Fantastic Four: Why Does The Thing Have a Rock Beard in the Latest Trailer?

In the revamped Marvel Universe, every detail counts – even a rocky beard. This is evidently true with the newest Fantastic Four trailer, where we see Ben Grimm sporting a mineral-made beard, something never seen on screen for this character before. The final scene shows Johnny Storm carrying and dragging a bearded Ben Grimm, whose face is adorned with a rocky beard. This design choice is surprising since the Thing has always been depicted as a mineral being with an unchanging appearance. So how’s this facial growth possible? Unusual on screen, confusing to some, but intriguing for longtime Marvel fans. If you scratch beneath the surface, this visual detail could hint at a symbolic interpretation and an exciting future for the franchise. Director Matt Shakman has promised a retro-futuristic take on the ’60s set in an alternate universe. This is quite a daring move, especially since this version of the Fantastic Four presents a drastically different style compared to what we’ve seen so far in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But instead of relying solely on aesthetics, the movie seems to rely heavily on specific narrative references, mainly from Jonathan Hickman’s legendary run on the series (2009-2012).

It all makes sense now. Turns out, Ben Grimm’s beard isn’t just a random design choice: it could hint at an entire storyline from Hickman’s narrative arc, focusing on Future Ben Grimm – centurian, then millennarian – as shown in Fantastic Four comic-book #605. In this iconic issue, Reed Richards journeys to the year 3012 to find out what happened to his bestie, Ben. He discovers that ol’ Thing is still kickin’, hangin’ with a new crew of heroes led by Franklin Richards, son of Reed and Sue. The twist? The Thing sports a long, rocky beard here, symbolically speaking. In this alternate timeline, Valeria Richards cooks up a serum that lets Ben regain his human appearance once a year. During these brief moments, he can feel again, reconnect, and even grow his beard – one day of growth per year. Over centuries, this means it takes him ages to sport some real facial hair. So while it may seem like a small detail, it’s actually quite emotional: Ben, being a stone creature, clings to the rare human moments given to him, once a year.

If they go with this twist for the movie (or its sequels), Ben Grimm could become a true tragic hero of the MCU. That’s all thanks to Hickman’s work, who gave the Thing a dose of humanity amidst his monstrous appearance, making him an emblem of quiet sacrifice. And if First Steps takes this route – and it looks like they will – then Ben Grimm’s beard isn’t just a gimmick. The cast (Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn) nails the modern, stylish chemistry expected from the Four, but Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grumm seems to be the emotional heart of the film – much like in the best comic versions.