In 2019, Marvel revealed a completely new take on the Fantastic Four, which appears like it’s taking a long time to get to the big screen. The MCU is about to get a whole lot more interesting with Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm, and Victor von Doom, among others (and villains). On top of that, this is not a new take on the founding family of Marvel Comics; it has been done many times before. Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan starred in the 2017 version, which was released in the same year as the 2005 film starring Chris Evans as Captain America. Unlike earlier iterations, this new one will feature characters who have never been part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The latest information on the impending film, including the director’s status and an intriguing appearance in Doctor Strange: The Multiverse of Madness… and what it could imply for the film, is all right here. To learn more about the MCU’s Fantastic Four adaptation, keep reading!
The release date for Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four movie has yet to be scheduled for release. Given the lack of directing and casting confirmation, we may have to wait a little longer for the film to come to fruition. Only a few Marvel Phase 4 movies, including Fantastic Four, have been given release dates up to the middle of 2023. However, Disney revealed in October that it planned to distribute four Marvel films in 2024 — on February 16, May 3, July 26, and November 18 – as part of a multi-year deal with Disney. There is a good chance that the Fantastic Four will be selected for one of the available places in this round of competition. As soon as we learn more, we’ll let you know.
Plot details for the Fantastic Four
Marvel has yet to announce the Fantastic Four storyline. We’re aware of the core notion from the comic books and the genesis tale of the gang. On a research journey to outer space, the foursome was exposed to cosmic rays, which gave them superpowers. Marvel may take a different approach to this origin narrative in the future film, as it has been the basis for past adaptations. The company also tends to avoid conventional plots in their MCU films. Since they originally appeared in 1961, the Fantastic Four may go on any number of different paths. Additionally, the new film might add villains like Namor, the Silver Surfer and Galactus, as well as Doctor Doom and KI’rt. Ronan the Accuser, played by Lee Pace in Captain Marvel and Guardians of the Galaxy, has also been a previous adversary.
The cast of the Fantastic Four
Despite several reports, no casting has been confirmed for the Fantastic Four. If any of its past actors are returning to reprise their roles, Marvel hasn’t even acknowledged it yet. Whenever the Fantastic Four cast is finalised, we’ll let you know about it right here. Meanwhile, we’ve compiled all the information we have on the main characters, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm, so you can get a better idea of who they are.
Who is going to portray Reed Richards? No, he won’t be a part of the cast.
“Mister Fantastic” (Reed Richards) is one of the Fantastic Four’s original members. One of the world’s foremost experts in engineering, extraterrestrial biology, chemistry and physics – plus superhuman powers? That’s a bit of an exaggeration. He’s well-known for his ability to stretch. So, who will portray Marvel’s wisest man when he appears on screen? John Krasinski featured as Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, so if you’ve previously watched it, you’ll know. For the Illuminati, superheroes who are charged with making decisions that affect the whole multiverse, he was one of them. He was part of the group assessing Benedict Cumberbatch’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) conduct in the universe alongside Black Bolt, Captain Carter, Captain Marvel, Professor X, and Mordo.
He appears as “the brightest man alive” in the Fantastic Four’s iconic blue suit, replete with the emblem. Even his wife, Sue Storm, and their children were acknowledged by Richards. Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) mercilessly murdered him within minutes of his presentation. As a result, it’s impossible to predict whether or not Krasinski will continue to portray Richards in the future. Of course, because we’re talking about the multiverse here, it’s possible that Earth 616 has a different version of the character. The Fantastic Four movie may or may not centre on Krasinski’s characters, but we don’t yet know. Both Loki and Spider-Man have seen a slew of actors try their hand at the characters, but Doctor Strange’s incarnations have all looked like him. If we were to hedge our bets, it appears like Krasinksi will make a comeback. In the end, it’s unlikely that we’ll be seeing him in character for the rest of his career.
However, director Sam Raimi of Multiverse of Madness has stated that the casting was merely designed to fulfil fan wishes. “It’s really amusing that [Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige] recruited John because the fans had a dream of who the perfect Reed Richards would be,” the filmmaker remarked in the film’s audio commentary, adding: “And because this is an alternate world, I suppose Kevin thought, ‘Let’s make that dream come true.’.” Ioan Gruffudd and Miles Teller have both previously portrayed Mister Fantastic. Digital Spy(opens in new tab) quoted Gruffudd as saying he’d rather return as a villain than the hero. Teller, on the other hand, seems more open to the idea of returning to the superhero genre, telling ComicBook.com(opens in new tab) that he wouldn’t rule out anything. He made the following statement: “Those characters in the movies and television series have come a long way, in my opinion. Moreover, I think they’ve begun to explore the depths of these people.” Teller previously told The Digital Fix that he wouldn’t have a problem participating in a future Marvel movie, as long as the screenplay was solid and he could imagine himself working with the project’s current cast and crew.
Who will portray Sue Storm? Is Emily Blunt going to portray Sue Storm?
Sue Storm is the Invisible Woman, a founding member of the Fantastic Four and the wife of Mister Fantastic. A cosmic radiation exposure gives her the ability to invisibly construct force fields. Jessica Alba and Kate Mara have both played her in prior films. Despite this, no one has shown a desire to return for another go-around. Fans have wondered if Krasinski’s real-life wife, Emily Blunt, might play the role. Due to a schedule conflict, she was forced to reject the part of Black Widow, which went to Scarlett Johansson instead. They’ve worked together before in the A Quiet Place films, so they’re no strangers to one another. On the other hand, Blunt has already stated that the speculation is based solely on fan casts. During an appearance on the Howard Stern Show in 2020, she said: “That’s fan casting. No one has gotten a phone call at this time. All it’s coming from is people saying things like, “wouldn’t that be fantastic?”
Johnny Storm will be played by…
Sue’s younger brother, Johnny Storm, is also aboard the disastrous trip and is exposed to cosmic radiation. He gains the ability to transform his body into a blazing, plasma-like state of energy. So yet, there have been no reports of casting for this part. This role has previously been played by Chris Evans and Michael B Jordan. After he was cast as Captain America, it is highly doubtful that Evans will return to the role of the Human Torch. In Black Panther, Jordan portrays Erik Killmonger, a newcomer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As a result, we may expect a fresh cast for the part.
Ben Grimm will be played by…
As a member of the crew, Ben Grimm accompanied Richards on the mission to outer space. After being exposed to cosmic radiation, his body turned into The Thing, a super-strong rock-like creature with an almost impenetrable defence system, In the 2005 and 2007 adaptations, Michael Chiklis portrayed the character, while Jamie Bell took on the role in 2015. Chiklis has some advice for his replacement, although neither actor intends to return to the role. To Screen Rant, he remarked that they should “go CGI” with their outfits. His final words were, “Wardrobe was a different experience, but it was still a great one.”
The Fantastic Four director
As soon as the Fantastic Four picture was revealed, Jon Watts was hired to helm it. For Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios, he directed the blockbuster Spider-Man: Homecoming, Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home trilogies. Nevertheless, he has recently said that he would not be directing another superhero film. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said: “I had a wonderful and life-changing experience making three Spider-Man films. Having been a member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for seven years has been an incredible experience. Fantastic Four is a film I’m eager to see come to fruition, and I’m optimistic we’ll collaborate again.” It hasn’t been announced yet who would succeed him, although some fans had speculated that Krasinski may be involved. The A Quiet Place films have been a critical and commercial success for the actor-turned-director.