The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)
Director: Matt Shakman
Writers: Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer
Stars: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Sarah Niles, Mark Gatiss, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, Ralph Ineson.
Plot: In 1964 on Earth-828, the Fantastic Four—Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm—are celebrated heroes, four years after cosmic rays gave them extraordinary powers. Reed’s inventions advance global technology, while Sue’s diplomacy fosters unprecedented peace. When Reed and Sue announce they are expecting a child, the world wonders if the baby will inherit powers.
Their lives are upended when the Silver Surfer arrives, warning that Earth has been marked for destruction by Galactus, a cosmic being who devours planets. Traveling through space to confront him, the team witnesses his overwhelming power. Galactus reveals his hunger is endless, but that Sue’s unborn child contains immense cosmic energy that could free him from his curse. He offers to spare Earth in exchange for the baby. The team refuses and escapes, with Sue giving birth to Franklin en route back to Earth.
Though hailed as heroes, their decision sparks protests, with many demanding Franklin be surrendered. As Galactus nears, Reed and Sue rally nations through the Future Foundation to construct teleportation bridges to save Earth. Amid global unrest and Silver Surfer’s inner conflict, the Fantastic Four face an impossible choice: protect their child or sacrifice everything to stop Galactus.
* * *
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) | Transcript
[♪ dramatic music plays]
[Sue]
Babe, what are you doing?
I’m looking for the aloe iodine.
[chuckles]
[Reed] It’s not here.
Yeah, because that’s not where it is.
[objects clattering]
Babe, c-can you give me 12 seconds, and I will come and get it for you?
Twelve seconds is specific.
Wow, these are very expired.
[bottles clinking]
[exhales]
[objects clattering]
[♪ gentle music playing]
[bottles clinking]
[Reed] Hmm.
[Reed] Okay. Betadine.
Chlorhexidine.
No iodine.
Oh. Right. Thanks.
[test beeping]
But…
Well, that’s not…
We tried for two years.
I know. I know, babe.
I mean, we don’t wanna even talk about it anymore.
Talking was not the important part.
It wasn’t gonna be for us, and we were okay with that.
We were okay, but…
Mmhmm.
Well…
[chuckles]
This is better.
Yes. It’s…
[chuckles] It’s a lot better, isn’t it?
[chuckling] This is great.
[test clatters]
[♪ gentle music continues]
Obviously, we’re gonna need protocols to account for our cell mutations…
No, Reed.
…monitoring for further cosmic effects.
Reed.
We can do this.
Okay?
I really want to do this.
I really want to do this.
Then what?
Nothing is going to change.
Of course not.
[ABC announcer]
Ladies and gentlemen, we welcome you to a very special event celebrating four years of the Fantastic Four.
And now your host for the evening, Ted Gilbert.
Well, now, folks.
[audience applauding] Folks, we all know the story.
Four brave astronauts head up into space, encounter a bit of cosmic turbulence, and come back forever changed.
Not just the molecules of their bodies but also their place in our hearts.
And, now, a look back.
[launch control] This is Excelsior Launch Control.
T-minus 3 hours, 42 minutes, 19 seconds.
[Ted Gilbert]
Four years ago, man and woman conquered the last frontier as we know it, the exploration of space.
The best pilot in the world right here.
Yeah. The best-looking he means.
[Reed] It was my mission:
Space exploration.
I assembled the best scientific minds to come along, who also happened to be my best friend, my wife and my brother-in-law.
Comms check.
Everybody, sound off.
Check.
Check, check.
Check.
[Sue] Comms are live.
That last voice you just heard was my baby brother, Jonathan Storm, and, ladies, he is very single. [chuckles] Kiss for luck.
Kiss?
[kissing sounds]
[Gilbert] However, Dr. Richards’s expedition encountered an unforeseen event that changed not only the lives of these courageous individuals…
[control verifier]
Verify go for launch.
[control confirmation]
Go for launch.
[Gilbert] …but also the course of our history.
[control] Come in, Excelsior .
[Johnny] What is that?
[Reed]
I don’t know. I don’t know.
It must be the cosmic rays.
[Reed] Ben! Ben!
[Sue] Ben!
Obviously, while we were in space due to errors on my part…
Stop.
…we encountered a cosmic storm that altered our DNA.
[control] Rescue in progress of the Excelsior launch.
[Reed]
We came back with anomalies.
[Gilbert] And they returned with superpowers.
[♪ triumphant music plays]
[Gilbert]
They became our protectors.
[breathes heavily]
[♪ triumphant music continues]
Cannonball!
[grunting]
[roars] [Sue, Ben grunt]
[Cartoon Ben]
It’s clobberin’ time!
Hmm.
I was at the opening of the Pan Am Tower when Mole Man attacked.
The Fantastic Four saved my life.
[people screaming]
[people clamoring, screaming]
[reporter] Mole Man’s attempt to steal the Pan Am building was thwarted by the Fantastic Four.
[Harvey] This is all Reed Richards’s fault.
Him and his endless pursuit of progress.
Power to the underground!
[engine revving]
[Gilbert]
And when the Mad Thinker tried to sabotage New York City the Fantastic Four came to our rescue.
[gasps]
[Johnny] Gotcha!
Have a great day!
[grunting]
[Gilbert]
They defeated Red Ghost and his Super-Apes.
[grunts] They became our inspiration.
This equation not only confirms alternate dimensions, but it suggests parallel Earths exist on different dimensional planes.
[yawns]
Who wants to see a big explosion?
[in unison] Me!
And they became our leaders.
[reporter] Sue Storm brokers peace deal with Harvey “Mole Man” Elder, leader of the underground nation, Subterranea.
[Harvey] I don’t trust surface dwellers.
I never have.
But I do trust Sue.
We have come together today to form a new charter, the Future Foundation.
All participating countries agree to dismantle their armed forces.
[Gilbert] And on this fourth anniversary, we celebrate them.
They are the very best of us.
They are the Fantastic Four.
Thank you, Fantastic Four!
Thank you, Fantastic Four!
Thank you, Fantastic Four!
We love you, Fantastic Four.
I love you, Johnny!
We love you!
Thank you, Fantastic Four.
Thank you, Fantastic Four.
We are proud to call them our guides, our protectors and our friends.
Let’s hear it for Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben.
[cheering]
[elevator dings]
[Reed] I must say, that was all a bit aggrandizing.
[Sue chuckling] Yeah.
[Ben] H.E.R.B.I.E.
[Johnny]
H.E.R.B.I.E. with the herbs.
How’s that sauce looking?
[H.E.R.B.I.E. vocalizes] Don’t do that.
Wash your hands first, please.
I was wearing my gloves the whole time.
Just wash your hands.
Let me try that.
Okay.
Okay. Is this guy good?
[H.E.R.B.I.E. vocalizes]
[Ben] That is fantastic.
Oh, let me try.
It’s incredible stuff.
Stop. Don’t do that.
Don’t do that.
It’s not quite done.
No, it’s not quite done.
No, it could be done, but I’m gonna add a little more garlic.
Not because it’s not delicious.
I just want to add a little bit of zip, okay?
[♪ Brenton Wood “The Oogum Boogum Song” playing]
What are you doing?
What do you mean, what am I doing?
I mean, you’re gonna ruin your appetite.
I’m hungry.
[sighs]
[bell dinging]
They’re never late for Sunday dinner.
Should we wait?
[Johnny] I guess.
[Reed, Sue muttering] You’re late.
