Marvel’s Fantastic Four Slammed as ‘Woke Disaster’: Will It Doom the MCU?
Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four: First Steps, set to hit theaters on July 25, 2025, was meant to be a triumphant debut for the MCU’s First Family, bringing Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm into the fold after years of anticipation. With a star-studded cast—Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing—the film promised to revitalize a franchise reeling from recent flops. Instead, it has become a lightning rod for controversy, with fans on X and beyond branding it a “woke disaster” that could “destroy the MCU even more.” From the gender-swapped casting of Julia Garner as Silver Surfer to Vanessa Kirby’s comments on exploring “gender politics,” the film has sparked a firestorm of debate. As Marvel navigates a precarious moment, what’s driving this backlash, and could Fantastic Four truly spell doom for the MCU? Let’s unpack the outrage, the creative choices, and the stakes for Marvel’s future.
The MCU’s Rocky Road and Fantastic Four’s High Stakes
The Marvel Cinematic Universe, once an unstoppable juggernaut, has faced turbulent times since Avengers: Endgame (2019). Phase 4 and 5 projects like Eternals (2021), Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), and The Marvels (2023) underperformed at the box office, with The Marvels grossing a mere $206 million globally against a $270 million budget. Secret Invasion (2023) and other Disney+ series drew “rotten” Rotten Tomatoes scores, while oversaturation and inconsistent storytelling eroded fan trust. Disney CEO Bob Iger admitted in 2023 that Marvel’s focus on quantity over quality diluted its brand, prompting a 2024 “course correction” with fewer releases and a pivot to high-profile projects like Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), which earned $1.3 billion globally.
Fantastic Four: First Steps, directed by Matt Shakman (WandaVision), was positioned as a cornerstone of this comeback. The Fantastic Four, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1961, are Marvel’s foundational heroes, known for their family dynamics and cosmic adventures. Previous film attempts—Fox’s 2005 and 2007 duology and the 2015 reboot—were critical and commercial disappointments, with the latter earning a 9% Rotten Tomatoes score. Marvel’s acquisition of Fox in 2019 opened the door for an MCU reboot, raising hopes for a faithful adaptation. However, recent reveals have turned excitement into dread for a vocal segment of fans, who see the film as a continuation of Marvel’s “woke” missteps.
The “Woke Disaster” Backlash: What’s Fueling the Fury?
The backlash against Fantastic Four centers on several creative decisions that fans argue prioritize social messaging over fidelity to the comics. The most contentious is the casting of Julia Garner as a gender-swapped Silver Surfer, specifically Shalla-Bal, a female character who briefly served as a herald of Galactus in the 1990s comics. Announced in April 2024, the decision sparked immediate outrage on X, with posts like @MtDragonMedia’s lamenting Marvel’s “destroying what fans have loved for decades.” Fans noted that Norrin Radd, the male Silver Surfer, is iconic for his role in the 1966 Fantastic Four comics and 2007’s Rise of the Silver Surfer. Bleeding Fool argued the swap reflects Marvel’s “cultural engineering” over storytelling, a sentiment echoed by Cosmic Book News, which claimed the film’s focus on Sue Storm and a “toxic” Reed Richards reeks of a “woke agenda.”
Vanessa Kirby’s April 2025 comments about exploring “gender politics” through Sue Storm further inflamed tensions. In an interview, Kirby noted the film’s 1960s setting would address “tropes about gender politics,” framing Sue as a powerful figure navigating a male-dominated era. X users like @popculture_show decried this as proof Marvel is “doomed,” while @AKingsFarewell mocked claims that “woke is dead.” Bleeding Fool interpreted Kirby’s remarks as prioritizing “identity-driven storytelling” over the team’s adventurous spirit, accusing Marvel of alienating its core audience.
Other changes have drawn scrutiny. Joseph Quinn described his Johnny Storm as less “womanizing” and more “sensitive” than the brash playboy of the comics, prompting Bleeding Fool to argue this “sanitizes” the character for “modern sensibilities.” Pedro Pascal’s casting as a “less traditionally masculine” Reed Richards has also raised eyebrows, with Reddit users on r/MauLer calling it a “bad holdover” from his Mandalorian fame. Rumors of a gay Ben Grimm and a retrofuturistic setting—hinted at by a IGN-analyzed poster showing a 1960s New York skyline—have added to fears that Marvel is straying too far from the source material.
