First look at a rock in ‘THE FANTASTIC FOUR’—fans poke fun, ‘Should I care for this?’

Looks like Marvel has been keeping fans on their toes! First, they dropped a clip from Captain America: Brave New World, and within 24 hours, they followed it up with the teaser for The Fantastic Four: First Steps with a release set for July 25, 2025, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

However, while counting down to the Fantastic Four teaser, Marvel shared a first look that left the internet both intrigued and amused.

The countdown to the first look featured an image of a mysterious rock encased in protective glass, with an unknown figure in a hazmat suit standing beside it. Fans were left both puzzled and amused by the image and took to social media to try and decode its meaning.

Hilarious fan reactions

Let's take a look at some of the funniest reactions that fans had to the image of the rock during the countdown screen.

To care or not to care (via @hehee_haha_huhu / X)

Many users were left wondering if the image of the rock had any significance to the movie or its plot. Some even joked that it might be a piece of The Thing's body that broke off during a fight.

Identity revealed (via @FuriousNoah_ / X)

Aha, looks like we finally found out what the image of the rock from the first look actually meant! Does this mean we might see a Fantastic 5 with the fifth member being Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson? Enemies will never be able to figure out what The Rock is cooking!

Houston, we have a reboot! (via @nftbuda / X)

Fans are clearly losing their minds as the Fantastic Four make their long-awaited return to the big screen after 17 years!

Understanding the audience (via @ThisIsPengwin / X)

Marvel really seems to know exactly what their audience wants, as this user jokes. They understood that fans wanted nothing more than to see a rock encased in glass to get hyped for the new Fantastic Four movie!

Deformed potato (via @KireinaKerner / X)

The rock seems to look like a deformed potato to this user. Who knows, maybe the main villain in the new Fantastic Four movie is the skyrocketing prices of groceries - especially potatoes!

Here's the thing (via @TIIIM24 / X)

Got you, Marvel! So the rock from the image was actually a piece of The Thing that broke off. Just look at The Thing’s appearance, it has to be from him!

If this was a sly trick to get fans talking, then Marvel’s plan definitely worked! Fans are now more excited than ever for The Fantastic Four: First Steps to hit theatres. Well played, guys!