Credit: Lionsgate/Marvel, edited by Inside the MagicThe Avengers are preparing to tackle major challenges as the franchise dives into the Multiverse Saga, spanning Phases Four, Five, and Six. This expansive narrative headed by Marvel President Kevin Feige will reach its climax in upcoming films like Avengers 5, formerly titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, and Avengers 6, known as Avengers: Secret Wars.
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As the original Avengers team steps back during the Multiverse Saga, the MCU is set to introduce new superhero teams, including the long-awaited Fantastic Four and X-Men, finally giving these iconic Marvel characters their moment in the spotlight.
From San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) Hall H to D23 Expo, and a recent cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) the Fantastic Four are kicking up a storm of talk.
The Fantastic Four is a legendary team in the Marvel Comics universe, playing a crucial role in many key storylines. The team is consistently led by the brilliant Mister Fantastic/Reed Richards, alongside the nurturing Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, the fiery and impulsive Human Torch/Johnny Storm, and the strong yet gentle The Thing/Ben Grimm.
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These characters have been central figures in Marvel Comics for years, standing alongside other major heroes like the X-Men and Spider-Man. On the big screen, the Fantastic Four made their debut even before iconic MCU characters like Iron Man/Tony Stark and Captain America/Steve Rogers, famously portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, respectively.
The Fantastic Four Reboot Director Will Change the Game
John Krasinski previously appeared as a Multiversal variant of Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). In the 2005 Fantastic Four film, Ioan Gruffudd played Mister Fantastic, Jessica Alba was Invisible Woman, Chris Evans portrayed Human Torch, and Michael Chiklis took on the role of The Thing.
Now, Disney has set the precedent for “same actors, different characters”, like how Chris Evans reprised his role of Johnny Storm/Human Torch from 2005’s Fantastic Four. Coupled with the announcement that Robert Downey Jr. will be taking on Doctor Doom/Victor von Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday into Avengers: Secret Wars.
Disney has also cast Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, AKA the Smartest Man Alive, for the upcoming reboot The Fantastic Four: First Steps. He will be joined by Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss Bachrach as Ben Grimm in a film set to be a period piece, with the team facing off against Ralph Ineson’s Galactus.
While speaking to Inverse, The Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman (Godzilla) has shared that he won’t be looking to “other movies” for inspiration but the “Fantastic Four” Marvel comic books themselves, as he has been a fan of Marvel Comics since childhood.
Shakman admitted to having to figure out how to truly “bring these characters to life”:
I’m trying to figure out who these characters are to me and how to bring them to life in the best possible way, and that’s really where I’ve started and how we’ve approached it.
In fact, it appears as if the director of the new Fantastic Four movie is going to be looking much closer at the “comics themselves”, and less at the “other movies” — likely a reference to the initial Fantastic Four 20th Century Fox film franchise, and 2015’s FANT4STIC:
I’m not so much looking at the other movies. I’m looking at the comics themselves. I’m a huge comic book fan. I’ve been a big fan of the Fantastic Four since I was a kid. So going back to Kirby and Lee and Byrne and following all the way up to what’s happening, certainly Hickman and Waid and Ryan North, what he’s been doing.
Are you looking forward to the new Fantastic Four reboot? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!