The Thing Rocks a Beard in a New Look at The ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Character
Ebon Moss-Bachrach is taking on a big role in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the upcoming Marvel Studios movie that brings the iconic superhero team into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’s playing Ben Grimm, better known as The Thing, and fans just got a fresh look at the character, this time sporting something totally new for him: a beard.
Yes, The Thing has a beard. The rocky, orange-skinned hero looks a little different in this version, and it’s all part of director Matt Shakman’s vision for a retro-futuristic, 1960s-style world.
The movie is meant to feel like it was shot in the ’60s, with camera lenses and sets that match the vibe. Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who you might know from The Bear, said he sees a lot of similarities between Ben Grimm and his other characters. “They’re both really loyal. They’re fighters. They have this strong sense of what’s right and they care about family,” he said.
Instead of heavy prosthetics, Moss-Bachrach performed The Thing using motion capture. He even got advice from Mark Ruffalo, who plays the Hulk in the MCU and also uses the same kind of performance tech.
Sometimes, Moss-Bachrach wore extra body pieces or acted alongside a life-sized costume version of The Thing just to help the other actors know where he would be in a scene.
A big part of The Thing’s new look came from research. Shakman and his team studied real desert rocks to get the texture and look just right. One specific rock, yes, an actual rock, was even filmed on set as a lighting reference. They nicknamed it “Jennifer.”
The beard isn’t just a silly add-on. It’s part of making this version of The Thing feel unique and lived-in. The beard adds something more human to a character who already stands out as one of the most physically different members of the Fantastic Four. This version of Ben Grimm seems more grounded and maybe even more emotional.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is scheduled to hit theaters on July 25, 2025. Moss-Bachrach stars alongside Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, and Joseph Quinn, playing Reed Richards, Sue Storm, and Johnny Storm. The villain Galactus will be played by Ralph Ineson.
Marvel has been working on this movie for a while. After Disney bought 20th Century Fox, Marvel took control of the Fantastic Four franchise. Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, said back in 2019 that he wanted to bring Marvel’s “first family” into the spotlight the right way.
The film won’t be another origin story; they’re skipping that this time. Instead, it drops us straight into their world, which is full of classic sci-fi elements, mid-century design, and, apparently, bearded rock monsters.
This new take on The Thing, beard and all, is already getting fans talking.
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