Major Hollywood studios are always fighting against leaked set photos from paparazzi and overly eager fans, but what happens when sets are discovered by a group of unassuming explorers? That’s what recently happened to Fantastic Four: First Steps, as a group of local urban explorers discovered abandoned sets in the English midlands. First Steps has officially wrapped production, with the cast and crew being given incredible Stan Lee-inspired wrap gifts. You’d think Marvel Studios would have quietly hidden the used sets, but it appears they forgot one.

Via The Daily Mail, two urban explorers in Derbyshire Dales, England, have accidentally stumbled upon an abandoned set from Fantastic Four: First Steps. The pair, who chose to remain nameless, took photos of the set. The set was in the Middleton mine, nearly 1,000ft underground, which suggests that the reboot will indeed feature an appearance from the supervillain Mole Man. The set contained a classic blue and white American bus, a lift car, and a stage. The pair claimed that “two people who helped support the staff and actors” on a Marvel movie confirmed the set was from Fanastic Four: First Steps. Check out the photos here.

In the story, the pair described the set, saying, “We were walking along with our torches and we suddenly found this area all built up and an old American bus just sitting there. The lighting rigs were there on scaffolding and a map of where they wanted all the lights to be. It’s very bizarre to see an elevator car just sitting in the middle of a roadway, and a stage in front of the bus.” The Middleton mine was also used to shoot some scenes from Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Tom Cruise also recently shot a scene from Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in the same location.

‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Is Kevin Feige’s Most Anticipated MCU Project

The Fantastic Four making their way to the MCU has been a long time coming. The iteration joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the third attempt at launching a successful Fantastic Four franchise on the big screen. Like any MCU movie, First Steps features a fantastic cast, with Pedro Pascal playing Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby playing Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn playing The Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach portraying Ben Grimm, a.k.a. The Thing.

Related One of the Highest Rated MCU Projects on Rotten Tomatoes Is a Christmas Special James Gunn blessed MCU fans with a little festive magic when he released the beloved Christmas original ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.’

Parents aren’t supposed to have favorites, but Marvel Studios president, Kevin Feige, recently broke the unspoken rule of fatherhood when he declared The Fantastic Four: First Steps as the MCU movie he’s most excited about. Feige started with a neutral answer, before giving up and professing his love for The Fantastic Four, saying “Well, I’m excited about all of them, but I would say… Fantastic Four.” He continued:

“Again, talk about trying to bring something to life for 25 years, that is one, finally bringing Marvel’s First Family into the MCU. And that cast that you listed a few minutes ago is just so great.”

Fantastic Four: First Steps releases in theaters on July 25, 2025. The film is the most anticipated MCU release of the new year, contending with Captain America: New World Order in February, and Thunderbolts* in May.

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