Marvel Studios has given fans a Valentine. The studio finally revealed who will play the Fab Four. And we think it’s fantastic! Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us, The Mandalorian), Vanessa Kirby (The Crown, The Mission Impossible Franchise), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear, No Hard Feelings), and Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things, Game of Thrones) will star as the heroes.
We love it.
The announcement ends years of intense guessing after Kevin Feige’s announcement in 2019 at SDCC. The film has a new release date of July 25, 2025, and hails from WandaVision director Matt Shakman. Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer penned a draft of the script, with Avatar: The Way of Water scribe Josh Friedman working on the latest version.
Marvel released the announcement on X, along with a new poster:
Marvel’s Fantastic Four has long been one of the most anticipated films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), largely due to the team’s lack of justice on the big screen thus far. The journey to bring the Fantastic Four to life has been fraught with missteps and missed opportunities.
The saga began in 1994 when Roger Corman produced a low-budget version of Fantastic Four that never saw the light of day. Subsequently, 20th Century Fox, under the direction of Tim Story, released two films in 2005 and 2007, featuring actors like Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans (who later joined the MCU as Captain America), and Michael Chiklis. While these films received a mixed response from audiences and critics alike, they failed to capture the essence of the beloved superhero team.
In 2015, Fox made another attempt to revive the franchise with director Josh Trank at the helm, resulting in a disastrous outcome both critically and commercially. The film’s failure left fans disheartened and the future of the Fantastic Four uncertain.
REELated:
However, a glimmer of hope emerged when Disney acquired Fox, presenting an opportunity for the Fantastic Four to find their rightful place in the MCU.
Debuting in 1961’s Fantastic Four No. 1, created by the legendary duo of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the Fantastic Four hold a special place in the Marvel mythos. Their comic book debut marked the birth of the Marvel Universe, laying the foundation for countless iconic characters and storylines.
The casting for the superhero team has been a topic of intense speculation among fans, with various fancasts circulating online. Actor John Krasinski notably portrayed a version of Reed Richards in May 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, albeit briefly before meeting an untimely demise.
Supporting Cast Speculation
Rumors abound regarding the casting of key characters in the upcoming reboot of Fantastic Four, with notable actors Cillian Murphy (known for his role in Oppenheimer) and Mads Mikkelsen (famous for his appearance in Rogue One) emerging as top contenders to portray the iconic villain, Doctor Doom. While these actors are rumored to be frontrunners, other talents are also being considered for the role.
Doctor Doom, the team’s arch-nemesis, is speculated to have a limited presence in the reboot, possibly making only a post-credits appearance. However, his potential to become a central antagonist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is significant, particularly following the recent departure of Jonathan Majors, who portrayed Kang.
Insider sources suggest that Doctor Doom could play a pivotal role in Avengers: Secret Wars, positioning him as a major adversary within the MCU’s evolving narrative.
In discussions about other formidable characters, Javier Bardem is reportedly the top candidate to portray Galactus, the cosmic entity known as the “Eater of Worlds.” However, scheduling conflicts may pose a challenge to Bardem’s involvement in the project. Additionally, it’s speculated that the herald of Galactus could be a female iteration of Silver Surfer.
Recent speculation has linked actress Anya Taylor-Joy to the role of Silver Surfer, although no official announcements have been made regarding casting decisions for this character.
As Marvel Studios gears up to reintroduce the Fantastic Four to audiences worldwide, expectations are high for a faithful and compelling adaptation that finally does justice to these beloved characters. With the vast potential of the MCU at their disposal, fans eagerly await news of the Fantastic Four’s next cinematic chapter.
Now we wait to see if anyone will play Herbie.
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