MCU fans have noticed that The Thing‘s speech doesn’t seem gruff in the recently released Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer. During their trip to space, The Thing also known as Ben Grimm was exposed to significant levels of cosmic radiation, which permanently altered his appearance, giving him superhero abilities and a rock-like look. While the past installments gave his human-turned-rock personality a gravelly voice, the upcoming movie seems to have humanized it, making many curious about its reason.
Let’s find out the details here.
Why does The Thing have a human-like voice in Fantastic Four: First Steps?
The Thing’s new voice appears to be Marvel’s attempt at humanizing his character from within. Although his current stony exterior is not his fault, his look has led many people to perceive him as a monster. As a result, his rocky look and a human voice rather than a monstrous one, makes him appear as a friendly figure, much like the other Fantastic Four members.
MCU usually tries to make their monstrous characters, specifically on the heroic side, appear to be likable and friendly to the general audience. For instance, Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner absorbs gamma radiation, which transforms him into the green Hulk.
His rage as a monster created havoc and terror in the city at first. However, as his character grows through massive developments, he begins to be perceived as a hero. Aside from being a part of the Avengers, Banner tries to merge his dual personality into one. This completely humanizes the character in further MCU installments.
Despite his rough appearance, he became a more relatable character in the universe. People had no hesitation in interacting with him. For example, in Avengers: Endgame, a group of kids approached Hulk for a selfie, seeing him as the hero that he is, rather than a monster.
Similarly, MCU appears to be using this tactic with The Thing. He also met with a tragic incident, transforming him into an orange creature. He no longer has a gruff voice. This allows his humanity to shine through as he continues to explore his inner conflicts and struggles with his appearance.
