Fantastic Four: How Eric Pearson went from Marvel’s unsung scribe to its secret screenwriting ace

Eric Pearson, who is one of the writers of Marvel's The Fantastic Four: First Steps, looks back on his journey from his humble beginnings to becoming the star writer of Marvel.

During a heart-to-heart conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, we get to witness the writer's journey in his own words. Not only that, we also get to know many nitty-gritties about the process behind the screenplay of Fantastic Four as well.

Known for writing MCU classics such as Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Thunderbolts* (2025), Pearson has also written the screenplay for Black Widow (2021).

Let us explore the journey of Marvel's Eric Pearson, as well as the writing of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers for Fantastic Four. Reader discretion is advised.

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"You can’t solve everything with science", says writer Eric Pearson of Fantastic Four

In the interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Eric Pearson elucidates his whole journey of how he began his association with Marvel. In the interview, he also reveals the writing of Fantastic Four as well.

Now, when he looks back at his journey, he revisits the young Eric who wanted to work with Marvel, as he mentions:

"Hell yeah I do. I’m still both scared and excited, just like he was. I’m still so very excited to do this job and simultaneously petrified of screwing up."

He began his journey in the industry at DreamWorks production, the company that has created classics such as The Prince of Egypt, Shrek, Transformers, etc. In the company, Pearson used to work as a reader. But however, after his gig with the company ended after a year, things became tough for the future Marvel writer.

After his stint with DreamWorks, Eric Pearson began working as a pizza delivery person, as he was sunk in the burden of debts. But just when he thought of leaving the world of showbiz, Marvel happened. After a grueling audition process that lasted for seven months, Eric Pearson became a part of the Marvel family.

In the interview, the writer talks about how he felt working with Marvel at that time:

"I was so thrilled that someone was paying me to write. And I realize now that there’s some stuff that’s considered grunt work, but I never considered it that."

In the production house, Pearson wrote for films such as Ant-Man (2015), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), but all of these uncredited gigs.

His first breakthrough writing work was with the critically and commercially raved Thor: Ragnarok. He recalls the moment when he landed with this opportunity, while he was spending family time. Pearson remembers when he was hit with a text from the production and development executive of Marvel, Brad Winderbaum, by stating:

"My mother had invited all her friends over to sit and talk on the day before Christmas Eve and just chat and explain what my job was. I then got a text from Brad: “Hey, do you want a page 1, Thor 3, starting now?” And then I was like, “Hold on, ladies, I believe a job is happening in front of your eyes.”

Among all the works in Marvel, Pearson deems Thunderbolts* to be his favorite. He remembers how the project went from a state of nothingness to what the film has become now. He mentions:

"Every other Marvel project, I’ve come in later. So Thunderbolts* will always probably be my favorite, because it was nothing, and then I made it into something. There was a failed version that I tried to do, which was too close to Suicide Squad. I was was like, “That’s the wrong approach. It’s got to be the exact opposite. They’re actually hired to murder each other, and they figure that out. And through a series of team building exercises, they become a team.”

Furthermore, in the interview, Eric Pearson reveals details about several drafts that did not make it into the storyline of his latest work, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Screenwriters Josh Friedman, Ian Springer and Jeff Kaplan had also joined Eric Pearson in writing the screenplay of the film.

In regard to the scenes of Harvey Elder a.k.a. Mole Man, there was a scene between Sue and him that did not make it to the final draft, as he reveals:

"There’s other scenes of Mole Man. There was another scene with Sue where she goes down and talks to him about diplomacy, which was super fun and super funny."

Further adding:

"But I was like, “We can’t go back down there again. Let him come into Reed’s place and touch everything.” That was literally my pitch: “I want Mole Man to come in.”

Initially, the concluding fighting scene of Fantastic Four was planned to occur in space. But however, as per the imagination of Eric Pearson, the scene was shifted back to earth, as he explains:

"There wasn’t the scale. I want to see him against the Empire State building. I want to see the Mets’ Stadium. I want to see him kicking buses and stuff like that. So I was like, “Let’s bring him down here.”

"Then it became obvious that we want Reed and Sue there to have some conflict. And the idea of using their child as bait is logical. Yes, it’s also super f***ed up. This family has taken on the burden and responsibility of protecting the entire planet and now their only option is to do something that is personally very harmful."

Pearson also reveals that in the drafts, there were many moments of philandering between Johnny Storm a.k.a. Human Torch and Shalla-Bal a.k.a Surfer in Fantastic Four. As Eric Pearson says, "You can’t solve everything with science".

Pearson has also written for short films for Marvel, including The Consultant (2011), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer (2011), Item 47 (2012) and Agent Carter (2013).

Apart from his work in the Marvel movies, Eric Pearson has also written for films including Detective Pikachu (2019, in an uncredited gig), Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) and Transformers One (2024).

Have you watched The Fantastic Four: First Steps? Tell us your insights in the comments!

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