Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four: First Steps is one of the most anticipated superhero films of 2025, but for many long-time fans, excitement has given way to anxiety. Recent interviews with the cast and creative team have only fueled concerns that the movie will be another “woke” misstep for Marvel, prioritizing social messaging and identity politics over the adventurous spirit and family dynamics that made the Fantastic Four iconic.
The first red flag for fans came from the cast’s own words about how the characters are being reimagined for modern sensibilities. Joseph Quinn, who plays Johnny Storm, openly discussed how his Human Torch will be different from previous versions. “He was branded as this womanizing, devil-may-care guy, but is that sexy these days? I don’t think so. This version of Johnny is less callous with other people’s feelings, and hopefully there’s a self-awareness about what’s driving that attention-seeking behavior.” For many, this signals a deliberate move away from the brash, flawed Johnny that fans loved, in favor of a sanitized, more socially acceptable version.
Vanessa Kirby, who takes on the role of Sue Storm, has also made it clear that her Invisible Woman will be shaped by contemporary gender politics. “If you played an exact ’60s Sue today, everyone would think she was a bit of a doormat,” Kirby said. “So figuring out how to capture the essence of what she represented to each generation, where the gender politics were different, and embody that today, was one of the greatest joys of this.” While updating Sue’s character is understandable, the focus on “gender politics” has left some fans worried that the film will be more about making statements than telling a great story.
Even lead star Pedro Pascal didn’t wow attendees to the recent CinemaCon event. According to Film Threat’s Chris Gore, “I don’t think Pedro makes a good Mr. Fantastic… I was underwhelmed.” Take a look at that discussion here:
And as mentioned in the clip above, the changes don’t stop with the core four. Marvel’s decision to gender-swap the Silver Surfer, casting Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal, was immediately met with skepticism. While the female Shalla-Bal has appeared in the comics, it was only once, and making this change feel like a move to prioritize messaging over fidelity to source material. Why make this change? The Silver Surfer is a male in the comics 99.99% of the time, and he was male in the previous film. Whoever made this decision most likely did so for diversity messaging.
These creative choices have led to a growing perception that Marvel is more interested in “cultural engineering” than in honoring what made the Fantastic Four special. At this point, it’s fair to wonder if Marvel is more interested in making statements than making movies. Fans have long yearned for a Fantastic Four film that captures the adventurous spirit and family dynamics that made the comics iconic. Instead, First Steps appears poised to serve as yet another platform for Marvel Studios’ ongoing experiment in cultural engineering.
Director Matt Shakman and Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige have emphasized the importance of casting and chemistry, and there’s no doubt the film boasts a talented ensemble. But for many fans, the heart of the Fantastic Four lies in their classic personalities and relationships—not in how well the film checks modern cultural boxes. With the cast and crew openly discussing how the characters are being updated to fit today’s values, and even some rumors beginning to circulate of a gay Ben Grimm, it’s no surprise that fans are worried Fantastic Four: First Steps will be remembered less for its storytelling and more for its “woke” approach.
See Also: Marvel’s Missteps: MCU’s ‘Fantastic Four’ to Explore Gender Politics
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