Latest news with #TheFantasticFour
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Fantastic Four: First Steps' Continues Big Box Office Dive With 61% Drop
Disney and Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps — which had a steep drop in business in its second Friday to Sunday frame — is continuing its big box office dive in its third weekend in theaters. The third and Marvel Cinematic Universe release in 2025 after Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*, The Fantastic Four: First Steps found solid footing in its opening weekend in theaters July 25-27 with a domestic take of $115.6 million. The film's second weekend, Aug. 1-3 proved disastrous, however, as the film's $38.6 million domestic tally marked a 67% drop in business. Any hope for a turnaround in the film's third Friday to Sunday for The Fantastic Four quickly dissipated this weekend, though, as Deadline released its projections for the Aug. 8-10 North American box office. As of Saturday, the trade publication projected that The Fantastic Four: First Steps will earn $15 million from 3,600 North American theaters, marking a 61% drop from last weekend's already ailing numbers. Should the $15 million projection by Deadline hold, it will boost The Fantastic Four: First Steps' domestic tally to $229.9 million. The Fantastic Four: First Steps, per Variety, had a production budget of $200 million-plus before prints and advertisting costs. 'Superman's' Business Only Drops 41% In Weekend No. 5 The Fantastic Four: First Steps' main competitor for the top-grossing superhero movie of 2025 — James Gunn's Superman — is projected to make $7.8 million in its fifth weekend in theaters following its opening on July 11. The projected tally marks a $43% drop in business from the film's fourth weekend in theaters. Should Deadline's projection hold, this weekend's box office will boost Superman's domestic take to $331.2 million. Given Superman's solid hold at the box office and The Fantastic Four's downhill slide, DC Studios' Man of Steel film is poised to handily defeat the latest MCU chapter by the time each film wraps its theatrical run. The Fantastic Four: First Steps' drop to third place at the domestic box office comes in the wake of the strong performances of two newcomers — the Warner Bros. horror thriller Weapons and Disney's Freaky Friday sequel Freakier Friday. Weapons is projected by Deadline to earn anywhere from $40 million to $43 million in its opening weekend, while the trade publication pegs a $30 million to $32 million first frame for Freakier Friday. The final numbers for this weekend's box office will be released on Monday.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Fantastic Four' Credits Scene Confirms Franklin Richards' Role in ‘Avengers: Doomsday,' but It's a Big Risk
SPOILER ALERT: This story discusses major plot developments, including the ending and post-credits scenes, in 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' currently playing in theaters. From the very first scene, the question of what will become of the child of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) looms over 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps.' When Sue tells Reed she's pregnant, his thoughts immediately turn to what it means for two people with superhuman DNA to procreate. Reed puts the fetus through every possible test he can, and nothing indicates anything is abnormal, so it comes as a shock when the massive, primordial, world-eating Galactus (Ralph Ineson) announces that Reed and Sue's child does, in fact, possess 'the power cosmic.' More from Variety Pedro Pascal Downplays Reed Richards Becoming the New Leader of the Avengers in 'Doomsday': 'That's a Little Bit of a Mislead' Box Office: 'Fantastic Four: First Steps' Makes $24.4 Million in Previews, Beating 'Superman' for Biggest of 2025 Sacha Baron Cohen Shocks Fans With Muscular Body Transformation to Play Marvel's Mephisto: 'This Is Not AI... Hard Launching My Mid-Life Crisis' Reed, Sue, Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are too busy keeping Galactus from taking Reed and Sue's child once he's born — oh, and also consuming the entire planet Earth — to find out what it means for wee Franklin Richards to have the power cosmic. But they get a pretty strong idea after Sue dies using all of her power to push Galactus into a giant teleportation portal. As Reed, Johnny and Ben weep over Sue's body, baby Franklin reaches out to her, places his hands on her shoulders, and, after a few moments, Sue's eyes become filled with stars as she gasps back to life. Comic books being comic books, the boundaries of the power cosmic haven't been rigidly defined, but it is essentially the power of a god, with the ability to manipulate just about anything at will — including time itself. As a storytelling device, this level of almighty omnipotence can be dangerous: How can anything matter if your character can fix it all in a blink of an eye? To repeat: In 'The Fantastic Four,' Franklin saves his mother from death as an infant. Imagine what he'd be able to do as a toddler, or a teenager. Marvel comics have dealt with this problem by taking Franklin's powers away from him — sometimes he does it voluntarily, sometimes it happens with external restraints (often placed by Reed). But while the power cosmic itself can be deadly for drama, the fact that a child possesses this power has also proved to be a fertile creative engine in Marvel comics, attracting all manner of villains bent on manipulating Franklin into their own nefarious machinations. Which brings us to the mid-credits scene of 'The Fantastic Four.' Four years after the events of the film, Sue and Franklin finish reading the classic children's book 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' (which was first published