The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Directed by Matt Shakman
Starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Ralph Ineson
Marvel Studios
Release date: July 25, 2025

Non-spoiler first thoughts (mostly written in the car on the way home from the movie theater) on The Fantastic Four: First Steps:

Marvel Studios churned out an enjoyable film that does justice to these classic characters, making them all likable and competent. I love the film’s retro-futuristic look (not a cell phone in sight) and color scheme. While this is the “first steps,” it’s not an origin story, with the groups’ superpowered circumstances summed up quickly at the start on the team’s anniversary. This allows the danger to present right away and the action to get going fast.

AMC brought their horror-drama NOS4A2 this past weekend to San Diego Comic-Con, where they announced that they would be giving the series a Season 2.

The cable network is currently running the debut season, which is based on the book of the same name by Joe Hill, who serves as an executive producer on the TV series. Hill tweeted out the news.

The Punisher has been riding on the waves of high anticipation since his character debut in season 2 of Daredevil. But much, if not all, of that excitement died out in the wake of the Las Vegas shootings.

Marvel Television respectfully pulled their NYCC panel, which was rumored to unveil the release date. At the time, some believed that the series would be released this month. But a new trailer confirms that The Punisher can be streamed next month. Check out the full trailer below.

What first started out as four street heroes defending New York City has since expanded into something else in the Marvel TV universe. The Punisher is the latest addition to the Marvel and Netflix collaboration, and though Frank Castle aka The Punisher didn’t appear in the Defenders miniseries ensemble, he will make his presence known… one bloody victim at a time. Jon Bernthal returns to reprise the title role, which was first introduced to us during the clunky Season 2 of Daredevil. The character was arguably the best thing about that season, even though the role felt more like it was shoehorned.

That being said, The Punisher is out for revenge and to bring justice to the family he lost thanks to a shadowy government organization. It doesn’t matter who Frank Castle has to go through to get that. Even if it means hitting Homeland Security, the CIA, the FBI, and more. Check out the first full trailer for Marvel’s The Punisher here below, which puts Metallica’s “One” to good use.

Netflix’s Marvel TV universe has seen great success and fan appreciation with their four original series — Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron First — and latest ensemble miniseries The Defenders. But one of the biggest surprise hits to come out of this universe — specifically from Daredevil — has been Jon Bernthal‘s Frank Castle aka The Punisher, who is now getting his own spin-off series.

Netflix has released a new teaser trailer for the upcoming series, Marvel’s The Punisher. Watch the teaser called “Demolition” here below.