'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Confirms IMAX 1.43 Ratio

‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ is confirmed to be released in IMAX 1.43

Marvel has confirmed a full IMAX 1.43 ratio for ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’. The upcoming movie, which will release in cinemas on July 25, is directed by Matt Shakman and written by Eric Pearson and will pave the way for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. The Fantastic Four cast features Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon-Moss Bachrach as Ben Grimm.

Eager-eyed fans this week discovered a listing for ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ on the page of Jess Hall, the film’s cinematographer. This page contained much information on the film, including the various formats the film would be released in. It confirms that the film will be displayed in 1.90:1 IMAX, which has become a standard for Marvel, as well as 1.43:1 IMAX, which is a bigger, sparsely used format which the studio has only utilised once, with 2021’s ‘Eternals’, which used the format for a single scene. Check out the listing below:

It’s important to note that this information does make clear that the film will only be in IMAX 1.43:1 for “sections” meaning only a few scenes or shots will be in this format, with the film returning to an IMAX 1.90:1 or a standard 2.39:1 ratio for the bulk of the film. This means the film unfortunately won’t be entirely IMAX like a Christopher Nolan epic.

What This Means For Marvel

As stated, this is only the second time in the franchise’s near twenty year history that this format has been used. This is likely Feige and co. taking baby steps for a format that will become more commonly used in the future. The question remains of whether the next two Avengers movies will follow in Fantastic Four’s footsteps.

It’s worth noting that the listing also mentions the use of 16mm and 35mm film, which is has only been used for a select few films across the MCU’s history, mostly Phase One releases, which were undoubtedly the franchise’s most appealing to the eye. However, I have no doubt that cinematographers such as Ben Davis (Eternals) and Jess Hall (The Fantastic Four: First Steps) will push the franchise into a more visually inspired direction.

Source: Jess Hall

Watch the official trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps: