There was something missing from The Fantastic Four: First Steps that a new storyboard video released by a Marvel Cinematic Universe concept artist reveals was almost included in the Phase 6 movie. The Fantastic Four: First Steps hit theaters in July and introduced us to Marvel’s First Family on Earth 828. Each member of the Fantastic Four got the chance to show off their impressive abilities during their battles against the planet-eater Galactus and his herald, Shalla-Bal’s Silver Surfer, but viewers wanted even more from the team’s super-intelligent leader.
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One of the biggest criticisms of The Fantastic Four: First Steps – amid an ocean of positive reviews – was that Reed Richards’ Mister Fantastic didn’t show off his elastic powers as much as the other members of the titular team. A new storyboard video shared by artist @rodneyimages on Instagram, however, revealed that a scene had been planned that would have spotlighted Mister Fantastic’s powers brilliantly. The video shows Richards scaling the Baxter Building’s exterior while using his powers to dodge debris and falling objects, which would have been a seriously impressive addition to the MCU movie.
Don’t Worry, Mister Fantastic Will Get More Opportunities to Show Off His Powers
It’s a shame that Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) didn’t get a lot of opportunity to show off his stretchy powers in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, though he did briefly on a number of occasions. The fire-based powers of Johnny Storm’s Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), the forcefield and invisibility capabilities of Sue Storm’s Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), and the rock-based strength of Ben Grimm’s Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) were put front-and-center. Reed Richards’ genius mind was displayed as his primary gift, with his cosmic powers taking a back-seat, but this could change in the MCU’s future.
The entire Fantastic Four team from Earth 828 has been confirmed to be returning to the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday, where they’ll be joining the MCU’s other heroes in the fight against Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.). Interviews with First Steps’ cast have seen them all mention their excitement at the prospect of spending the next several years as the Fantastic Four in the MCU, which will give Reed Richards plenty of time to show off his abilities. The Fantastic Four: First Steps gave us a tease, but future MCU projects will surely put his stretching in the spotlight.
While it would have been great to see Mister Fantastic use his powers in more inventive ways in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, it’s still exciting to think about where he might take his powers in the future. Pedro Pascal will be reprising the role in 2026 in Avengers: Doomsday and presumably again in 2027 for Avengers: Secret Wars. Additionally, a sequel to The Fantastic Four: First Steps is practically inevitable after the team’s Phase 6 debut – and already rumored to be in development – so it hopefully won’t be long before we see Reed Richards’ powers like never before.
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image courtesy of 20th Century Studios