What, uh
What do you mean?
What do you mean, what do I mean?
You’re late for dinner.
Oh. Yes, we are.
We’re late for dinner.
By a single minute.
Yes, we were just…
I had to put some aloe iodine on my shoulder and…
[Sue] …just had to do his shoulder and…
Why is there breakfast cereal on the dinner table?
Why are you being weird?
We’re not being weird.
We’re not acting weird.
[Johnny] You’re doing that weird thing with your face.
[Sue] Well, we don’t know what you’re talking about.
Are you pregnant?
Yeah, we’re pregnant.
Yes, yes.
How did you know that?
Have you looked at your husband’s face?
[Sue] I know.
He just cannot keep a secret.
Wait, what? Really?
Yeah.
[vocalizes]
[laughing] What?
You are gonna be the best mom.
Oh, my God.
And you are gonna be the best dad.
Just kidding.
You are out of your depth.
But we… we’re gonna be the best uncles ever.
Okay, we should eat.
[Reed chuckles]
You’re handling this well, you know.
I figured you’d be locked in your lab drenched in a panic sweat.
I have that scheduled for later.
Countdown continues as the Fantastic Four prepare to welcome a new member to the family.
Needless to say, preparations inside the Baxter Building are well underway.
All right, H.E.R.B.I.E., let’s start the baby prep.
[♪ upbeat music playing]
[vocalizes]
[vocalizes]
[clattering] H.E.R.B.I.E.!
[announcer]
Yancy Street bookies are putting the odds of a girl at 4to5, but chances of twins are a long shot.
[vocalizes]
[beeping] [Johnny] Herbert!
[vocalizes]
[humming]
[Ben grunting]
[thudding]
[vocalizing]
[Ben] H.E.R.B.I.E.!
[Lynne]
The oil and gas cowboys want a minute to yell at you before you go on maternity leave.
Speaking of, coal lobby.
Lynne, when you see Sue, canLarry, I will tell her when I see her.
[Sue] Thank you, Lynne.
The question on everybody’s mind is, “Will the baby be born with superpowers?”
H.E.R.B.I.E., we need to scan the baby.
The InternaScan hasn’t achieved the right level of precession for clear imaging.
[devices beeping]
New deep space transmission?
[H.E.R.B.I.E. vocalizes] Let’s identify its origin.
Shall we record and file it?
[H.E.R.B.I.E.] Mmhmm.
[whirring]
[vocalizes]
2:15? What 2:15? I don’t have any meetings today.
[vocalizes]
Ah, Reed.
Oh, that 2:15.
Thank you for making the time.
Johnny, do we have to today?
I had some thoughts on the new suit design.
There are no new suit designs.
You finished them years ago.
They have dust on them.
I get it. You’re going to be a father soon.
New responsibilities.
You’re a bit scared.
I’m not scared.
I’m busy, Johnny.
I’m busy. I’m busy.
There’s a difference.
[H.E.R.B.I.E. vocalizes] New transmission today.
Have you listened to it yet?
More of the same.
It’s a complex signal.
[vocalizes]
[Reed] Knock yourself out.
[H.E.R.B.I.E. chuckles] Johnny, I’m running a test.
Cool.
I got time.
[Reed]
Bridge teleportation test.
Movement of organic matter, six meters.
[H.E.R.B.I.E. vocalizes]
[Johnny] Thank you, Herbert.
[H.E.R.B.I.E. vocalizes]
Let’s run it.
[whirring]
[crackling]
It worked.
[electricity hums]
[H.E.R.B.I.E. vocalizes]
[Reed] Johnny.
Yep.
[H.E.R.B.I.E. vocalizes]
Could you reset the breaker?
Other way.
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
[Johnny mutters]
[distorted, indistinct dialogue plays]
Babe?
Babe, when you’re done, can you…
[vocalizes]
Hello, H.E.R.B.I.E.
[vocalizes]
[chuckles]
I, um…
I just went by the nursery.
How’s it looking?
Um, it’s looking like H.E.R.B.I.E.’s building the crib.
Which I kinda thought was a you deal.
I built this instead.
Anyone can build a crib.
Only I can build this.
Anyone can build a crib but not-not ours. Not for him.
This is for him.
Because unlike anyone else, his parents have cosmically compromised DNA.
[groans] Reed.
Reed, we have done every test.
Well, not this one.
You wanna see?
Fine. Let’s see.
[exhales deeply]
[♪ tense music plays]
[heartbeat thumping]
[Sue] See? There’s nothing wrong with him.
He’s absolutely perfect.
[chuckling]
That is such a bullshit way to win an argument.
Happy Halloween.
Happy Halloween.
Easy with the candy.
[Heather] Hi, Ben.
Hi, Heather.
[cheering]
Hey, Ben. How’s Sue doing?
Yeah, she’s getting close.
She was craving some Maisie’s cookies.
Hey! What time is it?
Say the thing.
That’s not really something I say.
It’s clobberin’ time!
It’s just in the cartoon.
Sorry, sir.
Oh, my God. There he is!
Whoa, that’s him!
Hey! Lift the car!
You want me to lift up a car?
This car? Right here?
You guys are gonna get me in trouble.
[chanting] Lift the car!
I… I’ll… I’ll try.
[students] Lift the car!
[Ben straining, grunts] [all grumbling] Can’t do it.
Come on, you can do it!
I’ll try one more time.
[spits]
[students chanting]
Lift the car! Lift the car!
Lift the car! Lift the…
[cheering]
Throw the car! Yeah, throw it!
Throw the car?
Yeah, throw the car.
[Ben grunts]
[students scream, clamor]
[chuckles]
Okay, everyone. Settle down.
Back to your game.
Hey, maybe throw it next time.
That’ll show ’em.
No, no, no.
It’s okay. I love kids.
Spend the day with ten fourth-grade girls and you may begin to rethink that.
[chuckling]
Rachel Rozman. Uh…
I’m Ben.
[Rachel] I know.
You grew up near on Yancy, yeah?
Right there.
[Rachel] Oh. Very near.
You know, it feels really good being back here.
I like that everything stays the same.
Like Maisie’s? The best.
The black-and-white cookies were always my favorite when I was a kid, but…
we used to steal ’em back then.
[whooping]
[laughs]
Okay. Well, maybe step inside next time.
Kids would love to see ya.
Yeah. Okay. I will.
I’ll bring cookies.
Oh, yeah? Okay.
[whooping continues] Yeah, I’ll bring cookies.
[Rachel] All right.
Oh, sweet Jesus.
It doesn’t matter how long you beat it. [scoffs] You’re not gonna make a meringue if there’s egg yolks.
The real question is, do you add some vinegar or not?
I’m a vinegar guy.
Always have been.
Hey. Why the long face?
What of it?
[Ben] Sounds like your 2:15 with Reed didn’t go well.
I’m sorry, pal.
Hey, I’m fine, you know?
I don’t mind. It’s just, uhI hear ya.
We’ll go to space again.
Yeah, we will.
Oh. Nice.
[figurine] I’m Johnny Storm.
Flame on.
Flame on. Flame on. Flame-Flame off.
[blows]
[vocalizes] Down.
[sighs]
Fantastic Kitchen, down.
Whoops.
[stutters] Stop it.
[Reed] I finished the crib.
Included two extras.
I don’t know why.
Mmm. Thank you.
[sirens wailing]
Go time.
[Reed] No, it’s okay.
