New ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Character Reveal Shows Stunning Galactus Armor and Confirm Iconic Villain Appearance
Fresh images from the upcoming Marvel movie Fantastic Four: First Steps have dropped, giving fans a closer look at some of the most exciting characters, especially Galactus. Ralph Ineson plays Galactus, and from what we’ve seen, his armor is very close to how it looks in the comics.
We already knew from earlier reveals that Galactus would be huge, and now these images confirm he’s mostly comic-accurate in size. Though, as director Matt Shakman points out, “comic-accurate” is tricky because Galactus can change his size at will in the comics. Still, fans can expect a giant cosmic force.
In some trailers, fans caught glimpses of Galactus’ boots and the back of his helmeted head. His massive chest alone shows how impressive this character will be on screen. Shakman says, “It’s a big moment when the Fantastic Four get to see him for the first time, and I’d love for that to be the same for the audience.” Ralph Ineson adds that while the buildup is exciting, it’s also “slightly terrifying from my end.”
Unlike Julia Garner, who did motion capture for the Silver Surfer, Ineson wore a full suit of armor and helmet to portray the giant Galactus. He even needed a special team to keep him cool between takes. Ineson mentioned that he would sometimes go to the tops of tall buildings to get a feel for what it’s like to be a “14 billion-year-old cosmic vampire.”
Galactus isn’t just a villain, he’s “an essential force of the universe,” Ineson says. He keeps balance in the cosmos, and whatever lives on the planet he plans to consume usually doesn’t matter to him.
But this time, things get personal because Galactus wants something specific: Reed and Sue’s newborn baby. Shakman explains, “He’s willing to bargain. He did it with Shalla-Bal and he’s going to attempt to do it with the Fantastic Four.”
Another exciting reveal is about Paul Walter Hauser’s role as Harvey Elder, also known as the Mole Man. The Mole Man was the first villain the Fantastic Four fought in their original 1961 comic, a nuclear engineer who controls underground creatures. In this new movie, however, Harvey Elder is portrayed more like a union boss than a typical supervillain, according to Shakman.
Hauser describes the comic book Mole Man as “vicious and heinous and unrelenting,” but says his version is more human and caring. “He is living sort of in the shadows like a villain would, but he’s also taking care of an entire race of people and trying to live his life without being bothered,” Hauser explains.
The conflict between Harvey and the Fantastic Four is political. “It’s a power struggle, but within that, there are compromises and alliances made,” he adds. Shakman highlights the connection between Harvey and Sue, saying, “He’s all about community, and that’s why Sue and Harvey have a good relationship and they get along. They understand each other.”
Fans had guessed this for a while, since leaked set photos from nearly a year ago showed a location called Subterranea, which is the Mole Man’s underground realm.
The Silver Surfer, played by Julia Garner, also got a fresh new look in the recent images. She arrives on her signature surfboard, carrying a grim warning for Earth and the Fantastic Four. Although she brings bad news, her character is layered with emotion. Shakman calls her a “classic anti-hero character,” explaining that she has sacrificed a lot in her past and feels guilt about it.
Part of her message to Earth is rehearsed: “Your planet is marked for death.” But she adds her own words, “Hold your loved ones close. Speak the words you’ve been afraid to speak.” Shakman says this shows her empathy and the tension between her duty and her feelings.
Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to premiere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles on July 21, 2025, and will hit theaters across the U.S. on July 25. It will kick off Phase Six of the MCU, and a sequel is already in the works.
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