The Thing Watch Order: Every MCU Appearance
The Thing has only one released title so far, The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025). Ben Grimm, the Thing, makes his MCU debut with Marvel’s First Family.
It runs about 1h 54m. Next up is Avengers: Doomsday.
Who is The Thing?
Ben Grimm was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby for Fantastic Four #1 in 1961. A cosmic-ray accident turned him into a rocky orange powerhouse, and his struggle to live with that body has always been the heart of the character. Kirby partly modeled him on himself, and Lee called him the team's most popular member. And of course, it's clobberin' time.
Before the MCU, Michael Bailey Smith and Carl Ciarfalio played Ben in the unreleased 1994 Fantastic Four. Michael Chiklis took on the role in Fox's Fantastic Four (2005) and Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), and Jamie Bell played him in the 2015 reboot.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays Ben in The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25, 2025). It's set on Earth-828, a retro-futuristic 1964, four years after the team got their powers. Ben is Reed's best friend and a former astronaut who still finds comfort on Yancy Street, and Natasha Lyonne plays his love interest, schoolteacher Rachel Rozman. Moss-Bachrach is confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (December 17, 2027).
The Thing in story order
- 1
StreamDisney+
- 2
StreamNot out yet
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The Thing FAQ
Who plays the Thing in the MCU?
Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays Ben Grimm in The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025). He's confirmed to return in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Who played the Thing in the earlier Fantastic Four movies?
Michael Chiklis played him in the 2005 and 2007 films, and Jamie Bell played him in the 2015 reboot.
Is the Thing in Avengers: Doomsday?
Yes. Moss-Bachrach is in the confirmed cast for the film, which is scheduled for December 18, 2026.
What order should I watch The Thing in?
Go top to bottom. For The Thing, story order and release order are the same, so there’s nothing to rearrange. Start with The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) and work forward.
How many titles feature The Thing?
One so far, released in 2025, covering Phase 6 of the MCU, with 1 more announced. That’s about 1h 54m of viewing.
How long does it take to watch every The Thing appearance?
About 1h 54m for the one released title. That fits in a single evening.
Do I need to watch the whole MCU to follow The Thing?
No. This title tells the character’s own story. It’s graded Essential.