This… This is me.
For the last few months, I’ve been tracking a small number of criminal organizations.
A small number, huh?
[Reed] Fortyseven of them, including the Puppet Master in the Bowery, the Wizard in Gramercy Park and Diablo in Washington Heights.
You babyproofed the world.
It’s a sweet gesture.
It’s a thorough gesture.
But, uh, I like punching.
You mean “clobbering”?
No, I mean “punching.”
Let’s eat.
Hey, what time is it?
It’s dinnertime. Get inside.
You sure it’s not clobbering time?
Stop it.
[watches beeping] Johnny.
On it.
[♪ dramatic music playing]
[panting]
What the hell? [groans]
[civilians clamoring]
Would you look at that?
[clamoring continues]
[gasping]
[tires screech]
[officer] Stand clear. I need everybody to remain calm and clear the area.
Stay back. Out of the way.
Get back.
[Ben] Out of the way.
Get back.
[news reporter 3] Breaking news from Times Square.
There appears to be an object in the sky, debris raining down and some sort…
[distorted, indistinct dialogue] Are you the protectors of this world?
Yes, we are.
Your planet is now marked for death.
[civilians clamoring]
Your world will be consumed by The Devourer.
There is nothing you can do to stop him.
For he is a universal force.
As essential as the stars.
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
Hold your loved ones close, and speak the words you’ve been afraid to speak.
Use this time to rejoice and celebrate, for your time is short.
I herald his beginning.
I herald your end.
I herald…
Galactus.
[all clamoring]
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
[helicopter blades whirring]
[pilot] Whoa!
[Johnny grunts, panting]
[speaking Zenn-Lavian]
[♪ suspenseful music
continues] [groans] [whooshing] [newscaster] Scientists around the world are trying to verify the origin of this unknown space creature…
Are you tracking her?
She is too fast to track, Johnny.
She is too fast, but I’m tracking where she’s been.
What’s a Galactus? Right?
And how do you consume a whole planet?
Here. DA773, a planet in the Proxima Delphi system.
He ate that whole planet?
Five planets, actually.
Five have disappeared, that I’m aware of.
There might be more that fit the pattern.
And the pattern is what?
That they’ve been chosen with great care.
Targeted.
And not just disappeared.
Destroyed.
[Sue sighs]
Wait, you’re saying that these planets disappearing, that’s connected to her?
Yes.
I’ve identified the herald’s energy signature and matched it to DA773.
She was there.
[beeping]
She was at all of them.
So you’re saying this Galactus…
Can do exactly what she says it can do.
How long to get Excelsior launch-ready?
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
Either we go up there or Galactus comes here.
I don’t know, 20 hours.
The launch window is in 16.
Guys… Hey, guys.
[Ben] Like I said, 16 hours.
[Reed]
I’ll start the nav plot.
Hey, guys…
H, you wanna buzz the prep team and I’ll meet you down there?
Uh, she spoke to me.
The herald. She spoke to me.
She spoke to all of us, Johnny.
Galactus, devouring…
Well, when I chased her, she spoke to me in her language.
What did she say?
Well, it was in her own language. I don’t know.
Well, what were the context clues?
Context. Space.
And what was the tone?
Angry? Threatening?
No, no, no. Not at all.
It was, uh…
[♪ playful music plays]
…kind.
Kind?
Not kind. Warm.
Warm?
I don’t know. It was…
She was, like, right here.
Mmhmm.
And I was looking into her beautiful face, and I saw stars, and I could see me in her face.
She spoke to me, and it was kind of, um…
Warm?
Kind. Kind?
No. No. I get it.
Johnny loves space.
Johnny loves women.
Now there’s a literal naked space woman, and Johnny thinks they had a moment.
I doubt she was naked.
It was probably a stellar polymer.
For the record, Ben loves when Johnny speaks in third person.
We need to get ready.
[♪ hopeful music playing]
[H.E.R.B.I.E. warbles]
[warbles]
[distorted dialogue playing through headphones]
[muffled knocking]
Okay. So she spoke to you, yeah? And?
[buzzing]
There are 23 of these.
The only repeated language and the oldest recordings.
Now, I don’t know who they are or what they’re saying, but this…
this is the same.
This is her language.
Okay. Maybe that is something.
Reed wants to see you in the lab.
You summoned me.
I finally knocked it off the list.
What?
The new space suits.
[♪ hopeful music plays]
It’s flame-retardant.
Maxed out oxygen supply, but…
You have to monitor the gauge.
If you stay flamed on in zero atmosphere, you will burn through your air reserves in less than ten minutes.
Oh.
I take back every single bad thing I’ve been saying about you.
To myself.
In private.
Four years ago, we were dreamers.
Back then, the unknown meant adventure, and mystery, and discovery.
With space, the greatest mystery of all.
[newscaster] The last occasion led to the accident that mutated them and gave them those fan…
[door opens, closes]
[Reed] What we learned was that the unknown also meant fear.
And profound, radical change.
[Ben] Hiya, pal.
Johnny showed me the new suit.
It’s pretty spiffy, especially compared to the old ones.
Well, the old ones…
weren’t adequate.
Eh, who could’ve known?
Me.
I could’ve known.
Stop.
Please. You gotta stop beating yourself up about this.
You know, Stretch, I got bad news for you.
You ain’t that smart.
Except I am that smart.
Oh, yeah? Can you cook?
It’s more of an art, not a science.
Did you pass your driver’s test?
That was due to poorly marked signage.
Huh. [chuckles] This Galactus, this herald, they got no idea what they’re up against.
So the four of us will return to space and face the danger waiting there, and we will find this Galactus.
[Reed]
The second the engines fire, everything you do from then on will be the first time a pregnant woman has done them in the history of the world.
I know.
[♪ hopeful music playing]
I really do.
And just because I’m not talking about it doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about it.
About him.
I really love my new suit.
It’s really your old one, it’s just a lot bigger.
[gasps]
Bluer.
[chuckles] It is actually bluer.
Just a little extra around the sides is all.
[mission controller] This is Excelsior Launch Control.
T-minus two hours, 37 minutes, 20 seconds.
[Reed] Here we stand prepared to face a danger that is unknown.
[crowd cheering]
A danger that has threatened our home, threatened our families and threatened this planet.
[Reed]
The unknown will become known, and we will protect you.
We will protect you.
[applauding, cheering]
[Johnny sighs]
Final check and check, please.
Check.
Check.
Check.
[mission controller]
Twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight, seven…
[Reed]
Starting ignition sequence.
[mission controller]
…six, five, four, three…
Go for launch.
[mission controller]
…two, one.
[♪ epic music playing]
[crowd gasping]
[mission controller]
The Excelsior has liftoff.
[♪ epic music continues]
Whoohoo!
[reporter]
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a successful launch.
[horns honking] [cheering]
[reporter]
And from all of us on Earth, we wish you good luck.
And Godspeed.
Thank you, Earth.
[♪ epic music continues]
You seeing that?
[Ben]
Approaching the FTL engine.
[pulsing, whirring]
Wait for my signal, Sue.
Yeah.
And three, two, one. Mark.
[bleeps] And we are locked.
[Reed]
And clear for FTL navigation.
Faster-than-light in three, two, one.
[♪ dramatic music plays]
[Ben] So the herald’s energy signature tracks to this binary system here.
LHS275, yes.
Where we find her, we find Galactus.
Reed, what are we up against here?
