s character may seem fitting, some fans are concerned that the movie might prioritize making political statements over delivering an engaging narrative.
At the latest CinemaCon gathering, it seemed that lead actor Pedro Pascal failed to impress the audience, as per Film Threat’s Chris Gore’s assessment: “I find Pedro unsuitable for the role of Mr. Fantastic… I was left feeling less than satisfied.” Check out the conversation here: [link]
In the video earlier, it’s noted that the changes aren’t limited to the main four characters. The decision to change Silver Surfer’s gender, with Julia Garner playing Shalla-Bal, sparked initial doubt. Though a female version of Shalla-Bal has appeared in the comics once, this alteration seems to be prioritizing a message over staying true to the original source material. The reasoning behind this change is believed to be promoting diversity, as the Silver Surfer is usually male in the comics and was male in the previous film.
It seems that some people are starting to think that Marvel’s creative decisions are more focused on shaping culture, or “cultural engineering,” rather than staying true to what made the Fantastic Four unique. This raises the question if Marvel is prioritizing making statements over creating movies. Fans have been hoping for a Fantastic Four movie that embodies the thrilling adventures and family interactions that the comics are known for. Instead, First Steps appears set to continue Marvel Studios’ ongoing cultural engineering project.
In the discussions surrounding the upcoming movie “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” directors Matt Shakman and Kevin Feige have highlighted the significance of casting and chemistry, and they’ve assembled a gifted group of actors. However, what truly matters to many fans is preserving the classic traits and bonds among the Fantastic Four characters rather than catering to contemporary cultural norms. While the cast and crew are openly discussing modifications to align the characters with current values, whispers about a potential gay character, Ben Grimm, have sparked concerns that the movie might be more remembered for its progressive stance than its storytelling quality, leading to apprehension among fans.
See Also: Marvel’s Missteps: MCU’s ‘Fantastic Four’ to Explore Gender Politics
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2025-04-15 18:30