Ebon Moss-Bachrach? Hanging out in a fictional, on-screen kitchen? That’s a likely place for him to be—except this time he’s not doing it as everyone’s favorite cousin, The Bear‘s Richie, he’s doing it as Ben Grimm. Maybe The Fantastic Four teaser introduced him in “yes chef” mode so fans could recognize him under the guise of The Thing. Or maybe it’s just a comical image, to see this big, otherworldly sort of being delicately tasting a sauce on the tip of his finger. Either way, it’s our first introduction to this new iteration of the character ahead of the official entry of The Fantastic Four: First Steps into the Marvel Cinematic Universe on July 25.
Much like with Spider-Man: Homecoming, which skipped Spidey’s origin story, The Fantastic Four teaser wisely begins in media res when the team (sorry, the family) has already gotten their powers. This is a different MCU than we’ve ever seen before—one that appears to be set not only in a different time but also a different universe. Instead of the Avengers Tower, this version of New York has the Baxter Building. And instead of a world that looks quite similar to our own, this one has a distinctly Jetsons-esque flavor to it. In addition to our first look at The Thing, the teaser also introduces us to the new Reed Richards, a.k.a. Mr. Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm, a.k.a. Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), and Johnny Storm, a.k.a. Human Torch (Joseph Quinn).
Marvel Studios has also offered us the first real plot details for the film. We meet the Fantastic Four “as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner),” according to the synopsis. “And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.”
We only catch brief glimpses of Galactus in The Fantastic Four teaser, but we do get a good look at Malkovich’s mystery character, looking wizened with a long hair and beard combo befitting Dumbledore. No sign yet of Garner’s Silver Surfer nor whomever Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles are playing. But there’s plenty of time for lots of Fantastic details to come ahead of Matt Shankman’s film this summer.