Some sort of a space dragon or something?
[Johnny] Cool.
We don’t know.
But it’s basic tactical science.
Observe, assess capabilities, have H.E.R.B.I.E. collect any liquid, gas…
[snoring] [groans] …solid materials, analyze his physiology.
[snoring]
Look, if he’s just some big guy in a ship, then yes, you can punch him out.
[chuckles]
[whoops]
Coming in on the dark side of the system’s larger planet.
Copy that.
I’m gonna take us out of FTL.
[Reed]
Okay, everyone. Be prepared.
So, where’s this Galactus?
[Reed] That’s strange.
The herald’s heat signature is coming from inside the planet.
What the hell is happening to that planet?
Is there something alive down there?
[beeping]
[♪ dramatic music playing]
What is that?
Ben!
I’m on it!
Dropping us out of FTL.
[Reed] Watch out!
Sue, hide us!
[♪ dramatic music continues]
It’s all gone.
The whole planet.
And it was 13% larger than Earth.
[crash]
[alarm blaring]
[Reed] Ben!
It’s not responding.
I’m locked out.
H.E.R.B.I.E., try to stabilize the engines.
[Johnny] What’s going on?
It’s got us.
It’s pulling us in.
Ben, save the engines.
Save the engine!
[♪ suspenseful music plays]
[gasps]
[♪ suspenseful music
continues] [Ben] Johnny…
your girlfriend’s back.
Hi.
Galactus will see you.
I’ll go.
[Silver Surfer] All of you.
You should not have come.
[chains clanking]
Follow.
[Reed] Scan everything and collect samples.
[vocalizes]
[Reed]
What does Galactus want?
He doesn’t want. He feeds.
[Sue] How does he choose which planets to consume?
He does not.
You choose.
Yes.
[Ben] Uh, Johnny.
What are you doing?
I’m gonna charm her.
So what did you say to me?
When you threw me off your board?
What did you say?
[speaking Zenn-Lavian]
It’s a blessing.
It means, “Die with yours.”
“Die with yours.”
Last question.
So the surfboard, right?
Is that part of your body?
Or is that…
[watch beeping]
So she dumped you already?
No. It went well.
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
You stand before Galactus.
The Devourer of Worlds honors you.
[breathing heavily]
We are honored.
I was once little like you.
Billions of years ago.
A man from another world before this relentless, eternal hunger.
You have traveled far.
Yes.
To beg for mercy.
To talk.
You carry the power to save your world.
Yes. I believe we do.
Inside her.
The child.
[breathes shakily]
What the hell?
What…
He hungers.
What does that mean?
I will spare your world.
In exchange for the boy.
What? No.
He possesses the Power Cosmic, and he will inherit this cursed throne.
It’s not true.
He’s
He’s normal.
We would know. I would know.
[stutters] I tested the child.
He hides his nature from you.
No.
[groans]
What are you doing to her?
[groaning] Baby’s coming.
The baby’s coming.
Now?
Yeah.
You will not have our planet.
And you will never have our son!
[Sue groaning]
I will eat your planet slowly while your child watches.
[groaning]
[♪ dramatic music playing]
[groaning]
[Sue groans]
[watch beeping]
No you don’t!
[Sue, Reed panting]
[Johnny gasps, coughs]
[Sue groans]
[Ben] I’m coming, buddy!
[Sue grunts]
Go, go, go, go!
H.E.R.B.I.E., prep all systems for immediate launch.
[groaning]
No! [grunts]
[groans, pants]
[grunts]
[grunts] No!
[straining] Surfboard, not part of the body.
[groans, pants]
[H.E.R.B.I.E. warbles]
[Sue panting]
Come on.
[Sue groaning]
[♪ dramatic music playing]
[Sue groaning, panting]
H.E.R.B.I.E.!
Come on.
[panting]
[groaning]
Get us out of here, Ben!
Hang in there, Suze, I’ll get you home.
[Sue groans]
[groaning]
Get us to the FTL!
[Sue panting]
FTL in visual range.
[panting] Babe.
I’m here, Sue. I’m here.
[alarm sounding]
Surfer on our six.
Attach then jump.
[Ben] And go where?
Anywhere! Just jump!
[whooshing]
[Ben] H.E.R.B.I.E., I’m gonna need your help stabilizing this thing.
[vocalizes]
[♪ dramatic music playing]
Hold on!
[warbles indistinctly]
[both grunt]
[echoing] Ben!
We lost her. All clear.
She’s still on us.
Johnny, kill her.
Really?
Yeah.
She wants to take your nephew.
Kill her!
All right. All right.
Just when I finally met someone interesting.
It’s bending the beam!
The wormhole is bending the beam!
[Johnny] Reed, I can’t get a lock on her!
All right. Figure it out.
Come on.
Reed, what’s the plan?
[pants]
Johnny, quit screwing around.
Do I tell you how to drive the ship?
Don’t tell me how to kill sexy aliens!
[Ben] Stop calling her sexy.
[grunts]
Oh!
Yes! Yes!
Yes!
Yes!
She’s back!
Reed, I can’t shake her.
Working on it!
She’s slippery!
Reed!
[moans]
[Reed]
Drop us out of FTL here.
That’s a pretty big neutron star.
I know. We’re gonna use it.
Isn’t that basically a black hole?
Won’t that kill us?
Taking us out.
[groaning]
[♪ dramatic music playing]
What’s the plan?
Draw her close enough to the star, she’ll get stuck in the gravity well.
There’ll be a time dilation.
How much of a dilation?
Is it more than mine?
It’ll take her a month to break free.
Take us in, Ben.
Reed, we could get sucked in.
Ben, trust me.
Hang on.
[♪ dramatic music continues]
Come on.
It’s chewing us up!
[Reed] Get closer.
[Ben] It’s chewing us up!
[Reed] A little closer!
[Ben] Come on, Reed.
What are we doing?
Sue, we need 30 seconds of invisibility. Can you do it?
After your next contraction.
[groans]
[groans, pants]
[♪ dramatic music playing]
[gasps]
[distorted scream]
Yes!
Hell, yeah!
You all right, Sue?
[groaning] We need to strap you down.
Strapping her down.
Do not strap me down!
Not strapping her down.
[groans] Baby…
What?
…you need gravity to push.
[stammers] This is not right.
It’s not how it’s supposed to be.
I know, I know.
But we’re gonna make it work.
You’re doing wonderful, my love.
[breathing heavily]
We don’t have enough juice to get home.
Oh, no.
No, we do not.
I could slingshot around the star, draft off its orbital momentum.
[Reed] We need to get to .88 speed of light.
[groaning] Reed!
Johnny, the velocity gauge.
[Sue] Reed!
On it.
Oh, don’t… don’t go.
I’m here.
I’m not going anywhere.
Don’t go.
I’m right here.
Beginning slingshot.
Here we go.
Coming up on .82.
On your mark, Johnny.
Why…
Why do they wanna take him?
Something is wrong with him.
There’s nothing wrong with him.
You don’t know that.
Yes, I do. I do know.
No, you don’t.
You know everything, but you don’t know that.
What if he’s a monster?
He’s not a monster.
Everything’s gonna change.
Nothing is gonna change.
Everything’s gonna change.
I promise you.
I promise.
You can’t promise that.
I promise.
You can’t promise that.
Reed… [gasps] Okay.
He’s coming. He’s coming.
Give me your hand.
.84. Ben!
[straining] Come on!
