So This Is Why Marvel Waited To Reveal Reed Richards' Mister Fantastic Superpowers In The Fantastic Four: First Steps

By Felipe Rangel

Published Apr 17, 2025

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Reed Richards' powers have become a topic of discussion, and Marvel Studios' 2025 movies present exciting new opportunities for the franchise, with the Fantastic Four reboot being the most exciting of them. This is the first time that the characters are home, with Marvel being able to create its vision for how the Fantastic Four should look onscreen.

One of the most exciting aspects of the Fantastic Four is how each member of the team has a unique power set. Johnny Storm's flame powers and ability to fly make him likely to make a splash in action scenes. However, the Thing's CGI looks great, with the rock-looking hero packing quite a punch. Sue Storm appears able to use her powers in multiple ways, with that variety likely making her a standout in The Fantastic Four: First Steps' cast. As for Reed Richards, Marvel hid his powers from the first trailer, and now I think I know why.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Trailer Finally Revealed Reed Richards' Superpowers

The MCU Presents A Comic Book-Accurate Version Of Mister Fantastic's Powers

Reed Richards using his powers in the Fantastic Four MCU movie trailer

Since the first official trailer for the Fantastic Four movie showed Ben, Sue, and Johnny using their powers, with only Reed left out, fans started to believe that there could be more to it. Theories ranged from how Mister Fantastic felt guilty about the team getting powers to multiverse connections and more. Now, it has been revealed that there was no complicated answer to the matter, as Marvel released a new The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer. It has many exciting moments, with one of them being Reed using his powers.

Given how the studio chose not to give Ms. Marvel her stretching powers in the MCU, I was afraid there would be some modifications to how Mister Fantastic powers look or work. However, a brief moment in the trailer confirmed that Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards will have the same ability to stretch his body that he has in the comics. In the footage, Reed can be seen in action as a building collapses around him. Reed appears to be using his powers to evade the falling debris and seemingly climb the building with a staff-like object in his hands.

Reed Richards' Mister Fantastic Powers Look Good In First Steps

Marvel Studios Always Had A Difficult Task With The Hero

Now that we have seen Pascal's Reed Richards in action, I think I understand why the studio decided not to show Mister Fantastic powers at first alongside those of the other heroes. In the end, stretching powers will always look cartoony. No matter how well done they are, and I believe that Marvel has done an incredible job with the CGI of Reed's powers in the MCU movie's latest trailer, I believe the uncanny nature of stretching powers will never be removed, so Reed would always look a bit goofy when compared to the rest.

stills from Fantastic Four First Steps trailer

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While I think Reed's powers look good and are comic book-accurate, the reason Marvel chose not to show them at first with the others could have been because they are the powers that would have stood out. Becoming invisible, bursting into flames and flying, and breaking everything as a walking pile of rocks is not as cartoony as a human body being stretched in ways it should not be able to. Another factor is that the CGI for Reed's powers could have needed more time to be ready, which Silver Surfer's uncanny look in the trailers can relate to.

Why Reed Richards' Stretching Powers Fit The Fantastic Four's 60s Aesthetic

The Movie Will Have A Unique Role Within The MCU

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the movie I have wanted to watch since the Multiverse Saga started. By that, I mean the film's setup is exactly what the MCU has been missing. The multiverse should have been used more before the two Avengers movies, and the Fantastic Four reboot is the only project that will seemingly take place fully in an alternate universe. The team's reality features a retro-futuristic New York in the 1960s, which I believe not only fits the overall tone of the Fantastic Four in the comics, but is perfect for Mister Fantastic's powers.

The movie is all about taking the classic tone of the Fantastic Four in the comics and putting it on the screen. Due to that, Reed Richards' powers, looking as cartoony as they do, do not present a problem. They fit the tone of the team's first MCU adventure. I want to see how different the Fantastic Four will be when they make their way to Avengers: Doomsday, which should be a darker MCU movie with little to no 1960s elements. That will be the true test for Reed's powers, but they are fitting for The Fantastic Four: First Steps.