The Thing Shows Off a Beard in Fresh Look at ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’

Ebon Moss-Bachrach is bringing something new to the table in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and no, it’s not just his acting. It’s the beard. That’s right, The Thing, Marvel’s orange, rocky hero, now has facial hair.

Fans recently got a first look at his updated design, and the beard is definitely turning heads.

Moss-Bachrach plays Ben Grimm, better known as The Thing, in Marvel’s upcoming reboot of the Fantastic Four. This time, the story drops us right into their world instead of doing another origin tale.

The film is set in a 1960s-style retro-futuristic universe, and the beard fits perfectly with the unique, throwback feel the filmmakers are going for.

Director Matt Shakman wanted the movie to feel like it was made in the ’60s, so everything from the sets to the camera lenses reflects that. The Thing’s look had to match, and giving him a beard was part of making this version feel more real and different. Moss-Bachrach isn’t covered in heavy prosthetics either. Instead, he used motion capture to play the character, similar to what Mark Ruffalo does as the Hulk. Moss-Bachrach even talked to Ruffalo about the process.

Some scenes were filmed with body extensions or a life-sized costume to help the rest of the cast know where The Thing would be in the shot. It wasn’t just digital effects, there was a physical presence on set.

To make sure The Thing looked right, the design team studied real desert rocks. They even used a specific rock, jokingly named “Jennifer,” as a lighting reference on set. This helped them get the texture and color just right.

The beard isn’t just a visual gag. It gives Ben Grimm a more human vibe, something grounded, maybe even a little emotional. Moss-Bachrach told The Bear fans that Ben reminds him of his other characters. “They’re both really loyal. They’re fighters. They have this strong sense of what’s right and they care about family,” he said in an interview reported by Marvel.com and The Hollywood Reporter.

Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige said all the way back in 2019 that they were serious about doing the Fantastic Four justice. After Disney bought 20th Century Fox, Marvel finally got the rights back and began working on this new version. They skipped the origin story and went straight into the action.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach is starring alongside Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm. Ralph Ineson is playing the giant cosmic villain, Galactus. The movie is set to release on July 25, 2025.

The beard might seem like a small thing, but for longtime fans of The Thing, it’s a big shift. It makes this version feel fresh, while still keeping that classic spirit.

Got thoughts on The Thing’s beard? Let us know.