First Steps Has a Secret Weapon: Herbie

When The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits the big screen this summer, superhero fans will finally welcome Marvel’s first family into the MCU. Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach star in Matt Shakman’s feature introduction of the iconic team who become protectors of the Earth when they return from their monumental space mission with special powers.

Along for the adventure is Herby, the trusty robot belonging to Reed Richards (Pascal). Herbie is prominently featured in the latest trailer for the film while cooking with Thing (The Bear’s Moss-Bachrach) in a fun meta “yes chef” moment.

In an interview with Empire, director Matt Shakman talked more about Herbie’s role. “He’s absolutely as important and as alive as any other member of the cast,” he said. “He’s sometimes a slightly put-upon robot, but he is definitely a member of the family. He’s just so charming and adorable.”

The filmmaker continued, “He is really Reed’s right hand in the lab, capable of assisting him on any sort of experiment, always by his side, whether in New York City or out in space.”

When Sue Storm (Kirby) reveals she’s pregnant, there’s a sort of poignancy in the shot of the family’s unofficial fifth member joining in with an emotional reaction. For the film, it was important to feature a practical robot. “Our ‘prime’ one has fully moving head and arms,” SFX supervisor Alistair Williams told Empire. “We’ve had him driving around the set, cleaning, picking up toys, serving martinis…”

“He’s charming, he’s funny—but he also will break your heart,” Shakman said of veteran voice actor Matthew Wood’s performance as Herbie, “Which I hope is emblematic of the movie.”

The Fantastic Four: First Steps opens in theaters July 25.

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