The first full trailer for Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps, unveiled at CinemaCon on April 3, 2025, has sent shockwaves through the fandom, offering a dazzling peek at the MCU’s take on Marvel’s First Family. Among the trailer’s jaw-dropping moments is a shot of The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) that’s drawing wild comparisons—not just to Henry Cavill’s Superman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), but also to Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006). This image of The Thing, straining with Herculean effort to drag a massive object, evokes both Superman’s stoic power and Sparrow’s audacious defiance of the impossible. First flagged in a viral X post, these parallels have sparked a frenzy of debate about cinematic homage and heroic spectacle. Drawing from web insights and social media buzz, this article dives into the trailer’s impact, its dual inspirations, and what it signals for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, set to hit theaters on July 25, 2025.

The Trailer’s Showstopper: The Thing’s Monumental Feat

The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer, livestreamed from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, introduces Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm/The Thing with a retro Silver Age vibe and heartfelt family focus. But it’s a single, breathtaking shot of The Thing that’s stealing the show. In it, he’s seen grappling with an enormous object—speculated to be a ship, wreckage, or even a piece of Galactus’ cosmic machinery—his rocky form taut with effort as he drags it across a barren landscape. The image radiates raw strength, determination, and a touch of the absurd, instantly recalling two iconic cinematic moments.

First, as noted in an X post by @Updates4DC on April 17, 2025, The Thing’s pose mirrors Henry Cavill’s Superman dragging a derelict ship through ice in Batman v Superman. The post, which exploded with thousands of likes, declared, “There’s a shot of The Thing that instantly reminded me of a frame of Henry Cavill’s Superman from Batman v Superman. The parallels really stand out!” But fans quickly spotted another echo: Captain Jack Sparrow’s madcap effort to haul the Black Pearl across a desert in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Like Sparrow, who single-handedly pulls his beloved ship with a rope, defying logic for the sake of freedom, The Thing’s trailer moment feels both epic and gloriously over-the-top, blending grit with a pirate’s flair for the impossible.

A Triple Homage: Superman, Sparrow, and Superhuman Spirit

The Thing’s shot isn’t just visually striking; it’s a tapestry of cinematic resonance, weaving together Superman’s solemn might and Sparrow’s roguish bravado. In Batman v Superman, Superman’s ship-dragging scene, as ScreenRant describes, underscores his godlike power but also his loneliness, a solitary figure in a frozen wasteland. The Thing’s effort carries a similar weight, hinting at Ben Grimm’s sacrifice—his human form lost to rock, yet his heart driving him to save others. CBR notes that Cavill’s Superman was defined by such feats, grounding his otherworldly strength in human struggle.

Enter Captain Jack Sparrow, whose desert ship-pull in Dead Man’s Chest is less about strength and more about sheer will. As Collider recalls, Sparrow’s scene is absurdly heroic, with Johnny Depp’s pirate staggering under the Black Pearl’s weight, his tricorn hat askew and dreadlocks swaying, all to reclaim his ship from Davy Jones’ curse. The Thing’s trailer moment captures this same defiant spirit—his massive form straining against an unwieldy load, perhaps a crashed vessel or cosmic debris, suggests a mission that’s as personal as it is monumental. X user @MarvelMaverick summed it up: “The Thing dragging that thing is giving Superman and Jack Sparrow vibes. It’s like he’s saying, ‘I’m doing this, physics be damned!’”

The pirate parallel adds a layer of swagger to The Thing’s heroism, distinguishing it from Superman’s brooding. Where Sparrow’s act was a rebellious middle finger to fate, The Thing’s likely ties to saving his team or thwarting Galactus (Ralph Ineson), as IGN speculates. Fans on X are eating it up, with @CosmicComicFan posting, “The Thing pulling a ship like Jack Sparrow? Marvel’s cooking something wild with Fantastic Four!” Others, like @CinemaSavant, see it as a nod to both franchises: “Superman’s strength, Sparrow’s guts—Marvel’s flexing with The Thing here.”

The Thing’s Spotlight in First Steps

This trailer moment underscores The Thing’s pivotal role in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Unlike the lackluster Fox adaptations (2005, 2007, 2015), which struggled to capture Ben Grimm’s essence, this MCU iteration nails his comic-accurate look and soul. The Hollywood Reporter highlights the trailer’s tease of Galactus and the Silver Surfer, suggesting The Thing will tackle cosmic threats alongside his family. The ship-dragging scene—whether it’s a literal vessel, as Sparrow hauled, or a metaphorical burden—could depict a rescue, a stand against Galactus’ herald, or even a desperate bid to save the Baxter Building, as some X theories propose.

Director Matt Shakman and writer Josh Friedman, per GameRant, skip the origin story to focus on the Fantastic Four’s established dynamic, with The Thing as the team’s emotional and physical anchor. The trailer’s Sparrow-like flair—evoking a lone figure against a vast, desolate backdrop—hints at Ben’s personal stakes, perhaps wrestling with his identity as a “monster” while performing impossible feats. Variety suggests this moment is less about action and more about heart, contrasting Superman’s somber tone and Sparrow’s chaotic energy with The Thing’s grounded heroism.

A Nod to Pirates or Pure Coincidence?

