The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a movie that underwent significant changes, and it's a fascinating journey to uncover what was initially envisioned. A substantial portion of the film was scrapped after filming, leaving fans curious about the original vision.
With a runtime of under two hours, it's evident that many scenes and characters didn't make the final cut. The movie, as it stands, is a success, but we now know that an opening battle with Red Ghost and a romantic subplot between The Thing and Rachel Rozman were cut. Marvel Studios aimed for an accessible reintroduction of the team, setting them up for a pivotal role in Avengers: Doomsday.
The film was well-received critically and performed strongly at the box office, validating Kevin Feige's strategy. However, the musical score, composed by Michael Giacchino, is a story in itself.
Giacchino, a renowned composer with an impressive MCU portfolio, revealed an intriguing behind-the-scenes tale. He wrote a complete score for the film before principal photography, only to discard it when he watched the movie for the first time. "I wrote a whole other score that you probably won't hear," he said. "When I saw it with the music, something just didn't feel right."
Giacchino's involvement began when Feige asked him to compose music for the San Diego Comic-Con presentation of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The themes he created for Galactus and Silver Surfer were used on set during filming, helping the director, Matt Shakman, establish the movie's tone.
"It was a great experience," Giacchino recalled. "Matt took my music to the set, and it helped the team understand the movie's direction and tone. It's a rare opportunity, and I think it's beneficial for filmmakers to hire composers early on to ensure everyone is on the same page from day one."
Despite this, Giacchino felt something was amiss when he saw his early work with the final cut. "Musically, I like to start at the beginning and work through to the end. I had built the score based on one version of the movie, and when I saw it against the new version, it just didn't work for me."
"You never really know," he added, mentioning that he's made similar significant changes to other MCU projects. "We're all making our best guesses, and sometimes we're not right."
Giacchino has since directed Werewolf by Night for Marvel Studios, and fans are eager to see him helm the rumored Midnight Sons movie. However, his next directorial project will be with Warner Bros., and he promises it will be a fun experience.
So, what did you think of Giacchino's score for The Fantastic Four: First Steps? Was it a perfect fit for the movie, or did it miss the mark? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
