Shocking Similarities: Fantastic Four’s Budget Mirrors Deadpool & Wolverine!

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First Steps”, marks a fresh start on the big screen for Marvel’s original superhero team. This movie is set to introduce the super-powered group to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Known as an “epic of cosmic scale”, the film will be set in a different universe from the main MCU, where the Fantastic Four face off against the colossal cosmic entity called Galactus.

Initially, “First Steps” faces a conundrum within Marvel Studios. Despite being marketed as a massive comic book blockbuster, Marvel Studios and its owner, Disney, have been keen on reducing costs recently, leading to lower budgets for projects. This has sparked curiosity among fans about the potential cost of Matt Shakman’s upcoming MCU film compared to other titles in the franchise.

According to Variety’s latest report, there are whispers that the upcoming 2025 reboot of Fantastic Four will have a whopping $200 million production cost.

As a passionate cinephile, I must confess that the production budget of the latest “Fantastic Four” movie places it on par with last year’s blockbusters starring Deadpool and Wolverine. Remarkably, these three films share the title as the sixth most costly Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) productions ever made.

I should mention that the $200 million figure I’m referring to is the estimated cost of producing the movie itself, excluding any expenses related to promotion or marketing campaigns.

Approximately $200 million has essentially become standard fare for Marvel films following “Avengers: Endgame,” as eight out of the fourteen movies produced after the Infinity Saga have reached this same impressive figure.

See below to compare with every other MCU movie and their production budget (via The Numbers):

  1. Avengers: Endgame (2019) – $400 million
  2. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – $300 million
  3. Captain America: Civil War (2016) – $250 million
  4. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) – $225 million
  5. The Avengers (2012) – $225 million
  6. Iron Man 3 (2013) – $200 million
  7. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) – $200 million
  8. Doctor Strange (2016) – $200 million
  9. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) – $200 million
  10. Black Panther (2018) – $200 million
  11. Ant‑Man and the Wasp (2018) – $200 million
  12. Spider‑Man: Far From Home (2019) – $200 million
  13. Black Widow (2021) – $200 million
  14. Eternals (2021) – $200 million
  15. Spider-Man: No Way Home – $200 million
  16. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) – $200 million
  17. Ant‑Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (2023) – $200 million
  18. The Marvels (2023) – $200 million
  19. Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) – $200 million
  20. Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) – $200 million
  21. Thor: Ragnarok (2017) – $180 million
  22. Captain America: Brave New World (2025) – $180 million
  23. Thunderbolts (2025) – $180 million
  24. Spider‑Man: Homecoming (2017) – $175 million
  25. Captain Marvel (2019) – $175 million
  26. Iron Man 2 (2010) – $170 million
  27. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) – $170 million
  28. Thor: The Dark World (2013) – $150 million
  29. Thor (2011) – $150 million
  30. Shang‑Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) – $150 million
  31. Iron Man (2008) – $140 million
  32. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – $140 million
  33. The Incredible Hulk (2008) – $137.5 million
  34. Ant‑Man (2015) – $130 million

Fantastic Four’s Grand Entrance”

The 2025 reboot of Fantastic Four unfolds in a futuristic setting with a twist, where the malevolent Galactus (voiced by Ralph Ineson) threatens their world. The film “Fantastic Four’s Grand Entrance” will hit theaters on Friday, July 25.

Is This The New Norm for MCU Budgets?

Approximately a year ago, Disney and Marvel Studios publicly acknowledged that they needed to alter their financial practices. As a result, they started reducing costs for most of the content streamed on the Marvel Cinematic Universe platform.

As a devoted cinephile, I initially believed that budget cuts might impact the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s film production. However, it seems thus far that this is not the path they’ve chosen.

Approximately 50% or more of the movies released after Avengers: Endgame have achieved a budget of $200 million. However, only team-up films within the franchise (as per The Numbers’ data) have exceeded this amount. These movies tend to have larger production costs due to their extensive casts.

It seems you’re asking about the reason why Marvel Studios’ theatrical productions aren’t facing the same budget reductions as other areas within the Disney group. One possible explanation could be that these films are seen as a significant driver of revenue and brand recognition for Disney, making them less susceptible to budget cuts compared to other sectors within their portfolio.

Disney appears to be strategically managing their budget, rather than eliminating spending altogether. They are primarily investing in projects they believe will be successful, much like how the Marvel Cinematic Universe should approach its ventures. Instead of randomly approving new concepts, they seem to have a more thoughtful and strategic approach.

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2025-07-17 17:36