Where Fantastic Four: First Steps Was Filmed: Every Epic Location Revealed
Ever imagined New York’s iconic Baxter Building… in the English countryside? Marvel’s latest reboot, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, might look like it’s set in Manhattan, but in reality, it was filmed far from the Big Apple. From the rolling hills of Derbyshire to futuristic Spanish landmarks, this highly anticipated Marvel title swapped city chaos for cinematic calm across Europe.
For Malaysian Gen Z and Millennial Marvel fans, this is your chance to discover where your favourite scenes were actually brought to life — and maybe even plan a future film-inspired getaway.
What is Fantastic Four: First Steps About?
Before we go full-on location scout, here’s the lowdown on the film:
- Directed by Matt Shakman (WandaVision)
- Stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach
- Also features Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles
- Set in a stylised retro-futurist universe outside the main MCU timeline
- Skips the origin story — the team is already formed and ready for action
Released on July 25, 2025, the film is a fresh reboot of Marvel’s “First Family” with sharper aesthetics, deeper story arcs, and a dramatic edge.
Pinewood Studios, UK: The Heart of Production
Location: Pinewood Rd, Slough, Iver SL0 0NH, United Kingdom
This iconic British studio, home to James Bond, Star Wars, and now The Fantastic Four: First Steps, served as the primary production base. Working under the codename “Blue Moon”, filming began in July 2024 and featured large-scale IMAX sequences.
🎬 Fun Fact: Cinematographer Jess Hall, also behind the look of WandaVision, crafted the film’s unique retro-futurist aesthetic here.
“Pinewood Studios offered the space, technology, and control needed to create the visually layered world we envisioned,” said production designer Sophie Becher in a behind-the-scenes featurette.
Why it matters: This location allowed the filmmakers to build elaborate sets — like the interior of the Baxter Building — and film high-stakes action with full technical support.
Oviedo, Spain: Turning Calatrava’s Masterpiece Into the UN
Location: C. Arturo Álvarez Buylla, 33005 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
In November 2024, production moved to Spain’s Oviedo Congress and Exhibitions Center, a striking white architectural wonder by Santiago Calatrava. The venue stood in for the United Nations Headquarters in the movie.
- Filming dates: Nov 19–22, 2024
- Massive lighting rigs, cranes, and trailers were spotted surrounding the complex
- A comic book shop nearby, Hangar Rebelde, even styled its window as a tribute to Marvel’s First Family
“Calatrava’s structure gave us this modern-yet-diplomatic vibe, perfect for the scenes involving global diplomacy and tension,” shared location scout Aria Gutiérrez in an interview with El Comercio.
Durdle Door, Dorset: Cosmic Action Meets English Coastline
Location: Wareham BH20 5PU, United Kingdom
One of the film’s most visually arresting scenes takes place along Durdle Door, a dramatic limestone arch along England’s southern coast. It served as the backdrop for a pivotal otherworldly sequence in mid-October 2024.
- Filming involved drones and multiple camera rigs to capture wide coastal shots
- The natural arch doubled as a cosmic portal or dimensional rift (no spoilers!)
🌊 Perfect for fans of Doctor Strange or Thor: The Dark World — both of which also feature epic natural landscapes as scene-stealers.
Middleton Mine, Derbyshire Dales: Underground Marvels
Location: Derbyshire Dales, England
Perhaps the most intriguing location is Middleton Mine, a vast underground limestone network stretching over 40 kilometres. This hidden gem served as the setting for classified laboratories and secret alien zones within the film.
- Filming wrapped here in late November 2024
- Set pieces were reportedly abandoned in the tunnels after shooting, sparking speculation among fans
🧭 According to the Daily Mail, leaked set images revealed intricate props and sci-fi tech details carved directly into the mine’s natural architecture.
“You feel the weight of the underground — it adds tension without CGI,” noted Marvel set photographer Nina Fields on her Instagram story.
