The set video from FIRST STEPS shows the first look at the thing… and it's absolutely practical!

In 2005 Fantastic Four and its sequel, 2007 Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver SurferActor Michael Chiklis donned a practical costume to bring the thing to life on screen.

It worked for the time, but Josh Trank's 2015 reboot brought Jamie Bell's take on the character to life with visual effects (aside from the mediocre design, he looked great). Now we have our first look at The Fantastic Four: First Steps“The ever-loving blue-eyed thing!”

Shockingly, it also seems to be practical; so far we don't know if an actor – presumably Ebon Moss-Bachrach – is in the suit or if it is just a stand-in intended to serve as a reference for actors and visual effects artists. Based on the few seconds of footage we have, it is does looks like there's someone in there.

That it's a replacement perhaps makes the most sense, although a practical thing (whose face has been enhanced with visual effects, for example) could fit the 1960s aesthetic of the Marvel Studios reboot.

Still, it’s worth remembering what Moss-Bachrach said earlier this year. “I think they designed a suit in the past. Michael Chiklis wore a suit that was apparently really uncomfortable, and that's kind of… we're past that.” the actor explained during his appearance in Jimmy Kimmel Live. “It's a kind of cosplay, something amateurish these days with the technology we have.”

Asked about his preparation, Andor Star added, “I play Ben Grimm, who becomes The Thing – a man encased in stone. [laughs] I was just looking at rocks. What am I doing? I don't know, I've read a lot of comics. It's kind of nice. They gave me this kind of Marvel Unlimited thing, so I can just access every comic book Marvel has ever published on my iPad. That feels kind of cool.”

Take a closer look The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Thing in X-post below.

Marvel Studios has announced that Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/Human Torch) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/The Thing) will star. The Fantastic Four: First Steps pour.

We will also see Ralph Ineson as Galactus, Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer and Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich and Natasha Lyonne in mystery roles. In the story, Galactus and Silver Surfer want to destroy the Earth.

Director Matt Shakman worked with both Avatar: The Way of Water Co-author Josh Friedman and WandaVision's Cam Squires on The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Screenplay, with Eric Pearson (Black widow) came on board later for the finishing touches.

The film is scheduled to be released on July 25, 2025.