It’s been nearly three years since news broke that Marvel Studios was finally developing a “Fantastic Four” film. We’ve seen the iconic superhero group on the big screen before, but not as part of the MCU (unless you count that one sequence from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness).
We’ve already had a director change on the project, and MCU fans have been waiting at the edge of their seats for any sort of casting news.
This week, we got some hints as reports and rumors surfaced that the MCU is eyeing Adam Driver for the role of Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic, the group’s leader.
The Emmy- and Oscar-nominated Driver hasn’t appeared in a comic book film or TV project before, but he’s no stranger for franchise productions as he starred as Kylo Ren in three Star Wars films. Driver seems sort of perfect for Reed Richards though – we know he can play a smart guy, and he can also play someone who can be a brazen know-it-all.
If Driver is going to be Reed Richards, we have some other ideas for the rest of the Fantastic Four cast…
Sue Storm, aka The Invisible Woman
Mitchell Northam: Keri Russell – Driver will be 40 this year and Russell just turned 47. In the comics, the Fantastic Four are a family, and Sue and Reed have children. I think it’s fine if the casting choices skew a little older here. If you need evidence that Russell can handle herself in a fight, just watch The Americans. If you need evidence that she can handle herself against supernatural forces, her work in Cocaine Bear is close enough.
Matt Scalici: Vanessa Kirby – While she’s not an A-lister yet, Kirby has shown the skill to carry a movie as a lead and to work within a powerful ensemble of stars as she did in Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
Caroline Darney: Monica Barbaro – Yes, I’m making a Top Gun: Maverick pick here, and no, I won’t apologize. Barbaro was fantastic as Phoenix in the blockbuster, and I think she’d be a great ensemble cast member. She’s gorgeous, commands your attention on screen and absolutely could carry herself in a fight (even without a fighter jet).
Johnny Storm, aka The Human Torch
Mitchell: Glenn Powell – The handsome fly boy who is a bit full of himself in Top Gun: Maverick? Yeah, Powell perfectly fits what we’re going for with Johnny Storm.
Matt: Austin Butler – Johnny Storm is the obnoxious movie star of the Marvel Universe and Butler has spent the last year on red carpets refusing to stop doing a weird voice. Perfect fit.
Caroline: Thought about Glen Powell and Rudy Pankow here, but I’m going Joe Keery. Part of this choice is because I need some scenes between Steve Harrington and Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, but he’s also got that charisma.
Ben Grimm, aka The Thing
Mitchell: Domenick Lombardozzi – Again, going a bit older here (our guy Herc from The Wire is 47), but I think it works. He can bring the balance of intimidating tough guy and comedic foil that we need from Ben Grimm. Also, I can just imagine him belting out a convincing, “It’s clobberin’ time.”
Matt Scalici: Jason Segel – Casting Segel would make The Thing a little more endearing and lovable than usual, but I think Segel can pull off the tough-guy act as well if needed.
Caroline: Gabriel Basso – Is this because I just watched Night Agent on Netflix? Yes. Would he still be a great Grimm? Also yes.
Bonus: Victor von Doom, aka Dr. Doom
Mitchell: Bryan Cranston – Okay. Maybe this is too old, especially if we need him as a long-term big-bad. Cranston is 67, but with Doom, I don’t need him to do convincing hand-to-hand combat; I need him to play a believable mad scientist. Who better than the guy who had a breakout role as Walter White?
Matt: Henry Cavill – It’s time for DC’s ultimate good guy to make a heel turn as Marvel’s ultimate bad guy. Cavill has already shown that he has the chops to play a villain in Mission: Impossible – Fallout and Doom’s backstory as a once-handsome aristocrat turned disfigured dictator plays off Cavill’s classic movie star looks perfectly.
Caroline: If you thought I’d get through a post without mentioning Pedro Pascal, well, you’d be wrong. PEDRO PASCAL.
