THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Had a Cameo From the Cast of Unreleased ’90s FF Movie

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At the red carpet premiere of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”, you might have expected to see Chris Evans, Jessica Alba, or Michael Chiklis, who played the original live-action Fantastic Four characters. However, these actors were not present. Instead, it was the cast from an earlier attempt at the series, specifically the 2005 “Fantastic Four” directed by Tim Story, that made an appearance. Interestingly, a different set of actors portrayed the team in a 1994 movie, but their film was never released. It’s these lesser-known actors who had a brief cameo at the premiere.

All members of the original, unpublished 1994 “Fantastic Four” film gathered at the blue-carpet event for Fantastic Four.

— ScreenTime (@screentime) July 22, 2025

As a die-hard Marvel fan, I was thrilled to hear that Alex Hyde-White (Reed Richards), Rebecca Staab (Sue Storm), Jay Underwood (Johnny Storm), and Michael Bailey Smith (Ben Grimm) were the pioneers who brought Marvel’s First Family to life on the big screen for the first time in the 1994 film, albeit one that never quite made it to the theaters. Fast forward to today, they were graciously invited by Marvel Studios and director Matt Shakman to attend the Hollywood premiere of First Steps. This was a long-awaited moment for them under the spotlight, a recognition they truly deserved, despite their initial movie’s unfortunate fate. The tale behind the vanishing 1994 Fantastic Four is nothing short of extraordinary; a Hollywood-style rollercoaster ride that only the silver screen could dream up.

In the year 1994, the “Fantastic Four” movie, initially produced on a shoestring budget of one million dollars by Roger Corman, a prominent figure in B-movies, gained notoriety as an underground hit. For years, it was exchanged among fans at conventions and eventually uploaded online. A teaser trailer for the film had been released in 1993. Despite its intended purpose being confined to screenings exclusive to a select few, this production served as a strategic move by producer Bernd Eichinger to retain the “Fantastic Four” license for another decade. Regrettably, the cast was never informed about this plan, thus their dedicated efforts went unrewarded. However, the original live-action Fantastic Four finally made an appearance in front of millions of Marvel fans, as they briefly appeared as New York City residents in a film produced by Marvel Studios.

It’s often said that the troubles with the Fantastic Four on film started with what many consider a “curse.” While the 2005 Fantastic Four movie was indeed financially successful and is sometimes overlooked as a box office hit, its reviews were dismal. Compared to Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films or the Fox X-Men franchise, it didn’t fare well in terms of success. The 2015 reboot by Josh Trank was a complete flop. However, early reviews suggest that perhaps the fourth attempt will be successful for Marvel’s First Family. Looking back now, it seems we needed four tries to get it right.

Revisiting the 1994 “Fantastic Four” movie, it’s safe to say that it leaves much to be desired upon reflection. However, despite its flaws, there’s a certain endearing quality about its low-budget feel. Since Marvel never officially distributed it, all existing copies are of poor quality. With the passage of time, it would be delightful if Marvel Studios decided to release this film formally, perhaps as an extra feature on the future Blu-ray edition of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”. The cast – Alex Hyde-White, Rebecca Staab, Jay Underwood, and Michael Bailey Smith – certainly deserve that level of recognition.

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2025-07-25 05:32