Fantastic Four Writer Reveals Alternate Ending & Cut Scenes

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In a recent chat, I, as a screenwriter for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, shared insights on alterations I made to the plot, discarded elements, and a previous draft of the conclusion.

According to various sources, it’s been noted that the conclusion underwent a revision, where the Female Silver Surfer acquired an artifact capable of annihilating both Galactus and Earth.

According to those close to the situation, I learned that Galactus planned to devastate Earth, leading to the demise of the Female Silver Surfer. This tragic event would’ve caused the Fantastic Four to flee their own universe and appear in the 616.

That was something teased by the Thunderbolts post-credit scene.

Pearson didn’t delve deep into the speculations, yet he affirmed that an alternate conclusion featuring the Fantastic Four and Galactus in outer space was indeed proposed.

Final Fight Originally in Space

According to reports from THR, a previous draft of the script featured the climax happening in space. However, Pearson advocated for bringing this critical scene down to Earth instead.

I didn’t have a sense of scale for the situation. What I wanted to witness was him standing next to the Empire State Building, or perhaps at the Mets Stadium. My imagination ran wild, envisioning him causing mayhem like kicking buses and more. So, I suggested bringing him down to this location.

Moving Franklin Richards’ Birth

In an earlier version, Pearson mentioned that Franklin was initially depicted being born in the first act, but later changed it so that the event occurred during the escape from Galactus instead.

In earlier versions, the birth scene was placed at the start of the storyline. However, we decided to shift it to the heart of the action, amidst the chaos of escaping Galactus, the Surfer pursuing them, and the challenging neutron star maneuver they needed to perform. Initially, I had concerns that it would feel overwhelming, given the labor she was in simultaneously. With the birth scene, the neutron star maneuver, and the pursuit by the Surfer all happening at once, I feared it might detract from the emotional impact. Fortunately, everything fell into place perfectly, and the final outcome was more powerful than I had initially anticipated.

More Mole Man Scenes Cut

Based on what fans had suspected, it appears that Marvel made significant edits to the initial part of the movie (it’s also been confirmed they trimmed John Malkovich’s role). It’s been discovered that there were extra scenes involving Mole Man, such as a diplomatic discussion with Sue Storm. Pearson intended for Mole Man to meander through Reed Richards’ lab, interacting with every device like Baby Huey, but the movie ultimately restricted his screen time.

There are additional instances of Mole Man. In one such scene, Sue engages with him on diplomacy, which turned out to be both entertaining and amusing. Making movies is a complex process. At times, you have an exceptional scene, but it doesn’t quite fit the overall tone. However, I found myself thinking, “We can’t return to that location again. Instead, let him visit Reed’s place, mess around with everything.” Essentially, my idea was simple: “I want Mole Man to show up.

Limits of Reed Richards’ Powers

Fans often express concern that Pedro Pascal’s portrayal of Mr. Fantastic in the series does not fully utilize his powers. Director Matt Shakman admitted to being concerned that excessive use of these powers might appear overly comical.

It’s unclear if that extended scene of Reed Richards may have made you uneasy, [Director] Matt [Shakman] preferred to keep the stretching scenes grounded in reality, stating “I want to establish my rules for stretching and I don’t want it to be overly cartoonish. I want it to be within the limits of the human body.” So, when we decided to push those boundaries, it seemed like Pedro [Pascal], as Reed Richards, was really straining his ribcage to its maximum. These moments are meant to create a sense of peril and imminent defeat.

Johnny Storm and Shalla-Bal

Pearson added more instances of Johnny showing affection towards Shalla-Bal, the Silver Surfer’s companion, although many were ultimately removed. He also developed Shalla-Bal as a character who initially suppresses her emotions, similar to Spock, until she is touched by Johnny’s actions. Originally, Pearson intended for her emotional transformation to occur on Earth, evoking memories of her watery homeworld. Additionally, he confirmed that the intention was for Shalla-Bal to play a crucial role in rescuing the day at the end of the movie.

In my previous drafts, there was more Johnny-Surfer flirting happening, which was mostly initiated by him but still found charming. Later, she realized she wasn’t suitable for this role anymore and stepped away. Then, Johnny approached her. The final scene in the movie had them talking in space, but I always envisioned it taking place on a beach in Tahiti instead, with her sitting on a surfboard reminiscing about how it resembled her water-dominated home planet. Perhaps I was trying to create additional links between Earth or simply giving her an extra reason for wanting to save the day at the end.

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but ponder over the tantalizing possibilities that remain unexplored from Marvel’s rich tapestry. With Galactus and the multiverse storyline left incomplete, it seems Marvel might be contemplating revisiting these concepts in an upcoming Fantastic Four sequel or perhaps in a new installment titled Avengers: Doomsday. Whispers abound that a sequel is indeed in the works.

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2025-08-09 17:33