The upcoming film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, aims to bring a fresh dynamic to the character of Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, through innovative visual techniques. Director Matt Shakman has drawn inspiration from the aesthetic of Spider-Man and the artistic style of acclaimed comic book illustrator Alex Ross to achieve a unique representation of Richards’ stretching abilities.
Shakman, known for his previous work on popular series like Game of Thrones and WandaVision, explained the challenges of portraying stretching on screen. “Stretching is challenging. People understand invisibility, they can understand being on fire,” he stated. “But stretching is tough because there’s nothing in our world that does that.” He elaborated that unlike other superpowers, which have real-world parallels, stretching requires a more imaginative approach, making it easier to depict in animation or comic books than in live-action formats.
In this latest installment, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the titular team, featuring Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, and Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, faces formidable foes, including the Silver Surfer and Galactus. The narrative delves into their mission to protect Earth from the Devourer of Worlds, with heightened stakes as they also strive to safeguard Sue and Reed’s newborn child, Franklin.
Innovative Techniques for Visual Effects
To create a believable portrayal of Reed Richards’ stretching, Shakman emphasized the importance of respecting the laws of physics. “If he’s going to stretch his arm, he’s going to need to counterbalance,” Shakman explained. He noted that as Richards’ limbs stretch, his body must maintain anatomical accuracy, ensuring that the character does not appear as a formless figure. “We wanted to make sure there was always anatomy present, so it didn’t become a tube,” he remarked.
Shakman highlighted the influence of Alex Ross on the film’s visual style. Ross’ artistic renditions of Reed Richards maintain a sense of athleticism and heroic proportion, which was essential in shaping Shakman’s vision for the character. The director aims to infuse a sense of speed and movement into Richards’ stretching, drawing parallels to the agility of Spider-Man. “He moves quickly when he’s stretching in our film, so there’s almost a Spider-Man quality to it,” Shakman added.
The Anticipation Builds
While there are no confirmed plans for Tom Holland to reprise his role as Peter Parker in the upcoming team-up movie Avengers: Doomsday, the possibility remains that Pedro Pascal, portraying Reed Richards, may encounter the web-slinger in future collaborations. Fans eagerly await the potential dynamic between these beloved characters.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to premiere in UK cinemas on July 24, 2025, before arriving in theaters across the United States the following day. As the release date approaches, audiences can look forward to an exciting addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and explore the full slate of upcoming Marvel movies and shows.
