Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige recently admitted that while 2025's "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" attempted to redefine superhero cinema with a distinct visual and auditory style, its global box office haul of just $521.9 million ultimately fell short of market expectations.
When asked by Variety if recent Marvel misfires indicated audience fatigue with similar stories, Feige stated that many things could be true simultaneously. He noted that "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," despite looking and sounding unlike any superhero movie before it, only grossed $521 million.
In contrast, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" achieved a staggering $932 million worldwide in its opening weekend alone, breaking "Avengers: Endgame"'s North American opening record. Feige suggested that the key wasn't just franchise recognition, but a story's ability to connect with contemporary audiences.
Feige explained that "Brand New Day" was clearly a fourth installment, picking up directly after the events of "Spider-Man: No Way Home," yet it told a resonant story. He added that the film ultimately explored themes of loneliness and the dangers of isolating oneself while constantly staring at phones, a subject that resonated across cultures and globally at the time.
The box office performance of "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" also lagged behind "Superman," which released the same year and earned $618.7 million worldwide. Nevertheless, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch are all set to return in "Avengers: Doomsday," continuing the narrative for Marvel's "First Family."
via： Variety