Everything We Know So Far About MCU’s Fantastic Four: Director, Cast, And More

Before the MCU version comes into play, Marvel fans have been treated to multiple versions of the superhero group on the big screen, however, none of them could leave a good enough impression to be remembered by. The first film adaptation was way back in 1994, however, the project didn’t come to fruition due to various reasons.

The year 2005 marks the first-ever Fantastic Four movie that comes to theaters. Directed by Tim Story, this version of the Fantastic Four tells the story of the team’s origin and their battle against Doctor Doom. The film features Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, and Chris Evans as the main cast, with the latter later becoming Steve Rogers/ Captain America in the MCU.

While the first movie’s reception wasn’t bad, the 2007 sequel, Rise of the Silver Surfer, was a total box office bomb, and diminished any chance for a third part in the future. In 2005, Fox made a reboot version of the franchise with a brand-new cast, but the movie also bombed hard at theaters, and is deemed one of the worst Marvel films of all time.

Therefore, fans, while still excited, choose to remain skeptical about the upcoming MCU project, as the Fantastic Four seems to be a tough nut to crack when it comes to making a decent live-action movie about them.

The Fantastic Four project was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con back in 2019, with Jon Watts at the helm at the time. However, the director decided to step down in April 2022, as he needed a break after making the MCU Spider-Man trilogy. 

Later that year, Marvel confirms that Matt Shakman is the movie’s new director. Following the recent two WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the project was ultimately delayed to May 2, 2025, and is one of the titles that initiate Phase 6 in the saga.

In the meantime, Marvel is still taking their time to find the perfect candidates for the Fantastic Four group, with plenty of rumors arising on the internet. Vanessa Kirby is reportedly having signed with the studio to play Susan Storm, while Jack Quaid and Joseph Quinn are also eyed to player Susan’s sibling, Johnny Storm, aka Human Torch.

As for Ben Grimm/The Thing, Daveed Diggs is the most probable contender at the moment to play the group’s musclehead.

There are multiple casting rumors regarding the group’s leader, Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic. Adam Driver used to be the number-one candidate before his negotiation with Marvel Studios fell out. Several other actors are also linked with the role, such as Penn Badgley, Matt Smith, and Glenn Howerton, however, there’s no official statement so far from Marvel regarding these rumors.

Personally, MCU fans want the studio to keep using John Krasinski, who plays a Reed variant in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The character was brutally killed by Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), but Krasinski’s performance was enough to convince fans he’s perfect as Reed Richards. However, according to some reports, it seems like the actor won’t reprise the role though he wants to.

Thanks to Disney’s official acquisition of Fox on March 20, 2019, Marvel Studios now fully have access to the Fantastic Four and the X-Men universe. Besides the delay due to the strikes, this is another reason why the iconic team is introduced late to the MCU. 

However, with the MCU’s current timeline, this delay actually makes sense. The recent Phase 4 and current Phase 5 of the saga is diving further and further into the Multiverse, the team’s presence is expected to set up the events in the upcoming Avengers titles, The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars. 

Besides, it is reported that MCU Fantastic Four won’t include their origin story, which will help them blend right in with the current MCU storyline without any unnecessary progress.

So far, Marvel remains tight-lipped about the movie’s overall plot, including its main antagonist. Many sources claimed that the team will fight against Galactus, a cosmic entity who devours planets to please his hunger in the comics. Judging from the villain’s ridiculous power scale and his equally formidable heralds, Galactus will prove to be a tough test for Marvel’s first family.

Doctor Doom is another possible villain candidate for MCU Fantastic Four, as he’s also a very important character in the Secret Wars comic. Doctor Doom has been the team’s arch-nemesis in almost every live-action adaptation so far, so it’s only natural for Doom to appear as the main bad guy in the Fantastic Four movie.

What’s your expectation for the upcoming MCU Fantastic Four movie? Who’ll be the team’s villain? Let us know in the comment.