New Look at Galactus in ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Shows Him Towering Over New York’s Buildings

Marvel’s upcoming movie The Fantastic Four: First Steps is getting fans hyped, especially with the introduction of a giant new villain, Galactus. The movie is set to hit theaters in July 2025 and is the second time Marvel has rebooted the Fantastic Four. But this time, they’re doing things differently, with a fresh style and a cosmic threat like never before.

Galactus, played by Ralph Ineson, isn’t your usual bad guy. He’s massive, ancient, and eats planets. Director Matt Shakman didn’t hold back when describing him. He called him a “humongous, 14-billion-year-old, planet-devouring cosmic vampire.” And yes, Galactus is so big in the movie, a new look at the villain showcases him walking through New York City, towering over the buildings.

Ralph Ineson, known for his deep voice and powerful presence, said he doesn’t think of Galactus as evil. Ineson explained, “He’s a god of sorts… a big, planet-eating guy, simply doing what a big, planet-eating guy does.” To really connect with the role, Ineson spent time alone on rooftops, quietly thinking about how to capture Galactus’s otherworldly energy.

The look of Galactus in this film is also getting attention. Fans might remember the cloud version from Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, but that’s not what we’re getting here. This time, Galactus looks a lot like he does in the comics, wearing his iconic purple and blue armor. And it’s not just CGI, the filmmakers actually made a suit for Ineson to wear on set, helping him fully step into the character.

The film doesn’t go back and retell the team’s origin story. Instead, it jumps right into the action. The story takes place in a world that looks like a mix of the future and the 1960s, with design choices that give off a vintage sci-fi vibe. The Fantastic Four, played by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn, are already a team, and now they have to face off against Galactus and his loyal herald, the Silver Surfer.

Kevin Feige, who runs Marvel Studios, has been really excited to bring the Fantastic Four into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He especially wanted to bring Galactus to life. To help the team working on the film understand what Galactus should feel like, Feige even showed them clips of the character from the Fortnite Battle Royale video game.

Filming for The Fantastic Four: First Steps took place from July to November 2024 in locations across England and Spain. The production used a lot of practical effects and was styled to look different from the usual Marvel films. The team went for a retro look inspired by old-school sci-fi movies and mid-century design, giving the movie a unique and stylish feel.

Galactus is clearly going to be a huge part of the story, not just in size, but in impact. The filmmakers wanted to make sure he felt like more than just a monster. Ineson’s performance is meant to give Galactus a kind of calm power, like a force of nature that’s been around forever and is just doing what he’s always done.

With the movie coming out soon, fans are eager to see how the Fantastic Four will deal with such a huge threat. They’re also curious to see what Ralph Ineson brings to the role, and how Galactus will fit into the bigger Marvel universe.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!