The Philippines is just a few days away from seeing “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” on the big screen — the 37th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the second reboot of the “Fantastic Four” film series.

With $13M in presales in the US as of Monday, as reported by Deadline, Disney should be hopeful.

Admittedly, I am not a fan of the MCU, neither am I a hater. I’m just not excited. If I recall, the only MCU film that truly satisfied me was “Endgame” (2019), with “Black Panther” (2018) coming a close second. There’s “Doctor Strange” (2016), but I got bored during the climax.

I see these MCU films, apart from those I mentioned, as fan service — not really made for all types of moviegoers.

Like superhero toys coming to life, they rely on signature hyper-editing and quick cuts, but without real emotional stakes. I tend to get sleepy or restless with all the superhero pomp. This is not to say I’m “above” these sorts of films. They’re just not for me.

Scorsese captured my exact feelings when he famously said: “I don’t see them. I tried, you know? But that’s not cinema,” Scorsese told Empire in 2019.

“Honestly, the closest I can think of them, as well made as they are, with actors doing the best they can under the circumstances, is theme parks. It isn’t the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being.”

Shakman steps up

Still, I am committed to watching First Steps. First off, I’m interested in director Matt Shakman’s treatment. Known mostly as a television director, with credits that include episodes of Succession, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, House M.D., Game of Thrones and WandaVision, this is the first time he has helmed a film with a budget north of $200 million.

He replaced Jon Watts, known for directing the Spider-Man film series, who reportedly wanted to take a break from the “exhaustion” of superhero movies. “I am out of gas,” he told the press.

Shakman worked off a screenplay written by too many cooks: Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer. So that’s a bit of a worry.

But Shakman, who holds a double major in Art History and Theatre from Yale, and who once served as artistic director of L.A.’s The Geffen Playhouse, brings a different creative background that I’m hoping translates into a more cohesive viewing experience.

A cast with something to prove

This 2025 iteration has current Hollywood heartthrob Pedro Pascal as Reed, Vanessa Kirby as Sue, Joseph Quinn as Johnny and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben. Other names set to appear in the film include Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, Ralph Ineson, Sarah Niles and Julia Garner.

Garner received some backlash for taking on the role, with rabid fans insisting that the character be played by a man. In an interview with BBC last week, Garner said she plays a variation on the character, adding, “Also, it’s Shalla-Bal, so it’s different,” not the character of Norrin Radd as seen in the 2007 movie adaptation.

The cast will reportedly also be featured in Avengers: Doomsday, set for release in December next year, with Robert Downey Jr. playing Doctor Doom — the Fantastic Four’s greatest nemesis.

Shockingly, John Malkovich’s villainous Red Ghost was removed from the final cut, as revealed by Shakman to Variety a couple of days ago, calling it “heartbreaking.”

In the first teaser trailer released in February, Malkovich was still in it — long white hair, unkempt beard — but he’s been absent from most promotional material since.

Merchandise, malls, marketing

The hype is real. LEGO’s Marvel Fantastic Four vs. Galactus Construction Figure is selling like hotcakes. The 427-piece set depicts an epic battle between Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and The Thing — with “powers.”

Filipino brand World Balance even released HoverGlide: Fantastic Four, lightweight clog-style sandals for fans eager to flaunt their loyalty.

Meanwhile, in Megamall’s Fashion Mall, they mounted an activation, which ends on 24 July. The installation features the Fantasticar for your souvenir photo needs and a chance to win exciting prizes, too.

Big screen, bigger format

The MCU movie, lensed by WandaVision cinematographer Jess Hall, is set in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. It was shot with IMAX-certified digital cameras and is presented in 1.90:1 Expanded Aspect Ratio, with some sequences vertically expanding to the full 1.43:1 aspect ratio.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps opens in Philippine cinemas this Wednesday, 24 July.