Stars of the upcoming Fantastic Four film have graced Australian shores for its local launch.
Actor Pedro Pascal, who plays the stretchy superhero Reed Richards, headlined the promotional event in Sydney for Fantastic Four: First Steps - the third silver-screen incarnation of the comic-book series and first in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Pascal, star of The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, makes his first appearance leading a superhero movie as his star continues to rise.
The first Fantastic Four film in 2005 and its 2007 sequel were commercially successful but received a mixed critical reception, before a 2015 reboot panned by audiences and critics alike.
This latest iteration, from TV mini-series WandaVision director Matt Shakman, stars Pascal as Richards - also known as Mister Fantastic - who can stretch any part of his body at will to superhuman lengths.
The others in the titular quartet stepping out in Sydney are Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/The Thing) and Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/Human Torch).
Kirby shares an interesting trait with her on-screen persona, with both actor and character sporting baby bumps.
In the film, the Four "must defend earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner)".
The action happens on parallel planet Earth-828 and features elements of 1960s culture and futuristic technology.
The return of the Fantastic Four to the silver screen will lead into the 2026 release of the next Avengers film, Avengers: Doomsday, the film's producer and Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige said in June.
Fantastic Four: First Steps will be released in Australian cinemas on July 24.
