THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Cast Recreates One Of The Most Iconic Covers Featuring Marvel's First Family

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Cast Recreates One Of The Most Iconic Covers Featuring Marvel's First Family

The Fantastic Four: First Steps stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach have shared their take on the iconic cover of Fantastic Four #554 by acclaimed artist Bryan Hitch.

By JoshWilding - Aug 01, 2025 07:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Fantastic Four

Marvel Studios rarely recreates specific comic book covers or panels in its movies, and while staged moments like that sometimes run the risk of falling flat, it's proven to be mighty disappointing for many fans.

When it comes to Marvel's First Family, Bryan Hitch's Fantastic Four #554 cover is an iconic piece of imagery that would have made for a great poster. That didn't happen, but The Fantastic Four: First Steps' leads—Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach—have now revealed their take on it. 

If only they were in costume, eh? 

In other news, Deadline caught up with Paul Walter Hauser and asked the actor about his role as the MCU's Mole Man. "I figured Harvey Elder, Mole Man — mad scientist, angry curmudgeon type with this kind of species that he defends — I was like, I can get on board with that," the actor explained.

"Mole Man feels like something that could have been played by any actor. It didn’t have to be me. So then choosing me, knowing it could have been multiple, multiple people, that felt like something I should partake in. They also had Joseph [Quinn] and Ebon [Moss-Bachrach], Pedro [Pascal] and Vanessa [Kirby] attached. Those are all actors I respect. And Matt Shakman is an old friend from It’s Always Sunny."

"So there were enough things there that made me go, 'Yeah, I doubt I’ll offered a million different Marvel roles. I should take this one and run because it feels like it’s going to be a good movie," Hauser continued. "Even if they never use me again and I peace out after one movie, I’ll know that I did a good job and that I was in one of the good ones."

Marvel Studios hasn't commented on plans for a possible sequel to The Fantastic Four: First Steps, though the team will appear in next December's Avengers: Doomsday.

If (or more likely when) a follow-up does happen, chances are it won't take place on Earth 828, meaning the Fantastic Four's rogues' gallery could get an overhaul. Where that leaves Mole Man remains to be seen. 

Check out this awesome new photo of The Fantastic Four: First Steps' cast in the Instagram gallery below.

image host

Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) 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). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.

Also appearing are Natasha Lyonne as Rachel Rozman, Paul Walter Hauser as Harvey Elder/Mole Man, Sarah Niles as Lynne Nichols, and Mark Gatiss as Ted Gilbert. John Malkovich was set to play Red Ghost, but was cut due to time constraints.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is directed by Matt Shakman from a screenplay by Josh Friedman and Eric Pearson and Jeff Kaplan & Ian Springer.

In our review of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, we concluded, "The Fantastic Four is an exceptional introduction to the MCU’s First Family, and thanks to a Jack Kirby-infused feel that’s unlike anything we’ve seen before, it proves to be a quintessential superhero movie with Marvel Studios at its brilliant best.

The movie is now playing in theaters.

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0bstreperous
0bstreperous - 8/1/2025, 7:41 AM
That's not recreating the cover
malschla
malschla - 8/1/2025, 7:50 AM
@0bstreperous - exactly. What a stupid article. Of course, all he wants is engagement, so the joke is on us, I guess.
Vigor
Vigor - 8/1/2025, 8:03 AM
@0bstreperous @malschla
I mean it's not pixel per pixel
Its a reimagining of the same cover
Fogs
Fogs - 8/1/2025, 8:12 AM
@malschla - User Comment Image
mountainman
mountainman - 8/1/2025, 10:13 AM
@Vigor - They would have to at least be in costume to recreate the cover. Ideally it would have been shot during filming so they could have the characters be demonstrating their powers too.

“Posed like the cover” is a better description.
malschla
malschla - 8/1/2025, 2:17 PM
@Vigor - so you agree that they didn’t recreate it. Cool.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/1/2025, 7:42 AM
60 or more drop this weekend? Let us see.

Naked Gun might surprise
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 8/1/2025, 9:58 AM
@vectorsigma - I think it will. It's a drop of water in a desert. Hasn't been a good spoof in ages.
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 8/1/2025, 7:51 AM
The 1st act of the movie did at least pay some homage to Kirby and I appreciated that much.
Simonsonrules
Simonsonrules - 8/1/2025, 8:26 AM
@JacobsLadder - That was so cool to see. Just amazing. Nice how they finally gave Jack the spotlight in this one (end credits, 828). I'll bet that would have rankled Stan, as much as I loved him.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 8/1/2025, 10:02 AM
@JacobsLadder - A lot of the movie was very Kirby-inspired. The design of Galactus' ship was like Kirbyisms all over the place. And of course there was that Stan and Jack cameo and all the Kirby art on the walls. So beautiful I love this movie.
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 8/1/2025, 12:21 PM
@ObserverIO - shame it didn't have a story to back up the visuals. The third act is pretty terrible. And that's saying something for the MCU lately.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 8/1/2025, 8:02 AM
That’s a cool homage!!.

I also enjoyed PWH’s Mole Man and thought he did well with the limited material & screentime he had…

I especially enjoyed his little rivalry with Reed and how he got under his skin which was fun!!.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 8/1/2025, 8:22 AM
Loved the movie, hate that cover lol.
Also.. what in the holy [frick] is this
SATW42
SATW42 - 8/1/2025, 9:14 AM
@bobevanz - I'm on board
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 8/1/2025, 9:22 AM
@bobevanz - I tried watching it and my goodness, we're talking next level bucket of shit. Anyone interested in a good War of the Worlds interpretation should watch the show on EPIX. One of the best written shows I've seen in a long time. High quality all around.
TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 8/1/2025, 11:04 AM
@bobevanz - I was offered a $20 Dairy Queen gift card to play a supporting role in this movie.
Forthas
Forthas - 8/1/2025, 8:43 AM
Really enjoyable film...
SuperCat
SuperCat - 8/1/2025, 8:53 AM
User Comment Image
GeneralZod
GeneralZod - 8/1/2025, 9:12 AM
That's an "iconic cover"?
User Comment Image
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 8/1/2025, 10:04 AM
I love that they did get a little Millar/Hitch in the movie here and there. Natasha Lyonne's teacher character is def based on the Millar/Hitch version of Debbie.

It's a great little run. For anyone looking to get into the main Jonathan Hickman comics, I recommend the Millar/Hitch run as a precursor.
AnthonyVonGeek
AnthonyVonGeek - 8/1/2025, 2:07 PM
What a lazy and uninspiring “recreation” of that cover.
JFerguson
JFerguson - 8/1/2025, 5:56 PM
90210 by Travis Scott intensifies

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