Marvel’s beloved Fantastic Four is finally making their long-awaited debut in the MCU, and fans are eagerly anticipating their arrival. Let’s delve into the most recent updates on The Fantastic Four film, including its expected release date, cast members, and other exciting details.
The announcement of the inclusion of the superhero team the Fantastic Four in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at Comic-Con 2019 was met with excitement from fans worldwide.
As of now, Marvel Studios, a Disney subsidiary, holds the rights to incorporate the characters into the MCU after the merger between Disney and Fox. Before the merger, the rights to the characters were held by 20th Century Fox.
Given the abundance of details surrounding the release of this new film, it’s worth delving into all the available information regarding the addition of the Fantastic Four to Phase 6 of the MCU.
The Fantastic Four release window
The release date for The Fantastic Four is currently scheduled for July 25, 2025.
At the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con, Kevin Feige initially revealed that Fantastic Four would be the first film to kick off Phase 6 of the MCU in November 2024. However, due to various changes in the release dates of other movies such as Blade, Deadpool 3, and Avengers: Secret Wars, there were delays and confusion.
‘Fantastic Four’ will reportedly begin filming in Mayvia @DanielRPK pic.twitter.com/Xs39qHn2Vb
— ScreenTime (@screentime) December 25, 2023
According to The Wrap, filming for the movie started in the beginning of 2024. Director Matt Shakman also confirmed to Collider that the film will begin shooting in London at Pinewood Studios, most likely in the spring of 2024.
MCU Fantastic Four cast
Pedro Pascal will portray Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby will play Sue Storm, Ebon Moss-Bachrach will take on the role of Ben Grimm, and Joseph Quinn will star as Johnny Storm in The Fantastic Four cast.
On February 14, 2024, Marvel announced the official cast of their upcoming project. Along with the news, a retro illustration was released featuring the characters in vintage supersuits.
Happy Valentine’s Day from Marvel’s First Family! Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn are The Fantastic Four.Marvel Studios’ #TheFantasticFour, in theaters July 25, 2025. pic.twitter.com/dOmLG0m7ie
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) February 14, 2024
On April 3, 2024, Deadline announced another casting for the role of Silver Surfer, confirming that Julia Garner from “Ozark”would be taking on the role.
On May 2, 2024, a Deadline announcement confirmed that Black Bird actor Paul Walter Hauser would be joining the cast in an undisclosed role. A week later, on May 9, it was revealed that John Malkovich would also be joining the cast. Another addition to the cast was announced on May 15, with Poker Face star Natasha Lyonne joining the project.
In major breaking news, we have also learned the identity of the actor playing supervillain Galactus. Ralph Ineson has been cast in the role of the planet-consuming cosmic despot.
The complete list of actors for Fantastic Four is as follows:
- Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman
- Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic
- Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing
- Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer
- Paul Walter Hauser in an undisclosed role
- John Malkovich in an undisclosed role
- Natasha Lyonne in an undisclosed role
- Ralph Ineson as Galactus
The main four members took a group selfie together on July 25, 2024, a year before the scheduled release of the film (refer to date below). Unfortunately, they are not dressed in their costumes, but it is still heartwarming to see them all happily posing together.
What happened to all the cast rumors?
Many actors, including the notable John Krasinski, were rumored to be in consideration for this project over the years.
Despite playing Universe-838 Reed Richards in the 2022 film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, John Krasinski’s return for The Fantastic Four was not confirmed during the early stages of development.
In an interview with The Wrap in December 2023, Krasinski put an official end to the possibility, stating that being turned into spaghetti was not his ultimate goal in the Marvel universe. However, he did admit that it was an enjoyable experience.
Actress Vanessa Kirby (Hobbes & Shaw) was widely believed to be the top choice to portray Sue Storm, also known as the Invisible Woman. However, Kirby recently addressed the speculation, teasing that it would be a great honor to join the cast.
Possible choices for Sue Storm included actresses such as Amanda Seyfried (The Dropout), Natalia Dyer (Stranger Things), Melissa Benoist (Supergirl), Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World), Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place), Kristen Bell (The Good Place), and Mila Kunis (Family Guy), as rumored.
According to insider DanielRPK, there was a moment when Margot Robbie (Suicide Squad) was supposedly offered the part of Sue Storm. It is uncertain whether Robbie declined the offer or if the information was incorrect.
Chris Evans, known for his portrayal of Captain America in Universe-616, expressed his willingness to reprise his role as Johnny Storm from the 2005 film.
As options for the role, Joe Keery (Stranger Things), Logan Lerman (The Perks of Being a Wallflower), and Chase Stokes (The Boys) were also being considered. Insider DanielRPK also revealed that Irish actor Paul Mescal had been offered the role of Johnny Storm, according to a leak on Twitter by user @therealsupes.
There were multiple rumors circulating about who would be cast as Ben Grimm, with many believing that Seth Rogen (known for his role in Knocked Up) was the top contender. Additionally, there were speculations that Daveed Diggs from Hamilton had been offered the role.
MCU Fantastic Four Plot
One confirmed detail about The Fantastic Four’s plot is that it will take place in the past, most likely during the 1960s.
Despite the limited amount of information leaked about the Fantastic Four movie’s plot, it is likely that the MCU installment will not follow traditional origin stories, similar to their approach with Spider-Man. This suggests that a detailed explanation of their transformation and powers may not be included.
During an interview, Ant-Man director Peyton Reed shared that he had proposed an MCU Fantastic Four film set in the 1960s, the same time period in which the characters made their debut in the comics. It appears that this idea will now be brought to life by a different director.
According to Shakman, who spoke to Collider, the team is taking a different approach in terms of storytelling and filmmaking that is better suited for the material. Unfortunately, he is unable to provide specific details at this time.
“I would love to share more, but unfortunately I am unable to. However, I am confident that it will be a unique experience, unlike anything you have witnessed before, especially in the Marvel universe.”
With the inclusion of the legendary antagonist Galactus, the potential for this film is truly boundless. In our opinion, the setting will transport viewers to a parallel universe in the 1960s, where the Fantastic Four must confront Galactus in order to preserve their own timeline. Perhaps they will receive assistance from the infamous Doctor Doom, but only time will tell.
MCU Fantastic Four Director & Crew
The director chosen for The Fantastic Four is Matt Shakman. He is most recognized for his work on WandaVision, which marked the beginning of the MCU’s Disney+ content.
At first, the Fantastic Four movie was set to be directed by Jon Watts, who previously directed Spider-Man. However, in April 2022, Watts announced his decision to step down from the project, stating that he desired to take a break from superhero films.
Last year, it was reported by The Direct that Shakman had been hired to direct Marvel’s Fantastic Four.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel has replaced writers Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer with Josh Friedman, known for his work on Avatar 2 and Snowpiercer. This change may indicate a shift towards a more serious tone for The Fantastic Four.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Eric Pearson has been brought in to refine the script. Pearson has previously worked on scripts for Thor: Ragnarok and Black Widow and is known for his ability to successfully complete projects.
Is there a trailer for the Fantastic Four in the MCU?
Currently, there is no trailer available for the Fantastic Four movie. However, we will keep this space updated once it is released online.
For now, that is all the information we have on The Fantastic Four. However, you can also explore our knowledge on other upcoming Marvel productions, such as Spider-Man 4, Captain America: Brave New World, and Agatha.
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