Rewatching <em>The Fantastic Four: First Steps</em> on Disney+ highlights the profound impact of Stan Lee’s Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is even more significant than I initially realized. Stan Lee is synonymous with Marvel Comics, given the iconic characters and storylines he created. This is why the MCU movie timeline is filled with memorable Stan Lee cameos.
Marvel Studios ensured that Lee was honored during his lifetime, allowing the comic book creator to enjoy portraying various characters in his cameos. Even after Lee’s passing, he remains a part of the MCU’s 2025 movie lineup. Rewatching The Fantastic Four: First Steps has deepened my appreciation for Stan Lee’s cameo.
Stan Lee Has A Special Cameo In The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Stan Lee does not appear in the MCU Fantastic Four movie through archival footage or CGI, nor does he portray another character in the franchise. Instead, Marvel Studios cast a new actor to embody Lee himself in the 2025 film. Greg Haiste plays a young Stan Lee in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
He is joined by Martin Dickinson, who portrays a young Jack Kirby in the scene. The collaborations between Lee and Kirby at Marvel Comics were crucial for the company’s development, with Kirby finally receiving significant recognition from the MCU, as he passed away in 1994, long before the MCU was established, thus missing out on cameos like Lee.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps features Lee and Kirby when Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer arrives in New York City, with Joseph Quinn’s Human Torch chasing after her. This scene pays tribute to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s contributions to creating the Fantastic Four, as they are depicted in their office, complete with the Timely Comics (Marvel’s original name) logo on the wall and comic book art surrounding them.
Why Stan Lee’s New MCU Cameo Hit Harder For Me When Rewatching The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The cameo of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby was already emotional when I viewed The Fantastic Four: First Steps in theaters, as the aesthetic of the 1960s aligns with when they created the team in the comics. However, rewatching this MCU film on Disney+ allowed me to better appreciate their actions within the scene and its underlying context.
In this scene, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby pause their work to gaze out at the Silver Surfer and Human Torch. It symbolizes their creations coming to life outside, with Lee and Kirby observing proudly. Given Stan Lee’s enthusiasm for Marvel adaptations, it is poignant that they could not witness The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
The film remains true to its characters, being a faithful representation of Lee and Kirby’s early Fantastic Four stories. While I wish they could have experienced this version of the Fantastic Four, their cameo fulfills that role in a heartfelt manner. It stands out as a more personal cameo compared to many of Lee’s more extravagant MCU appearances, making The Fantastic Four: First Steps truly special.
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
- Runtime
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115 minutes
- Director
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Matt Shakman
- Writers
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Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson, Kat Wood, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee
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Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic
