In our 300th episode we cover Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which reintroduces Marvel’s First Family in a bold new way, transporting audiences to a vibrant 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. Director Matt Shakman teams with Production VFX Supervisor Scott Stokdyk and VFX Producer Lisa Marra to deliver a film that balances period design, cosmic spectacle, and intimate family drama, all while pitting the heroes against one of Marvel’s most imposing threats: Galactus.
For the occasion, we have a special YouTube version of the podcast with the guys.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps showcases Marvel’s First Family: Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/Human Torch and Ben Grimm/The Thing as they face their most daunting challenge yet.
A retro-futuristic vision
The film’s world-building is one of its most distinctive achievements. Reed Richards’ inventions and Sue Storm’s diplomacy have reshaped Earth-828 into an optimistic, tech-forward utopia. The retro-futuristic design, equal parts Kennedy-era optimism and cosmic sci-fi, tends to ground the film in an aesthetic that feels both nostalgic and fresh. From Reed’s laboratories to Times Square’s massive teleportation bridges, every environment is meticulously crafted to blend the physical and the fantastical.
The VFX houses who achieved this vision, were:
- ILM (VFX Supervisor: Daniele Bigi) led the work on Galactus and space environments, pushing scale and cosmic detail.
- Framestore (VFX Supervisor: Robert Allman) handled Sue’s force-field powers and the emotionally charged birth sequence aboard Galactus’s ship.
- Sony Pictures Imageworks contributed to Reed’s elastic transformations and Johnny’s fiery aerial work.
- Digital Domain (VFX Supervisor: Jan Philip Cramer) focused on action-heavy sequences in New York, including the Times Square teleportation bridge battle.
- RISE (VFX Supervisor: Sebastian Lauer) developed key Future Foundation technology environments and world-building assets.
- Wētā FX (VFX Supervisor: Phillip Leonhardt) created Franklin’s cosmic birth effects and large-scale environment extensions, including the breathtaking neutron star sequence.
As the panel discusses, The Fantastic Four: First Steps threads the needle between Marvel spectacle and period storytelling. The film’s design aesthetic and visual effects work together to deliver a retro yet fresh take on Marvel’s First Family. The VFX provides a fascinating, cohesive, unified vision that balances character, world-building, and the Marvel trademark vast VFX range and scale of work.
This week, The Fantastic Three panel are
Matt Wallin * @mattwallin www.mattwallin.com
Follow Matt on Mastodon: @[email protected]. and letterboxd.com/mattwallin/
Jason Diamond @jasondiamond www.thediamondbros.com
Mike Seymour @mikeseymour www.fxguide.com. + @mikeseymour
Special thanks to Matt Wallin for the editing & production of the show with help from Jim Shen.
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