in our reality in 1969). She gets up to find another book — H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot suggests Franklin's favorite, Charles Darwin's 'The Origin of the Species,' but Sue wants 'to go for something a little bit more fun today' — and as she walks back from the kitchen, she hears something…off. She walks slowly into the living room, activating her forcefield powers, and sees a man in a green, hooded cloak, kneeling in front of Franklin, as he brandishes a silver mask. Although we don't see the figure's face or hear him speak, this is obviously Doctor Doom, who will be played by Robert Downey Jr. in 2026's 'Avengers: Doomsday.' In the comics, Doom is an integral figure in the lives of both Franklin and his younger sister Valeria, as kids and adults — occasionally at the same time, through the magic of time travel and the multiverse. Given that 'The Fantastic Four' takes place on Earth-828, and we see their ship appear on Earth-616 in the post-credits scene in 'Thunderbolts*,' it's clear that 'Doomsday' will freely traipse the lines between time and space within the MCU. And now it appears that Franklin will play a critical role how that all comes to pass. On the one hand, this is a terrific way to bring the Fantastic Four into the larger MCU: It isn't about some abstract metaphysical danger, it's about their son, creating an emotional hook into a story that — with at least 27 major speaking roles — could otherwise become unwieldy. And unlike 2018's 'Avengers: Infinity War,' 'Doomsday' isn't benefitting from years of earlier blockbuster movies establishing the central villain and defining what's at stake for the characters. Audiences just aren't as invested in the Multiverse Saga as they were in the Infinity Saga, but a family desperate to save their child is an easy story to connect to. On the other hand, while Franklin's abilities seemingly outstrip everyone else in the MCU, he hasn't been established yet as an actual character beyond being a cute, towheaded preschooler. Hinging 'Doomsday' on our investment in an all-powerful cypher is doubly dangerous for a blockbuster movie — which is another reason to wonder whether an older version of Franklin from the future may show up in 'Doomsday,' as he does in the comics. (It is…curious…that Sue is reading a Franklin story about metamorphosis into a butterfly, followed by a reference to the man to discovered the theory of evolution. Most curious, indeed.) If the first post-credits scene in 'The Fantastic Four' is a portent for Marvel's future, the second was an homage to its past. After the final credits roll, a quote from 'Fantastic Four' co-creator Jack Kirby (no relation to Vanessa) appears on the screen: 'If you look at my characters, you will find me. No matter what kind of character you create or assume, a little of yourself must remain there.' Kirby's birthdate of August 28, 1917 appears next to his name, revealing that it corresponds to the Fantastic Four universe of Earth-828 (i.e. 8/28/1917). Then the opening credits of the in-universe Fantastic Four animated series plays, with a peppy theme song that evokes the Saturday morning cartoons of Marvel characters from the 1970s that inspired 'The Fantastic Four' director Matt Shakman as a kid. It's such a blast of nostalgic fun, perhaps Marvel should consider making that show for real. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples Solve the daily Crossword
Geek Tyrant
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
New Rumor Claims THE FANTASTIC FOUR Will Return For a Sequel With Matt Shakman Returning to Direct — GeekTyrant
The Fantastic Four: First Steps had a pretty good opening weekend, as fans were eager to see the MCU's take on Marvel's first family. They hadn't been represented very well in films past, and if the Marvel executives have done anything right, it's been pretty solid casting the last seventeen years, so it was worth checking in to see how that were portrayed this time around. The movie was pretty good, packing a lot into its runtime, and even leaving a lot on the cutting room floor. This resulted in some disjointed moments, but the vibe of the film and the connection between the characters rang through to give us a good watch. The movie hit a bit of a second week slump, not affecting the future of the characters in the future Avengers films, but making some wonder if it would change the trajectory of the Fantastic Four standalone franchise. If a new rumor turns out to be true, Marvel and Disney aren't letting a slow week stop them from a promising future with this crew. In a recent scoop from industry insider Jeff Sneider, it was revealed that he has heard that "Matt Shakman will likely return to direct a sequel." Shakman made the first movie, and he obviously had a lot of ideas that didn't make the cut this go around. He also made a visually stunning film, and now that the team is established, and will be even more firmly planted in the MCU landscape post- Avengers: Secret Wars , he could make another good movie with less to establish. We will just have to wait and see how it all pans out. Would you like to see The Fantastic Four return for another adventure? via: CBM
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
X-Men star James Marsden addresses his Marvel return for Avengers: Doomsday