The Broader “Woke” Critique and MCU’s Track Record
The “woke disaster” label reflects a broader critique of Marvel’s recent output. Fans and commentators, like Hollywood in Toto and Spiked, argue that projects like Captain Marvel (2019), She-Hulk (2022), and Ms. Marvel (2022) prioritized social issues—female empowerment, diversity, and inclusion—over compelling narratives. The Marvels director Nia DaCosta’s 2023 comments calling out “racist, sexist, and homophobic” fans were seen as dismissive, further alienating audiences. Spiked noted that The Marvels’ $206 million gross was a “heavy price” for “lecturing” fans, while Cosmic Book News claimed Marvel’s focus on diversity has “destroyed” the MCU since Phase 4.
Review-bombing has plagued Marvel’s “woke” projects, with Ms. Marvel facing pre-release IMDb attacks in 2022, as reported by The Direct. Snow White (2025), starring Rachel Zegler, similarly suffered a 1.6/10 IMDb rating due to backlash over its feminist reimagining, showing how polarized fan reactions can amplify criticism. Fantastic Four’s preemptive backlash, driven by unconfirmed rumors and early interviews, mirrors this trend, with Reddit’s r/marvelcirclejerk mocking “anti-woke grifters” who “don’t even read comics” but fuel outrage for clicks.
Defenders of Marvel’s approach argue that the comics have always tackled social issues. Reddit users noted that Sue Storm’s evolution from a “damsel in distress” to a powerful leader in the 1960s comics inherently involves gender dynamics, making Kirby’s comments a natural extension of the source material. The first Black superhero, Black Panther, debuted in a 1966 Fantastic Four comic, underscoring the team’s progressive roots. Inside the Magic defended Garner’s casting, arguing Shalla-Bal’s inclusion offers a fresh perspective and ties to existing MCU characters like the Eternals.
Will Fantastic Four Destroy the MCU?
The claim that Fantastic Four will “destroy the MCU” is rooted in fears that Marvel’s creative missteps will further erode its fanbase. MovieWeb warned that the MCU’s oversaturation and declining quality—evidenced by Eternals’ 47% Rotten Tomatoes score—could doom the film, especially given the Fantastic Four’s history of failed adaptations. Cosmic Book News cited insider leaks suggesting actors like Margot Robbie and Adam Driver passed on roles due to the film’s “woke” direction, with original director Jon Watts also departing. Daily Mail reported Marvel’s 2024 layoffs of “woke” staff as an attempt to course-correct, but Bleeding Fool argued Fantastic Four’s trajectory shows the studio doubling down.
Skeptics, however, argue the backlash is overblown. IGN noted the film’s retrofuturistic setting and Galactus tease—hinted at in Marvel’s April 4, 2025, comic giveaways—suggest a bold cosmic adventure, not a political manifesto. SuperHeroHype reported fan theories that Galactus may destroy the Fantastic Four’s alternate Earth, setting up a clash with Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday (2026), which could integrate the team into the main MCU timeline. The Cosmic Circus suggested Garner’s Shalla-Bal may be a one-off, mitigating long-term fan concerns. Marvel’s track record, with hits like Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), shows it can still deliver when focused on quality.
Financially, the MCU remains robust. Deadpool & Wolverine’s $1.3 billion gross and Spider-Man: Far From Home’s $1.1 billion prove the franchise’s resilience. Fantastic Four’s $200 million budget, modest by MCU standards, lowers the risk compared to The Marvels. However, Reddit users on r/MauLer cautioned that even a “serviceable” film may not reverse the MCU’s momentum loss, especially if it alienates core fans. The film’s July 2025 release, alongside Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts, will test Marvel’s ability to balance innovation with fan expectations.
What’s Next for Marvel and Its First Family?
Fantastic Four: First Steps is a pivotal moment for the MCU. A successful launch could restore faith in Marvel’s vision, paving the way for Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. A failure, especially amid “woke” backlash, could deepen fan distrust and embolden critics. Marvel’s challenge is to honor the Fantastic Four’s comic roots—family, adventure, and cosmic stakes—while updating them for 2025 audiences. Shakman’s WandaVision success suggests he can blend retro aesthetics with modern storytelling, but the vocal backlash on X, from users like @NuLLnVoiD4prez, signals a steep climb.
For fans, the debate over “wokeness” reflects deeper anxieties about the MCU’s identity in a post-Endgame era. Reddit’s r/marvelcirclejerk argued that “crying about woke” ignores the Fantastic Four’s progressive history, while Bleeding Fool insisted Marvel’s focus on “cultural boxes” risks losing its soul. Both sides agree on one thing: the Fantastic Four deserve a film that captures their essence. Whether First Steps delivers or becomes another “woke disaster” will shape the MCU’s future—and the verdict is still months away.
