THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Storyboards Show A MUCH Cooler Use Of Reed Richards' Stretching Powers

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Storyboards Show A MUCH Cooler Use Of Reed Richards' Stretching Powers

New storyboards for The Fantastic Four: First Steps showcase some early ideas for Reed Richards' stretching powers, confirming that Mister Fantastic's abilities were once a little more...fantastic.

By JoshWilding - Sep 11, 2025 09:09 AM EST
Filed Under: Fantastic Four

Most fans seem to agree that Pedro Pascal proved his doubters wrong with a stellar turn as Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

However, while the movie received positive reviews (in no small part due to filmmaker Matt Shakman's decision to make Earth 828 a largely practical, living, breathing parallel reality), the portrayal of Mister Fantastic's powers has led to some disappointment. 

Somewhat grounding them in reality meant that Reed didn't perform any of the wild, inventive moves we typically see in the comic books. In fact, the limitations of the hero's abilities were on full display when Galactus very nearly tore him in half. 

Marvel Studios concept artist Rodney Fuentebella has now shared some of his storyboards for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, revealing how much cooler Mister Fantastic could have looked on screen. 

"Here is another idea I created for [Marvel Studios'] Fantastic Four: First Steps. This is another idea of more cool ways to show Reed's powers. In this case, I wanted to show during the [third] act how Reed would get from the top of the Baxter building to the ground in a kinetic way," he explained, "stretching and hitting debris and such."

There's always a chance the Russo Brothers will stretch (pun intended) the limits of what Reed can do in Avengers: Doomsday. Still, Shakman set some pretty "firm" rules for how the Fantastic Four leader's powers work, so perhaps the range of his powers will expand in the post-Secret Wars MCU.

Marvel's First Family is expected to have a significant role in both Avengers movies, with Franklin Richards key to whatever Doctor Doom has planned for the Multiverse. 

You can see what might have been in The Fantastic Four: First Steps in the Instagram posts below. 

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.

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.

The movie is now playing in theaters.

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BobGarlen
BobGarlen - 9/11/2025, 10:00 AM
Reed's abilities felt very underpowered in this movie, and it felt like the crew had little imagination. Wish we got theses storyboarded sequences in the movie. Reed's powers are built for those with an imagination.
SummersEssex
SummersEssex - 9/11/2025, 12:05 PM
@BobGarlen - they did the same thing to Cap in the first Avengers movie. Totally nerfed him, didn't show what he can really do at all beyond being a leader. Then in Winter Soldier they fixed it.

I am confident they will do the same for Reed as we move into Doomsday.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/11/2025, 10:14 AM
Those looked cool imo!!.

While I do wish we got more creative uses of Reed’s stretching powers , it seemed like Shakman & co were more interested in focusing on Reed’s intellect which is arguably the most interesting aspect about him then his other “gift” which is fair I feel.

However I do hope the Russo Bros or filmmakers who tackle the character beyond the Avengers films do utilize his elastic abilities more and in fun ways as we move forward.

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clogan
clogan - 9/11/2025, 10:28 AM
As if bro just didnt set fire to the site in the other news article lol

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DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 9/11/2025, 10:31 AM
I know it's not my connection or my phone, but this site seems to be slow for about a week now.
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 9/11/2025, 10:42 AM
@DarthOmega - it's not only you,could be that Nate is doing some maintenance.
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 9/11/2025, 10:45 AM
@RegularPoochie - Oh ok. This site needs a full overhaul actually. It's starting to look dated. Cluttered by ads
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 9/11/2025, 10:46 AM
I mean, I use two phones and same thing in both of them, one is logged in and and the other one isn't.
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 9/11/2025, 10:49 AM
These should have been in the movie.
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 9/11/2025, 10:53 AM
Lot of missed opportunities with all four of them when it came to a power showcase. I liked the movie especially the space scenes and some moments with Sue and Reed, but it felt like it was missing something.
clogan
clogan - 9/11/2025, 11:08 AM
@DarthOmega - It just lacked some sauce. I heard the original vision was a lot more intricate and nuanced. But Disney focus groups did what they had to do. 😂
Matchesz
Matchesz - 9/11/2025, 11:00 AM
good that they hide all the good stuff and let us watch the boring stuff so glad they did that, hopefully they continue this trend for Doomsday, i dont wanna be that entertained anyway when i watch movies
WeaponXCII
WeaponXCII - 9/11/2025, 11:09 AM
This was something that I would have liked to see more of. We got to see inventive displays of powers with the other three, but with Reed it was mostly just… Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm-Flailing Tube-Man, if I remember correctly.
TheLobster
TheLobster - 9/11/2025, 11:35 AM
Reed was the weakest part of this film and that’s a big problem. Here’s the hoping the Russos make better use of him.
GeneralZod
GeneralZod - 9/11/2025, 1:05 PM
Reed was so uncool. So was The Thing. And, to some degree, Johnny. Director didn't make The Fantastic Four cool. They were just ... there, looking like like the Fantastic Four, reading their lines ...
dragon316
dragon316 - 9/11/2025, 1:18 PM
@GeneralZod - where movie was mostly about sue sue got spot light attention while others are sidekicks distracting in final fight
GeneralZod
GeneralZod - 9/11/2025, 2:48 PM
@dragon316 - yeah. I mean, good on Sue. But the FF are a team. Stan and Jack and John made all 4 of them cool, including Reed. Reed's laser-sharp confidence that he could figure their way out of a problem by talking it out logically, scientifically. That was cool! (Not much different from Mr. Spock.) We really didn't see that in the movie. The Reed character was effectively written out.
dragon316
dragon316 - 9/11/2025, 1:20 PM
Be nice saw stuff like that in movie always same powers in all fantastic four movies arms and legs stretch except for fox fantastic four morphed his face few times

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