Marvel’s ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Will Skip the Origin Story, Picking Up 4 Years After the Team Becomes Heroes

Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps will not be an origin story. The film will begin four years after the team becomes heroes.

According to Deadline, a special one-shot comic book, created to match the movie’s world, confirms this. It shows that the story skips the origin and picks up after the team has already become heroes. Marvel Comics worked closely with the filmmakers to make sure the comic’s tone matched the movie, with production designer Kasra Farahani helps to create the comic’s visual style. Writer Matt Fraction (Hawkeye and Fantastic Four) and other comic creators even visited the film set to stay true to the film’s vision.

For The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel Comics and Marvel Studios have worked together on a comic set in the world of an MCU movie. The comic is written by Fraction, with artwork by Mark Buckingham (Fantastic Four, Fables) and cover art by Phil Noto. It’s a one-shot comic published by Future Foundation.

In a statement, Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski said, “As Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four and their stories have always been at the very center of the Marvel Universe. With The Fantastic Four: First Steps coming later this summer, we at Marvel all felt this was the perfect opportunity to bring our teams together in honor of their legacy in both the world of the film and within our comics.” Cebulski added, “It’s been a blast to have our teams in Publishing and Studios bounce ideas back and forth to create something truly special and one-of-a-kind, and we can’t wait for fans to dive into this comic—squarely in the world of the MCU—and experience the Fantastic Four like we’ve never seen before this summer.”

Here’s the plot details for The Fantastic Four: First Steps:

Opening in theaters July 25, Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm / Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm / Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm / The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet.

Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet — and everyone on it — weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.

The film also stars Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles. Directed by Matt Shakman, produced by Kevin Feige, and executive produced by Louis D’Esposito, Grant Curtis, and Tim Lewis.

The film is produced by Kevin Feige, Grant Curtis, and Nick Pepin.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters and IMAX on July 25, 2025.