Sue? Push.
No.
Yes, you can.
.85.
[Reed] Ready?
[Sue] Okay.
One, two, three, push!
[groans]
[straining] Come on!
[Johnny] .86!
Push. Push. That’s good.
[screaming]
[Johnny] .87.
Mark!
Ben!
[Ben] H.E.R.B.I.E.
[vocalizes]
[groans]
[Reed] Ben, help!
Thrusters engaged.
[Johnny]
H.E.R.B.I.E., get ready!
Hold on, everyone.
[Sue groaning]
[Sue panting]
[baby cries]
[scissors snip]
[Ben exhales]
I got you, little guy.
[♪ gentle music playing]
[baby fussing]
Franklin.
[Franklin fusses]
[children laughing]
There! There! Come on.
I see it!
[♪ triumphant music playing]
[bystander gasps] Wow!
[cheering, applauding]
[crowd continues cheering, applauding]
[announcer]
After a monthlong return trip, the Fantastic Four are finally home and receiving a warm welcome.
[cheering, applauding]
Oh, my God. Unbelievable.
Lynne, we’re going to need– Come this way.
[crowd cheering, whistling]
[reporter 1] Reed! Reed!
[Lynne] Move back!
[reporter 2] Dr. Richards, over here! Can we get a word?
[distorted] Stand back.
Make a path.
Sue! Sue!
[normal] They’re ready for you. Step up.
Just keep it brief.
[reporters chattering]
I’m sorry. We don’t have a prepared statement.
[reporters clamoring]
One at a time, please.
One at a time.
Connor.
Welcome back.
Could you take us through how you defeated Galactus?
How we de…
[gulps]
We didn’t.
Not yet. Not yet, we didn’t.
[reporters murmuring]
[reporter 1]
What does that mean?
[Connor] Uh, follow up!
What do you mean, you didn’t?
We attempted to negotiate, but Galactus…
He asked too high a price.
Well, what does he want?
What did he ask?
He asked for our child.
[reporter 2] What?
He said, “Give us your child, and I will spare the earth.”
We said no, obviously.
We said no.
We’re gonna…
We’re gonna circle back with a more detailed statement…
You said no?
What does that mean for us?
Could giving Galactus the child save us?
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Hang on
You can’t just…
Just answer this. Answer this.
Are we safe?
Are we safe?
I don’t know.
[crowd gasping]
What do you mean, you don’t know?
You don’t know?
What do you mean you don’t know?
What do you mean you don’t know?
[reporters, crowd clamoring]
I’m sorry. I’ve failed you.
I need the child.
I must get the child.
But he’s just a baby.
[gasping, grunting]
He is a being of infinite power.
One strong enough to absorb my hunger so that I may finally rest.
[Ben] How much time do we even have?
[Johnny] What do we do when he gets here?
[Ben] What about the ship?
We blast it. Problem solved.
[Reed] You can’t blast it.
Conventional weapons won’t work.
So, we run.
We run?
Draw him away from Earth.
We’re faster than him, right?
Not faster than the herald.
We’ve got a head start.
[Ben] Yeah, but that’s all we got.
And then he could still eat the Earth anyways.
[Sue] Reed?
You wanna take us through what you have?
What I have?
Yeah.
What I have is nothing.
Nothing. Did you say nothing?
I analyzed the samples H.E.R.B.I.E. took from Galactus’s ship.
All evidence suggests he predates our universe, our reality.
It could take ten years to understand his composition, let alone his existence.
You’re talking about a god?
I’m talking about something beyond our experience.
An unknowable life.
Who imagines Franklin as his successor and possessing some kind of cosmic power.
That can’t be true.
You ran all those tests.
Right?
[Reed] I have, but I don’t know what can or cannot be.
I’m not sure how long.
I’m not sure of anything. I…
I have nothing. I…
I have nothing.
If we could solve something, any link in the chain…
E is the effort force, R is the lever arm connected to the effort.
L is the load, r is the lever arm connected to the load.
Archimedes. The Law of Levers.
“Give me a lever and a place to stand and I will move the earth.”
We need a lever.
You
You wanna translate that?
Yeah, we solve the right small problem, we solve the big Galactus one.
Yes. Yes.
All right, boys, let’s go look for levers.
Yep.
You know, you’re supposed to sleep when the baby sleeps.
I’ve been, uh, you know, reading the books.
He thinks the baby actually sleeps.
[speaking Zenn-Lavian on recording]
[device beeps, whirs]
[recording stops]
I gotta show you something.
What do you wanna show me?
It’s really good.
I barely slept last night.
I’m sorry to hear that.
It’s not like you chose this whole thing.
Being a mother, you know?
Sit down. Good. I gotta show you. Just trust me.
Okay. All right.
[groans] Johnny, it smells.
It’s pheromones. Relax.
All right.
Racking back the helmet cam.
[speaking Zenn-Lavian]
[in English] It’s a blessing.
It means, “Die with yours.”
[speaking Zenn-Lavian]
I told you I’d heard that before.
Now we have a sentence translated, and we can use that to figure out what all of this means.
I mean, Reed could build an algorithm, and then…
His big brain is busy.
I’m all over this.
A Rosetta stone to find him an Archimedes lever.
See?
I can reference old stuff too.
Right. There you go. Good boy.
[newscaster 1]
Fantastic Four has verified that an unknown spacecraft believed to be Galactus has just passed Jupiter.
[newscaster 2] Financial institutions remain closed as angry protestors take to…
[newscaster 3] The newly formed Galactus cult intends to summit Mount Everest.
[newscaster 4] Tempers boiled over in Central London today, breaking out in violence as the whole world wonders, “What is to be our fate?”
Hey, what about us?
We got families too.
[Ben] Guys, it’s getting bad out there.
[pundit 1] It seems to me they have no plan for Galactus.
We, as a society, have to reckon with the idea that the Fantastic Four could save us today, but they choose not to?
[pundit 2] No.
[pundit 1] The idea is simple.
Reed Richards and Sue Storm hand over their baby, and we all live.
One life
[crowd clamoring]
[civilian 1] Where are you?
[clamoring continues]
[civilian 2]
Get down from your high tower.
[civilian 3]
You’re supposed to protect us.
[civilian 4] Give up the baby!
[crowd continues clamoring]
They’re scared.
Who isn’t scared?
That is scary.
Why? They can’t hurt us.
Well, it’s scary because they hate us.
They think they might die, and they hate us for it.
And they hate Franklin.
And they may be right because right now, we don’t have a workable plan.
The clock is ticking.
So their plan looks good.
It’s mathematical, it’s ethical and it’s available.
What are you saying?
I’m not saying anything.
[scoffs]
[Franklin crying over monitor]
[crying continues]
Oh, sweetheart.
It’s all right, buddy.
[fussing] All right.
You know, Ben’s wrong.
There’s always people that can hurt you.
Sue, please hear me.
I would never give him up to Galactus.
I would never do that.
“Mathematical? Ethical?
Available?”
It was just so easy for you to say that.
It means nothing.
It means I know you.
I know how your brain works.
It means you’ve thought about it.
It means you’ve rolled it around in your head, and you worked the problem.
Which means nothing.
It is my job to think terrible things so that terrible things don’t happen.
It’s not your job, Reed.
That’s you.
Okay. You’re right, it is me.
I don’t dream. I don’t wonder.
I invite the worst possible thing into my head to figure out how to hurt them before they hurt anybody else.