James Marsden feels like his return as Cyclops in Avengers: Doomsday has been 'a nice little homecoming' for him. The 51-year-old actor - who starred as the hero in 20th Century Studios' X-Men franchise from the 2000 eponymous movie until the character's death in 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand - is due to return as Cyclops for the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) blockbuster, and while Marsden feels he is 'getting a little long in the tooth' to be a superhero, he's thankful he's been given the opportunity to suit up as the character again. Speaking with Vanity Fair, Marsden said: 'I'm getting a little long in the tooth to put on the superhero costume. 'I was excited because you're a part of something gigantic, and I've spent 20 years listening to people say, 'When are you coming back? When are you coming back? Are you coming back?' I'm dead. Well, maybe not. 'I'm going to have a tough time struggling to get into costume if they waited a couple more years.' The Sonic the Hedgehog star - who previously returned as Cyclops for 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past - added it was 'pretty special' to step back into his beloved role for Avengers: Doomsday. He said: 'So it's been a blast. It really has. It's been a nice little homecoming to a role that really put me on the map. 'It was the first real event project that I was ever a part of, and a very beloved character, this icon from the comics. And so to step back into that role was pretty special.' Marsden won't be the only X-Men star to return for Avengers: Doomsday, as Sir Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Sir Ian McKellen (Magneto), Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Channing Tatum (Gambit) and Rebecca Romijn (Mystique) are also confirmed for the film. Other stars announced for Avengers: Doomsday include Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Anthony Mackie (Captain America), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Sebastian Stan (James 'Bucky' Barnes) and Lewis Pullman (Sentry). Meanwhile, The Fantastic Four - as portrayed by Pedro Pascal (Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (The Human Torch) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Thing) - are slated to join the team. Avengers: Doomsday - which is being directed by Joe and Anthony Russo and is due to release on December 18, 2026 - will likely follow the Avengers, the New Avengers, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four as they join forces to stop Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) from unleashing his devastating plans across the Multiverse. Recently, Anthony Mackie revealed the Avengers: Doomsday cast were still 'in the midst of it' and production was 'going well'. When Screen Rant asked the 8 Mile actor if Avengers: Doomsday was close to wrapping, he said: 'No. Hell no. No, we are in the midst of it. 'I mean, it's such a big, moving set piece, and it's such a big story. The best part of shooting a Marvel movie is that it's always an ever-evolving canvas. There are those staple pieces, and then there are the pieces that circulate throughout the course of the shoot. 'So, we're in the midst of it, but it's going well.'
Geek Tyrant
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Mr. Fantastic and His Powers Were Underutilized in THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS; He Deserved Better — GeekTyrant
The Fantastic Four: First Steps missed a huge opportunity with one of Marvel's most visually creative superheroes. Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic, is supposed to be a stretchy powerhouse with abilities that defy the laws of physics. In the film, though, those powers are barely touched. What should've been a display of inventive, wild, and over-the-top visuals turned into a muted, limited showcase that felt more like an afterthought than a highlight. Now, credit where it's due, the film did a decent job of portraying Reed's intellect and leadership. He's thoughtful, composed, and clearly the brain of the group. But that's only half the picture. In the comics, Reed has a subtle charm and awkward charisma that makes him both relatable and admirable. That side of his personality was barely explored. He didn't need to crack jokes or go full Tony Stark, but a bit more emotional depth and nuance would've made him feel more alive. The biggest letdown, though, was how the film's creative team handled his powers. Mr. Fantastic can stretch, mold, twist, flatten, inflate… you name it. There are comic book moments where he's used his body as a net, wrapped himself around massive cosmic entities like Galactus, and turned into practically any shape needed to solve a problem. But in the film, his powers a very underutilized and limiting. At one point in the film we are watching Galactus strech Mr. Fantastic like a rubber band and he's screaming in pain. When you see how far is stretching ability goes in the comics, Galactus stretching him like that shouldn't have been an issue for him because it was nothing compared to what we've seen him do in the comics! We barely see any of those cool visuals from the comics in this film. His action moments are stiff and uninspired. Instead of showing Reed's resilience, it just made him look weak. The movie ignored everything fans know about how cool and versatile his powers really are. The creativity behind Reed's abilities is what makes him stand out in the superhero landscape. His power set should be a director's playground. You can do so much with the elasticity and adaptability of his body, yet the movie seemed afraid to go there. We didn't see him shape-shift in creative ways, use his body as a shield or slingshot, or even do something as simple as multitask with extended limbs in a high-stakes moment. They kept his abilities small, which is the opposite of what Mr. Fantastic should be. At the end of the day, The Fantastic Four: First Steps didn't give Mister Fantastic the treatment he deserved. His powers were underused, his moments of brilliance were too few, and his potential was left on the table. Reed Richards is a genius, yes, but he's also a one-man Swiss Army knife of superpowers. Hopefully, future film will fully embrace what makes Mister Fantastic truly fantastic.
