The Return of Galactus in The Fantastic Four: First Steps Could Mean Big Things for Marvel

The first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps has dropped, giving us our first look at Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Marvel's First Family, alongside their robotic companion, HERBIE. The retro-futuristic aesthetic is striking, and the trailer's tone feels distinctly different from other MCU projects. While the July 25, 2025 release date has us buzzing, one character towers above the rest: Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.

Doctor Doom's Absence and Galactus' Promising Debut

While Galactus is prominently featured, Doctor Doom is notably absent from the trailer. However, this Galactus appears far more faithful to his comic book counterpart than the previous cinematic iteration in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Let's explore why The Fantastic Four: First Steps seems poised to finally deliver a compelling Galactus.

Who is the Devourer of Worlds?

For those unfamiliar, Galactus is a cosmic entity from Marvel Comics, co-created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #48. Originally Galan, a mortal survivor of a previous universe, he was transformed by the merging of his universe's sentience into the first being of our own. Now Galactus, he roams the cosmos, consuming life-bearing planets to survive. He employs heralds to locate these planets, the most famous being the Silver Surfer.

The Fantastic Four's first encounter with Galactus involved a warning from the Watcher, who violated his non-interference oath to save Earth. Despite battling the Silver Surfer, they failed to prevent Galactus' arrival. The Human Torch's retrieval of the Ultimate Nullifier, a weapon capable of harming Galactus, forced the Devourer to spare Earth. This event led to the Silver Surfer's exile.

Since then, Galactus has frequently clashed with the Fantastic Four and Thor, revealing more of his backstory. He's not simply "evil," but a morally ambiguous figure driven by survival. Despite his iconic status, previous big-screen portrayals have fallen short.

While appearing in cartoons and games like the '90s Fantastic Four cartoon and Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Galactus' previous cinematic appearance in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer was underwhelming. His design was drastically altered, and his portrayal lacked the impact of his comic book counterpart.

However, The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer suggests a significant improvement. The glimpses shown, along with teasers from last year's San Diego Comic-Con drone show, indicate a closer adherence to Jack Kirby's original design. Marvel's choice of Galactus as the primary antagonist for their reboot is telling, suggesting a desire to rectify past mistakes. With Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom potentially reserved for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, the focus can be solely on Galactus' MCU debut.

This is crucial given the MCU's recent challenges. Galactus represents a powerful villain with the potential to revitalize the franchise. A successful adaptation could significantly boost the MCU's reputation and generate excitement for the upcoming Avengers films, in which the Fantastic Four are expected to play pivotal roles.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Trailer 1 Stills

20 ImagesFans' previous eagerness to see the Fantastic Four's rogues gallery in the MCU highlights the significance of this moment. While the Fantastic Four's MCU presence is now established, Galactus and other associated characters could be the key to rejuvenating the franchise after the Multiverse Saga.

Galactus is a premier Fantastic Four villain, and his long-awaited, faithful live-action portrayal is finally here. Judging by the trailer, The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears to be on the right track.