The Pirates of the Caribbean connection has fans wondering if Marvel deliberately channeled Jack Sparrow’s iconic scene. Dead Man’s Chest (2006), a box-office juggernaut grossing over $1 billion per Box Office Mojo, cemented Sparrow’s ship-dragging as a cultural touchstone, blending humor and hubris. The Fantastic Four team, known for referencing pop culture (Shakman cited The Right Stuff for the film’s tone), could be paying homage to this swashbuckling spectacle. ScreenDaily notes the trailer’s “adventurous spirit” aligns with Pirates’ blend of danger and whimsy, suggesting The Thing’s moment might carry a playful wink to Depp’s pirate.

Yet, some argue it’s coincidental, driven by the universal trope of heroes tackling oversized challenges. ComicBookMovie points out that dragging heavy objects—ships, planes, or debris—is a superhero staple, seen in everything from Superman to Spider-Man. Still, the visual echoes are uncanny: The Thing’s solitary struggle, like Sparrow’s, feels defiant, almost absurd, against a stark landscape. X user @FilmBuff42 mused, “Is Marvel trolling us with a Pirates nod, or is this just how you show a big guy being a badass?” Either way, the comparison amplifies the trailer’s buzz.

The Cavill Conundrum: Superman Speculation Persists

The Superman parallel continues to fuel chatter about Henry Cavill’s MCU prospects, now joined by Pirates fans joking about a Johnny Depp cameo. Past rumors, like a 2022 Express.co.uk report claiming Cavill was eyed for Reed Richards or Doctor Doom, resurface with every Fantastic Four update. Koimoi’s unverified 2022 claim of Cavill as Doom at D23 was debunked, and with Pedro Pascal as Reed and no Doom confirmed, Cavill’s involvement seems unlikely. His commitments to Voltron and Warhammer 40k, per LADbible, further dim the odds. Similarly, Depp’s Pirates future is uncertain post-Deadpool & Wolverine’s Jack Sparrow nod, as Variety reports.

X fans, undeterred, dream big. @MCUFanatic posted, “The Thing’s Superman-Sparrow vibe is Marvel hinting Cavill as Doom and Depp as… something, right? Let me cope!” MovieWeb confirms First Steps’ cast—Pascal, Kirby, Quinn, Moss-Bachrach, plus Ralph Ineson, Paul Walter Hauser, and John Malkovich—leaves little room for surprise cameos, but the trailer’s homages keep speculation alive.

Superhero Showdown: Fantastic Four vs. Superman

The trailer’s timing intensifies its stakes, with First Steps hitting theaters two weeks after DC’s Superman (July 11, 2025), directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet. ScreenRant notes Superman’s trailer racked up 24 million views in 24 hours, edging out Fantastic Four’s 21 million, setting up a fierce box-office clash. The Thing’s dual Superman-Sparrow moment adds spice to this rivalry, positioning him as a gritty counterpart to Corenswet’s Man of Steel. ComicBookMovie reports fans debating which trailer hits harder, with The Thing’s shot evoking Pirates’ adventure and Batman v Superman’s drama.

This echoes 2015, when Batman v Superman and Fox’s Fantastic Four reboot competed for attention, per CBR. Cavill’s Superman overshadowed that Fantastic Four’s failure, but First Steps’ vibrant tone and Pirates-like energy could flip the script. MovieWeb highlights First Steps’ focus on family and adventure, contrasting Superman’s exploration of Clark Kent’s humanity, making The Thing’s moment a bold statement in a crowded superhero summer.

Fan Frenzy and Lasting Impact

The Thing’s trailer shot has become a cultural lightning rod, with X ablaze with memes and theories. Posts range from @HeroHype’s “The Thing’s Superman-Sparrow mashup is peak MCU flex” to @PopcornPirate’s “Jack Sparrow would approve of The Thing hauling that thing like the Black Pearl!” The comparison has also revived love for Pirates and Cavill’s Superman, with ScreenRant reflecting on Depp’s anarchic charm and Cavill’s grounded heroism. Marvel.com calls the trailer a “new dawn” for the MCU, and The Thing’s moment—blending Superman’s power, Sparrow’s pluck, and Ben Grimm’s heart—is its beating pulse.

Critics praise the trailer’s character-driven approach, per The Hollywood Reporter, and The Thing’s shot encapsulates this, marrying spectacle with soul. ScreenRant argues First Steps could redefine the MCU if it nails The Thing’s arc, especially as it sets up Avengers: Doomsday. As fans dissect every frame, the Superman-Sparrow parallel cements The Thing as a hero for the ages, ready to carry the Fantastic Four to new heights.

Conclusion: A Cinematic Collision of Icons

The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer has unleashed a tidal wave of excitement, with The Thing’s epic moment stealing hearts and sparking debates. Channeling Henry Cavill’s Superman and Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow, this image of Ebon Moss-Bachrach dragging a colossal load blends mythic strength with pirate bravado, promising a Fantastic Four that’s both cosmic and deeply human. Whether a deliberate homage or a stroke of serendipity, the shot positions The Thing as a contender in July 2025’s superhero slugfest against Superman. As First Steps sails toward its July 25, 2025, release, expect more echoes of heroes past—and a family ready to redefine the MCU.