As part of the casting announcement, Disney rescheduled the release dates of "The Fantastic Four"
(now set for July 25, 2025) and "Thunderbolts," which are two of the four Marvel tentpoles currently scheduled to open in 2025, along with "Captain America: Brave New World" in February and "Blade" in November. The superhero quartet, which are the first characters created for Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, will be played by Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards (aka Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm (aka the Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm (aka the Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (aka the Thing).
As is customary with Marvel, not much is known about the plot. However, the Fantastic Four appear in comic books as astronauts who undergo a metamorphosis into superheroes following their exposure to cosmic rays in space. Reed develops the capacity to extend his body to incredible lengths. Sue, Reed's partner and later wife, possesses the ability to control light in order to create strong forcefields and turn invisible. Sue's brother Johnny has the ability to transform his body into fire, which allows him to soar. Ben, Reed's closest friend, too undergoes a complete metamorphosis into a Thing, complete with an enormous, orange rock for a body, superhuman strength, and an unwavering sense of sadness over his seemingly hideous look.
"Fantastic Four" will be directed by Matt Shakman ("WandaVision," "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters"), based on a script by Ian Springer, Jeff Kaplan, and Josh Friedman. Though Marvel had typically attempted to keep a tight lid on who will play Marvel's First Family—widely regarded as one of the most important superhero characters ever created—news of Pascal's selection first surfaced in November. It is anticipated that filming will start by summer.
Being one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood, Pascal is probably going to film "The Last of Us" Season 2 on HBO before getting in shape to play Richards. Quinn rose to fame on Season 4 of "Stranger Things" as the cunning and tragic Eddie Munson, following a string of outstanding performances in British television. Additionally, Moss-Bachrach just took home an Emmy for his work on FX's "The Bear," where he played Richard "Richie" Jerimovich.
Before receiving an Oscar nod for her work in 2020's "Pieces of a Woman," Kirby initially gained notoriety as Princess Margaret in "The Crown." Kirby has already hinted that she would like to play the Invisible Woman. "Playing Sue Storm would be an honor," Kirby said to Variety during the 2023 premiere of "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One." "She is incredible."
But up until today, the Marvel Cinematic Universe had not included the Fantastic Four. Rather, the movie rights belonged to 20th Century Fox, which used the characters in three different films. The films "Fantastic Four" and "Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer," which came out in 2005 and 2007, respectively, featured Chris Evans, the former Captain America, as Johnny, Ioan Gruffudd as Reed, Jessica Alba as Sue, and Michael Chiklis as Ben. With Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, and Michael B. Jordan in the starring roles, Fox's effort to revive the franchise in 2015 was a critical and financial disaster. After Disney purchased 21st Century Fox four years later, the characters were eventually added to the Marvel Studios sandbox.
In 2022's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," John Krasinski made a brief cameo as a multiverse version of Reed Richards, giving the MCU's first glimpse of the character in response to an internet fan campaign to cast him in the part.
One of the most significant and terrifying villains in the Marvel universe is Victor von Doom, who is usually the main antagonist for the Fantastic Four. However, Marvel has not yet revealed who the four will face off against in this film.
However, by appointing the entire group, Marvel Studios is assuring the MCU's new fulcrum, following the exits of Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark and Evans' Steve Rogers in "Avengers: Endgame."
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