And you know what?
Sometimes Sometimes, you being you hurts me.
Well, I don’t mean to.
[Franklin fusses]
[Sue] I know. I know.
[sighs, breathes heavily]
I know.
Listen, I am going to solve this.
I’m gonna make it right.
[coos]
Hmm. [chuckles] We don’t know what he is or what he might become but I am not giving him up.
[♪ tense music playing]
[crowd clamoring]
[crowd clamoring ends]
[Franklin babbles, echoing]
[woman in crowd]
You’re selfish.
[crowd murmuring]
[woman in crowd] How can you bring him out here?
I wanted to introduce you to someone.
This is our son, Franklin.
There’s been a lot of talk about him.
[Franklin coos]
Um…
Most of you know me.
You know my story.
When Johnny and I were kids, our parents were in a car crash.
Our dad was driving and he lived, but our mom didn’t.
I know what it’s like to be part of a family that was torn apart.
Our dad, he wasn’t always a great father, but he wanted to be.
He did his best.
He wanted us to be together because that’s what family is.
It’s about fighting for something bigger than yourself.
It’s about connecting to something bigger than yourself.
[doors opening]
It’s about having something bigger than yourself.
And the four of us…
the four of us already do because we have you.
You know, our mom always used to say, “Suzie, for you, I would move heaven and earth.”
And we would do that for you.
I will not sacrifice my child for this world.
But I will not sacrifice this world for my child.
We will face this together.
We will fight this together.
And we will defeat this together.
As a family.
[crowd applauding]
Mmm.
“As a family.”
[Johnny chuckles]
Archimedes.
The Law of Levers.
“Give me a lever and a place to stand and I will move the earth.”
We are going to move heaven and earth.
Well, just earth.
Sue?
You solved it.
I did?
Yes.
We are going to move Earth to a place that Galactus will never find us.
How?
Well, we already have the lever.
The bridge.
The bridge is a prototype.
You moved an egg across the room.
You think you can do that with a planet?
[Reed] We are out of options.
We have to make it work.
We will make it work.
Heaven and earth.
[announcer]
We interrupt this program with a special report.
And now an announcement from Reed Richards.
As you’re about to see, we’ve solved the physics of teleportation.
[device whirs, zaps]
[Reed] H.E.R.B.I.E.
[vocalizes] The difference between a planet and an egg is only scale.
Starting immediately, we will create teleportation bridges spanning the globe.
They will be synchronized and interconnected, capable of transporting our planet to a new solar system within a 2% margin of the inhabitable zone.
But more importantly, away from Galactus where he won’t be able to find us for millions of years.
Time is not on our side.
I’m reaching out to the world with a list of materials that we need in bulk.
Plutonium239.
[representatives translating] Plutonium…
All right, people.
Like my old man used to say, “If you don’t know what to do, pick up a shovel.”
Fire it up. We got bridges to build. Let’s go.
The last 36 hours has seen an historical mobilization of every country working together, in a way the world has never seen before.
[Voices speaking Zenn-Lavian]
[news anchor 1]
With Galactus’s ship deep within our solar system and the Fantastic Four’s Hail Mary in the balance, we are calling on every helping hand.
[Reed]
If you can do something well, now you can do it for your planet.
[reporter]
We are getting reports that Galactus has passed Mars.
H.E.R.B.I.E., record.
[vocalizes]
It takes too much power.
I only got this to work by tripling my intake, which drained the New York City grid in two seconds.
To do this, there isn’t enough power in the world.
I’d have to turn off every light switch on the planet.
For how long?
Factoring in we gotta keep building bridges, how long would we need to conserve power?
[Reed] Sacrifices will be made.
We all need to conserve power at a scale never attempted before.
[vocalizes] Quite right, H.E.R.B.I.E.
[vocalizes] All the power.
The worldwide energy curfew only works if everybody does their part to conserve electricity.
[groans]
Ooh, missed a spot.
Yeah, curfew fried it.
Now I look like an idiot.
Beard could be cool.
Seriously?
I built this to see what you looked like.
You see, most fathers want their sons to look exactly like them, inside and out.
But…
I don’t want you to be like me.
There’s something wrong with me, always has been.
The more I look at you, the less I know.
And the less I know, the more scared I am.
So you know what?
I’m not gonna look anymore.
[typing] [computer powers down] I’m gonna let you tell me who you are.
And if you’d like to tell me now, that would be helpful, especially if you’re an all-powerful space god.
I’d like to know that sooner rather than later, if you don’t mind.
Hmm.
Oh, no. [grunts] [sniffs] You’re busy peeing.
You’re a very good boy.
[voices speaking Zenn-Lavian]
[vocalizes]
Thanks, buddy.
[vocalizes]
[Franklin coos]
[Sue] This is going to work.
It has to.
[voices speaking Zenn-Lavian]
Yes! Yes!
[device beeping] Uh… Oh.
Yep, coming.
Coming, coming, coming.
Guys, I am onto something.
Moving a planet here, Johnny.
Yeah, Johnny. It’s four.
Fantastic Four.
Let’s move a planet.
Cool beard.
You mean that? Thank you.
[representative speaking foreign language] Copy, Delhi.
[London representative]
Let’s do this.
London, stand by.
Yes, copy, London.
[Paris representative speaks French] Copy, Paris.
Lima, do you copy?
Copy, Rome.
Copy, Delhi.
Copy, Vienna.
Copy, Prague.
[Chicago representative]
Chicago, stand by.
Copy, Chicago.
Earth go for countdown.
[announcer] Here we go, folks.
[device beeps] [Reed] Go.
[announcer] 20, 19…
18, 17, 16…
15, 14, 13…
12…
11…
10, 9, 8…
7, 6…
[beeping continues]
[crackling, thrumming]
What is that?
What’s happening?
[alarm blares]
[alarm blaring]
She’s going for this bridge.
No.
She’s coming for Franklin.
Oh, my God.
Lock the building down!
[rumbling] Wait. Where’s Johnny?
[groans]
[voices speaking Zenn-Lavian on recording] [voices continue speaking Zenn-Lavian] ShallaBal.
ShallaBal.
ShallaBal!
[voices fade]
[device beeps]
[voice speaking Zenn-Lavian]
[in Zenn-Lavian]
[in English]
How do you know that name?
And how did you get these?
[in Zenn-Lavian]
[Ben in English] How?
He barely has a grasp of the English language.
Twentythree transmissions, all in your language, trace back to the planet Zenn-La.
[device beeps] Your home.
[voices speaking ZennLavian]
They were looking for you, to thank you.
Once I translated one phrase, I pieced together enough language to understand a part of your history.
You were some sort of scientist or astronomer.
When Galactus came, you offered to serve as his scout if he’d spare your planet.
[child speaking Zenn-Lavian]
[Johnny]
Was it to spare your family?
He turned you into this.
ShallaBal.
Those were messages from the one planet Galactus spared.
Your planet.
These planets weren’t so lucky.
[voices crying in unknown languages]
[Johnny] How many do you remember, ShallaBal?
Proxima Delphi. Saigas.
[voices clamoring]
Do you remember Polaris?
They begged for mercy.
[voices continue clamoring]
You brought Galactus to all of these planets.
And now you’re bringing him here, to my home, to my family!
[screaming]
[voices continue screaming, clamoring] Just trying to save my world, you know, like you did.
So give up the child.
If he was older, he would do it himself.
Like I did.
So take me.
Take me.
