Michael Chiklis, who embodied Ben Grimm/The Thing in Fox’s mid‑2000s films, took to X on Monday to “wish the best of luck and success” to the new Fantastic Four: First Steps line‑up, thanking fans “for all the FF love” pouring his way as Marvel’s reboot heads into opening weekend. The salute arrives just days before Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss‑Bachrach debut as Marvel’s First Family when the film bows worldwide on 25 July.
Disney’s marketing machine has shifted into overdrive: a new TV spot dropped last week revealing the most complete look yet at Galactus, portrayed by Ralph Ineson, prompting some fans to worry that the studio is oversharing crucial plot moments. Director Matt Shakman has tried to redirect attention by highlighting the film’s post‑credits stinger, which he says was shot by the Russo brothers to set up future cosmic threads.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige insists the cosmic devourer had to remain “fully comic accurate” to justify the stakes of the reboot, framing the movie as a cornerstone of the franchise’s next chapter. In recent red‑carpet interviews, Shakman described First Steps as “optimistic but grounded,” promising Easter eggs that reward longtime readers without alienating newcomers.
Box‑office trackers project a U.S. start between $125 million and $145 million, buoyed by robust premium‑format presales yet tempered by stiff competition from James Gunn’s Superman. Analysts say those figures would still rank among the MCU’s stronger launches of the past three years and could restore investor confidence after several uneven quarters.
Industry observers note that Chiklis’s endorsement helps bridge generational divides, reminding audiences of the property’s cinematic history while signalling support from legacy talent—something some past franchise revivals have struggled to secure. Whether that goodwill translates into sustained momentum will become clearer when the family‑friendly adventure, set largely in 1960s‑inspired Midtown and the Negative Zone, lands in more than 4,300 domestic theatres this Thursday night.
