After much anticipation and speculation, the studio has officially announced the lineup for the upcoming film, now titled “The Fantastic Four.” Leading the pack is Pedro Pascal (known for his roles in “The Last of Us” and “Game of Thrones”) as Reed Richards, better known as Mr. Fantastic. Joining him is Vanessa Kirby (from “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning”) as Sue Storm, also known as the Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn (recognisable from “Stranger Things”) as Johnny Storm, or the Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (seen in “The Punisher” and “The Bear”) as Ben Grimm, alias the Thing.
While the poster doesn’t provide a glimpse of the characters in live-action, it offers a tantalizing peek at their costumes and even introduces H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot. The artwork’s aesthetic suggests a period setting, possibly in the early ’60s, aligning with previous reports.
Marvel has also revealed a change in the release date, pushing it from May 5, 2025, to July 25, 2025. As for the supporting roles, rumors abound, with Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) and Mads Mikkelsen (“Rogue One”) reportedly being eyed for the role of Doctor Doom. However, other actors are undoubtedly in the mix.
While the reboot may not prominently feature the team’s arch-nemesis, rumors hint at a post-credits tease that could set up Doctor Doom as a major antagonist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially in light of recent developments regarding Kang actor Jonathan Majors.
Sources suggest that Doctor Doom could play a significant role in “Avengers: Secret Wars.” Meanwhile, Javier Bardem is rumoured to be the frontrunner for Galactus, though scheduling conflicts might pose a hurdle. The cosmic entity’s herald, Silver Surfer, is speculated to undergo a gender swap, with Anya Taylor-Joy allegedly in consideration for the role.
Matt Shakman is set to helm the Fantastic Four reboot, with plot details shrouded in secrecy. However, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has assured fans that this won’t be another run-of-the-mill origin story, aiming to deliver a fresh take on the beloved super-team.
“A lot of people know this origin story. A lot of people know the basics. How do we take that and bring something that they’ve never seen before?” Feige remarked in a 2022 interview, drawing parallels to Marvel’s collaboration with Sony to integrate Spider-Man into the MCU. “We’ve set a very high bar for ourselves with bringing that to the screen.”
