Summary

  • Marvel's 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' is highly anticipated and deliberately shrouded in secrecy, in a way the other upcoming films are not.
  • Speculation is rife about a mysterious cameo in the movie, with guesses ranging from Robert Downey Jr. to Tom Hiddleston.
  • A wrap party photo further fuels theories of a surprise cameo, adding to the excitement and mystery surrounding the film's release.

Marvel Studios has done a very good job of keeping the most pertinent details of The Fantastic Four: First Steps under wraps. However... With a project that big, something is bound to slip. And it looks like something almost did.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is one of three Marvel films coming out next year, the others being Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World. It is arguably the most anticipated of the bunch, although fans generally seem to have more confident in the MCU's next phase than in the last few years. Maybe audiences are finally getting over their 'superhero fatigue'. However, we know a whole lot more about the other two impending releases, as nearly all the major details about The Fantastic Four: First Steps are being kept tightly under wraps. Marvel is clearly taking it more seriously than previous movies, as few set photos have escaped either. The most notable are a photo of Joseph Quinn's Johnny Storm and a video showing us what Ebon Moss-Bachrach's 'The Thing' will look like. They seem to have learned from their (very few) mistakes, though.

Related
Fantastic Four: First Steps Director Reveals Hugely Important Fact About The Movie

Matt Shakman sneakily confirmed a very important fact about the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps.

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Just before the latest Fantastic Four movie wrapped last weekend, a video was posted to X showing a crew member running with an unidentifiable member of the cast and making sure they were covered. The person seems to be a man wearing everyday clothes, but nothing else can really be discerned. Naturally, the internet has gone crazy since. Fans have been throwing out theories left and right, some of them seeming more plausible than others. Many have guessed that it's Robert Downey Jr., making his return to the MCU as Victor von Doom (AKA Dr. Doom). Others have tossed Loki's name into the mix, citing the fact that actor Tom Hiddleston was recently in Spain-- where the production finished the last bit of filming-- and outfit similarities. A surprising number of people also seem to think it's Chris Evans, who got his start in the Marvel universe as Johnny Storm back in 2005. This one feels unlikely, considering Evans's cameo as the Human Torch in Deadpool and Wolverine just this year. However, we can't really rule anything out. This is Marvel, after all.

Adding to the mystery, on the day filming officially ended a photo of Pedro Pascal surfaced on X. It seems to be from the wrap party, which usually wouldn't be too significant as actors often post pictures celebrating the end of filming after a long shoot. However, the covered face of the second person-- and the crown on their head-- in the photo further hints at an exciting cameo we're not supposed to know about yet. It's not certain as of now if the two things are related, even if it definitely feels like they are. There could be a simple explanation people are overlooking. For instance, it's entirely possible that it was the costume they wanted to keep secret and not the person, as some have already pointed out. But for now, people will only have their theories. And there are plenty!

It's admirable that Marvel has been able to hold all this stuff so close to the vest for so long. Leakers seem to be a growing population, and they are a savvy bunch. One thing that wasn't able to stay hidden for long was the teaser they showed fans at this year's San Diego Comic Con, which was leaked online soon after. But all in all, they've done a solid job of keeping their secrets to themselves for now. Unless something major happens between now and next year, fans will likely have to wait until July to know who Marvel is working so hard to keep as a surprise.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps releases in theaters July 25th, 2025.

Source: miibad7/X and cedarstacks/X

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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Not Yet Rated
Adventure
Sci-Fi
Superhero
Release Date
July 25, 2025
Director
Matt Shakman
Writers
Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee
Producers
Jamie Christopher, Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Tim Lewis
  • instar53504431.jpg
    Pedro Pascal
    Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic
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    Vanessa Kirby
    Sue Storm / The Invisible Woman
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    Joseph Quinn
    Johnny Storm / Human Torch
  • instar51706718.jpg
    Ebon Moss-Bachrach
    Ben Grimm / The Thing