Not the boy.
Let me make the sacrifice.
It’s not yours to make.
Then stay and help us.
There is no help.
Take the child and leave this doomed place.
Maybe you’ll live long enough to forgive yourselves.
[grunts]
Johnny, that was incredible.
I mean, does it even matter?
You saved Franklin.
Yes, it matters.
Reed?
We’re not leaving, are we?
No. No, we’re not.
[sighs]
We’re not leaving.
[gasps]
[phone rings]
[person speaking Turkish]
Um
Uh, yeah. Same here.
You gotta give us a second.
Um…
Yeah, this is Johnny Storm.
Can you hear me?
[men speaking on phone lines]
The line’s too busy.
I’m sorry, okay?
This is London.
This is London. Do you copy?
Hold, London.
[female London representative]
What’s going on?
[Sue] Hold, Paris.
Paris, hold.
[Johnny]
The line’s not very clear.
Can you say that again?
[Sue] Hold the line.
Chicago, yes, we’re onto it.
We’re just, uh– We’re fixing the problem.
[voices continue speaking, indistinct]
[Ben]
We’re trying to get, uh…
We’re trying to get on top of this.
[Sue] Sydney, stand by.
[Johnny] Yep. Got it.
[Sue] Tokyo, stand by.
[Johnny] Hold. Hold.
We have to bring him here.
[Ben] We are aware.
[Sue] Yes, I understand.
[Sue] Can you stand by?
[Ben] We are aware.
[Ben] I’ll update you.
[Johnny] Yeah. Yeah.
[Reed] We need to bring Galactus here.
[Sue] I will come back to you. Hold.
Call you back.
Hold up.
Reed?
We need Galactus to come here?
I feel like we just spent a lot of time trying to prevent that from happening.
Listen to me. We need to get him away from his ship.
We need to bring him here, to Times Square.
And then what?
And then, instead of moving a planet away from one giant, we move one giant away from the planet.
If we route every power grid on the Eastern Seaboard, through our one last bridge, charge back up, we can keep the portal open for…
Thirty-seven seconds.
Thirty… Not a lot of time to throw a space god off a planet.
No, it is not.
And where do we send him?
To the far edges of the universe.
Without a ship, he’ll be stranded.
How are we supposed to get Galactus to Times Square?
And how do we move one giant through one large bridge?
[sighs]
I haven’t figured that part out yet.
You have.
Have what?
We have to use the only thing Galactus wants.
No. I’ll think of another way.
What are you talking about?
You can’t.
You can’t think of another way.
I will.
There is only one way.
What are you talking about?
We have to use Franklin.
Yes.
You wanna use the boy?
You wanna use the boy as bait.
No.
[Ben] That’s your plan?
No, it’s not my plan.
It’s our plan.
It’s the only plan.
It’s not my plan.
I hate that plan.
It’s a bad plan. Stupid plan.
[Johnny] Terrible idea.
Why don’t I just burn through his ship?
That’s another plan.
He’s your kid we’re talking about.
Sue.
I know.
Sue. Sue.
Yes, I know. I know. I know!
[exhales]
I thought this was one of the most beautiful things we’d ever built.
Feels terrifying now.
It can be beautiful again.
Everything can.
[Ben sighs]
They’ve been gone a while.
[Ben] Johnny.
Go check. See if they’re back.
I’m in no rush to do that.
Well, I’m definitely not gonna check.
I’m definitely not going either.
Thank you for going and checking.
You’re welcome.
It’s the least I could do to say thank you for going down to check first.
I’m definitely not going down.
Chickenshits.
Jesus.
Don’t do that.
I hate it when you do that.
Don’t do that.
Come on.
Let’s run through the details.
I don’t like when she does that.
It’s like…
It’s unsettling when people just appear like that.
Bombproof. Shockproof.
Radiationproof.
Franklin will go here when Galactus arrives.
Hey, do we know what direction Galactus will be coming from?
Well, it could be from anywhere.
But when he crosses those lines, we trigger it.
[Ben] We’re in the very center of the city.
We’re surrounded by miles of apartment buildings.
Any path he takes, he’s gonna be going through thousands and thousands of families.
I got an idea you’ll hate.
[elevator dings]
Oh, my.
Very advanced.
So this must be where the sausage is made.
I think I prefer just trying to steal the sausage.
Please, don’t touch.
Oh!
We’ll fix that.
The…
[mutters indistinctly]
[whispers] Harvey.
Hello there, little robot man.
Could you dim the lights for me, please?
[H.E.R.B.I.E. groans]
Harvey, we wanted to ask you something.
And whatever it is, I would like him to ask me.
It’s notIt’s not Reed or me asking.
It’s the entire planet asking.
It wouldn’t be the entire planet now, would it?
Just the over part.
No, Mr. Elder.
We’ve met Galactus.
He’ll eat the under part first.
Well, regardless, why don’t you butter me up?
Spread it on.
Okay, Mole Man.
[Harvey chuckles] Mole Man?
You touch another piece of my[Sue] Enough.
Take the “mole” out of it.
It’s Mr. Elder to you.
That is enough.
Give us a minute.
Just give us a minute.
[Harvey] Yes, that’s it.
[H.E.R.B.I.E. vocalizes] Johnny, don’t be mad.
I didn’t dress you.
[Ben] Don’t listen to him.
You’re handsome.
[Harvey laughing] [sighs] Harvey.
I’m sorry, Sue. I’m…
End of days.
We all gotta learn how to laugh.
So what do you need?
[announcer] Evacuation orders are in effect in the Greater New York area.
Please report to Subterranea.
Evacuation orders are in effect in the Greater New York area.
Please report to Subterranea.
[Harvey]
Welcome to Subterranea.
Hello there.
Welcome, sunshiners.
Thank you so much.
Yes, do me a favor and just wipe your feet upon entry.
I’m kidding. It’s all dirt.
Please, keep a move on.
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
[newscaster] Good evening. We, the people of Earth, prepare for what could be our final moments.
The hours ahead may feel long, but we must use them to support each other.
And we must hope.
We must dare to hope.
Hey, Mrs. H.
Let me help you with that.
Oh, thank you, Ben.
[newscaster]
We must use the time wisely to be with the ones we cherish.
[Rachel] Keep hope, all right?
What?
Um, sorry, just… Hi.
Hey.
Hey.
Uh, you’re looking very distinguished.
I’m surprised to see you here. I…
Did you come for spiritual guidance?
Oh, no, no.
I just came to see you.
[newscaster] I leave you tonight with these words.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
[♪ dramatic music plays]
[growling]
[♪ dramatic music builds]
[♪ gentle music playing]
[Franklin fusses]
[♪ dramatic music playing]
Positions.
[♪ dramatic music plays]
[groaning, screaming]
[♪ dramatic music continues]
[Galactus grunts]
[sniffs] Hmm.
[scanner buzzing]
[gasping, groaning]
[shushes]
[♪ dramatic music builds]
[highpitched ringing]
[Galactus groans]
[grunts]
[Galactus groans]
[Franklin cries]
[groans]
[crying continues] Hey. Hey, hey, hey.
Don’t cry.
I’ll be back in a minute, little guy.
[H.E.R.B.I.E. warbling]
Just a couple more steps.
Come on, come on.
[♪ dramatic music stops]
[scanner buzzing]
[sighs]
Clever little bugs.
He’s going for Franklin.
