Fantastic Four: First Steps Concept Art Reveals Alternate Looks For H.E.R.B.I.E., And I’m Glad These Weren’t Used In The Movie

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe keeps growing with new movies and shows on Disney+. Fans who’ve followed the series from the beginning were excited to see The Fantastic Four officially join the universe in First Steps, along with their robot helper, H.E.R.B.I.E. Some early designs for H.E.R.B.I.E. were revealed, and I’m happy the filmmakers went with a different look.

I recently watched Fantastic Four: First Steps again, and it struck me how we missed an opportunity with H.E.R.B.I.E. He could have been a popular character like Grogu from Star Wars, but it just didn’t happen. With some new designs surfacing online—including a more modern look—maybe H.E.R.B.I.E. will finally get the recognition he deserves. You can see the new designs below.

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This version of H.E.R.B.I.E. definitely makes a statement with its bold colors, but it feels quite different from the classic, retro-future look of the robot in Fantastic Four: First Steps. That’s likely why I prefer the final H.E.R.B.I.E. design that appeared in the movie.

I’m such a fan of H.E.R.B.I.E.! It’s so cool he ended up at Disneyland. But did you know he almost looked totally different? The H.E.R.B.I.E. from the movie had a really classic, vintage vibe, especially his ‘face’ – it was actually a tape with programming that Mr. Fantastic could change! I honestly think that version was way better than the screen face we see on the ride now.

Disney+ offers a streaming library that includes Marvel Cinematic Universe content, like Fantastic Four: First Steps. You can subscribe for as little as $11.99 per month with ads. For an ad-free experience, it’s $18.99 monthly, or you can save 16% by paying $189.99 for an annual subscription. See the deal here.

You know, Disney’s really good at giving us these unbelievably cute creatures in their films. It happened with the Porgs in The Last Jedi, and then Baby Groot stole everyone’s heart in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Honestly, it feels less like a coincidence and more like they’re intentionally designing the next big toy line. It’s a formula, and it works!

Getting H.E.R.B.I.E.’s appearance just right was really important, even though he didn’t end up as a mascot like some other characters. I believe the final design they chose was a good one.

Following his first appearance in Fantastic Four: First Steps, fans are anticipating the return of H.E.R.B.I.E. in future Marvel films. The recent announcement for Avengers: Doomsday confirmed the main Avengers team will be featured, and it’s likely their robotic helper will join them. It will be interesting to see how the Fantastic Four interacts with other superhero groups in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, such as the Avengers, the Thunderbolts (formerly known as New Avengers), and the X-Men.

H.E.R.B.I.E.’s design in the recent Marvel movie was impressive, but I’m curious if we’ll see it change as the character appears in more stories. With upcoming films like Doomsday and Secret Wars promising a multiversal narrative, it’s possible the Richards family’s robot helper could receive a new look or upgrade when traveling to different realities.

You can now watch The Fantastic Four: First Steps on Disney+. And mark your calendars for Avengers: Doomsday, which will be in theaters on December 18th of next year as part of the 2026 film lineup. It will be interesting to see what happens with H.E.R.B.I.E. when he returns to the big screen.

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2025-11-28 20:08