A hidden reference in the advertisement for 'Fantastic Four' gives hope to superhero movies

 The fantastic four are back at it. After two failed adaptation attempts in 2005 (with an even worse sequel) and 2015 (which is not even worth remembering), the original Marvel superheroes return to the big screen with a version that has enough cards to sing 'Bingo! !'. Because if the film that we will see in 2025 fulfills the omens hidden in the studio's announcement, then we could be facing the lifeline that the comics giant needs so much.

Finally, and after several weeks of rumors, Marvel announced the cast that will star in the new adaptation. He did it on Valentine's Day with an illustration that hides enough references to provoke waves of simultaneous relief.

To begin with, the first thing that stands out when seeing the promotional image is Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards (or Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby raising her arms as his wife Sue Storm (the Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm (Torch Humana) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach completing the group as Ben Grimm (or The Thing). However, there is a key detail in the illustration that promises something enormous : the recovery of the glory lost after the end of the star saga with Avengers: Endgame five years ago.

That is, what Marvel is urgently looking for.

Happy Valentine’s Day from Marvel’s First Family! Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn are The Fantastic Four.

Marvel Studios' #TheFantasticFour, in theaters July 25, 2025. pic.twitter.com/unLVxPsjSW

— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) February 14, 2024

The reference that causes relief

Marvel did its homework when choosing the star cast. There's no doubt. Pedro Pascal moves masses with his sympathy, being an actor who in just a few years has managed to amass a close relationship with the public through hits like Mandalorian and The last of us (not in vain do they call him the “daddy” of the movies). networks). Vanessa Kirby seduced the world as the rebellious sister of Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown while she overshadowed Tom Cruise himself in the Mission Impossible saga. And what can we say about Joseph Quinn , a young British man who went from anonymity to global stardom after stealing everyone's attention with his charismatic performance in the fourth season of Stranger Things. While Ebon Moss-Bachrach , probably the least known of the four, was able to demonstrate his talent in the acclaimed series The Bear . In other words, just by watching the four of them we get an idea of ​​the film's potential.

However, to find the most promising reference of all we have to look beyond the selected actors.

I invite you to observe the details: a box of chocolates, a happy family, the classic HERBIE robot that assists the group, books and… the magazine. If you look closely you will see that it is an edition of Life that imitates in great detail the cover that President Lyndon B. Johnson starred in in 1963. Marvel has not revealed official data about the plot yet but, according to this revelation, we would be facing a story that evidently takes place in that year.

‘FANTASTIC FOUR’ is seemingly set in 1963. pic.twitter.com/qn260LvxUE

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) February 14, 2024

What does this mean? Something wonderful for Marvel and superhero movies after the last few years of decline.

If The Fantastic Four takes place in the '60s, we would be facing an adaptation that, in this first contact, would be parallel to the Avengers universe. Knowing Marvel's eagerness to lay the groundwork for possible cameos and future references, let's say that if there had been heroes with superpowers in the years after Captain America's first adventure, in the years of Peggy Carter's rise and the father's industrial boom of Tony (aka Iron Man), Howard Stark, then we would surely have seen some reference in the MCU films and even in the Agent Carter series . Although Marvel and Disney did not have the rights to the characters until the purchase of 20th Century Fox in 2019, they could have easily included references, symbols or suggestions of the existence of another group prior to the heroes led by Iron Man. But there was nothing.

This detail indicates that Marvel would be creating a new beginning . A new saga from a blank canvas where they can design, create, impact and surprise without having to force references or ramifications with the rest of the 33 films that make up their universe since Iron Man in 2008.

And this is a relief for fans of superhero movies. A breath of fresh air that could renew the enthusiasm for the genre after the death of Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), the goodbye to Captain America (Chris Evans), the end of the Guardians of the Galaxy and the forced hiatus of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) after the disaster of his last film. They were already able to verify that neither Ant-Man nor Doctor Strange are enough to maintain the weight of a saga that gave so many million-dollar joys to the studio. As well as realizing that the public is tired of the ramifications, the confusion of parallel universes and the introduction of characters lacking the charisma of the original heroes. That it's time to start again.