[♪ dramatic music plays]
[Johnny grunts]
[tires screeching]
[panting]
[panting]
[grunting]
[Ben] Light him up, Johnny.
[grunts]
[♪ dramatic music continues]
[panting]
[straining, grunts]
[screaming]
Ben!
[screaming]
[Ben gasping]
[panting]
[Reed] Oh, my God.
[sighs]
[Reed panting]
[grunting]
[grunting] [Galactus groans]
[grunts, gasps]
[Galactus grunts]
[Reed gasps]
[groaning]
[screaming]
What time is it, Ben?
No.
What time is it, Ben?
No, Johnny.
Say it!
I don’t wanna.
Say it!
It’s clobberin’ time!
[groans]
[grunts]
[H.E.R.B.I.E. vocalizes melodically]
[H.E.R.B.I.E. vocalizes frantically]
[♪ dramatic music stops]
[H.E.R.B.I.E. whimpering]
[H.E.R.B.I.E. screaming]
[♪ dramatic music plays]
[fussing, crying]
[Franklin crying]
You are my salvation.
My deliverance from this vicious hunger.
[Galactus] Time to feed.
Put down my son.
[Galactus grunts]
[shouts]
[Galactus grunting]
[grunts]
[Sue, Galactus grunting]
[Ben, Reed grunting]
[Sue yelling]
[Galactus grunting]
[yelling]
[Reed] Sue. Sue, stop.
[Sue strains]
Sue, stop. It’s too much.
Get Franklin.
Sue, stop!
Save our son.
[Franklin crying]
[Franklin crying continues]
Johnny, the controls.
[♪ dramatic music continues]
[Reed grunting]
[yelling]
[Galactus groans]
[straining]
[groans]
[Galactus] Ah!
[Franklin crying] Hang on, Suze!
[Ben screaming]
Johnny, now!
[energy crackling]
[yelling]
[groaning]
[♪ dramatic music builds]
[Reed grunting]
[shouting]
[Galactus groaning]
[exhales heavily]
[♪ dramatic music stops]
[grunts]
[Franklin fussing] Reed! It worked.
[gasps] No!
[♪ dramatic music plays]
[Galactus roaring]
[gasps]
Tell Franklin Uncle Johnny loves him.
[Galactus groans, screams]
[Franklin cries]
Sue.
Sue.
[whooshing]
No, no, no. No, no, no.
I got him. I got him.
Sue.
No. No. Sue. Sue. [gasps] She breathing?
[Reed] No.
No. No, baby. No.
You stay with us.
You stay with us, okay?
[Reed panting]
Stay with me, Sue.
Stay with us, baby.
Stay with us, baby.
[echoing] Come on, Sue.
Come on, Sue, stay with us.
Don’t leave us.
Sue!
Come on, baby!
[breathing heavily]
I’m sorry.
[Franklin fusses, cries]
[sobs]
[♪ sorrowful music playing]
[sobs]
[Franklin fusses, cries]
[crying subsides]
[gasps]
[groans]
[gasping, breathing heavily]
[coos]
Hey.
He’s not us. He’s more.
[♪ uplifting music playing]
[Gilbert] Wow, folks.
We have so much exciting ground to cover today.
In the last year, a lot has happened.
We have seen it with our own eyes, but tonight, we’re gonna see it through theirs.
Our city, our country and our planet…
No. And there’s nothing to be nervous about.
You know, you just stick with me.
This thing will be done before we know it.
[Johnny chattering]
…obvious to say, but it is definitely worth talking about, is the fact that the surfboard is not part of the body.
Okay, so, Ted wanted me to give you something as a thankyou for doing this.
[Sue] Oh.
Interesting.
He would love it if Franklin would wear it for this in one minute.
No, actually.
No. Absolutely not.
No, I don’t think we can.
Well, I will break the bad news.
[Reed] Thank you, Lynne.
You’re welcome.
Places, please.
It’s too early.
Way too early.
It’s too early for that kind of stuff.
[Reed] He can’t even sit up without help.
I did not have time to eat breakfast this morning…
So if only I could eat a magic baby.
[imitates munching]
Get his hair.
Get that hair, yeah.
No. Don’t… Don’t try me.
[Sue] Who knows where his powers will take him?
[Franklin coos]
But right now, he’s here.
[♪ hopeful music playing]
[Ben chuckles]
What’s that guy doing?
[imitates munching] Who’s that right there?
Hi, cutie.
[kisses]
Frankie.
[grunts] You got him?
[Gilbert] Explorers, heroes, citizens or leaders.
They continue to change, becoming whatever we need them to be whenever we need.
We’re going in ten…
Ladies and gentlemen, just when you thought we couldn’t love, admire or appreciate them any more than we do…
[cheering]
[Gilbert] …and they’re now 25% more fantastic…
[watches beeping]
[Gilbert] …Reed, Sue, Johnny, Ben and Franklin, the Fantastic Five!
[audience cheering, applauding]
[audience murmuring]
[♪ playful music playing]
Precious cargo.
Coming through.
Is this…
[shaking] No, I’ve set that already.
You’ve already set it?
Let’s get this car seat in nice.
All right, just make sure that it…
Hold on, wait. Set the…
Right, pull up.
I gotta set it in first before you close it.
Set it in before you…
There.
[beeps]
It’s gonna make that noise until you thread the belt under the chair…
All right.
…and then you get it through the other side.
[Ben] You gotta feed it through.
Yeah. I’m doing it.
Well, I don’t feel anything.
I can’t…
You just hook it under the…
It’s through. It’s through.
All right, I got it.
Through the buckle.
[Ben] Let’s move this along, fellas.
You gotta thread it.
You gotta…
That isn’t gonna help.
You gotta thread it through, connect it and then pull the slack.
I’ve thread it through.
It’s threaded through.
You didn’t pull the slack.
Just push from above.
Push from above.
No, you gotta…
Pull the slack!
Okay, I’ll getI’ve pulled the slack.
It’s thread through.
All right.
I can’t fit my hands in.
You from the left.
You from above.
Three, two, one.
[clicks, bleeps]
Oh! Yes! Yes!
That’s a good sound.
Okay, we’re ready.
[♪ upbeat music playing]
[singers] ♪ Fantastic Four! ♪
“He pushed his way out and…” [gasps] “…he was a butterfly.”
“A butterfly.”
[kisses] Oh. Mmm.
You want the other book, don’t you?
Yeah.
Okay.
[kisses]
Back in a second, babe.
H.E.R.B.I.E., have you seen the book that Franklin loves?
[vocalizes]
Not that one.
We did that one yesterday, and I know he loves it, but thi…
Here we are. It’s here.
[H.E.R.B.I.E. vocalizes] We’re going for something a little bit more fun today.
Yeah?
[vocalizes]
[whooshing]
[♪ suspenseful music playing]
[♪ “Let Us Be Devoured” playing]
[ Fantastic Four theme playing]
[singers] ♪ Changed by
Cosmic rays from space ♪
♪ Now they save
The human race ♪
♪ Sue Storm
Commands the light ♪
♪ Johnny’s flames
Burn blazing bright ♪
♪ Ben is rocking the world
With might ♪
♪ And Reed bends science
Left and right ♪
[cartoon narrator] It’s Red Ghost and his SuperApes!
It’s clobberin’ time!
[singers] ♪ Join the fight
And even the score ♪
♪ Get ready to watch ♪
♪ Fantastic Four ♪
[H.E.R.B.I.E. vocalizes]
