Summary
TheFantastic Fourseemingly has a lot to prove with its upcoming latest attempt at a reboot. Now, it looks as though this new Marvel Cinematic Universe project may be changing things up in a major way, and that could be what finally sets it apart from its ill-fated ancestors.
Amid rumors surrounding the variouscasting choices for the MCU’sFantastic Four, picking out what information to believe can be difficult. This is one franchise that has been infamously tricky to correctly adapt on the big screen, particularly with the critically-pannedFantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer(2007) and the infamous flop known as 2015’sFantastic Four(orFANT4STIC). So, at this point, it’s probably a point of pride for someone to finally make one that captures audiences and critics. But while little is known about the actual story of the MCU’s crack at it, some interesting new developments alone could be enough to make it something special.
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In a report from industry insiderJeff Sneider, one particular tidbit stood out. Along with someFantastic Fourcasting decisions that would likely be universally praised, Sneider also alleged that the Silver Surfer would return for the upcoming film. As bold as it is to bring back a character from a notorious critical flop, that’s not the biggest news. Sneider also claims the character will be female, likely catching some fans off-guard. But those fans may want to brush up on their comic history because this isn’t anything new.
The Silver Surfer has had quite a storied past throughout Marvel Comics, and that’s not even including thepsychedelicSilver Surferanimated series. A mysterious humanoid with silver skin, the Silver Surfer is a harbinger of the terrifying planet-consuming Galactus. This is often the aftermath of a hero sacrificing themselves to save their planet from that same being, with the most common depiction of the Silver Surfer being that of the young astronomer Norrin Radd. But many tend to forget the character of Frankie Raye, who herself becomes a herald of Galactus known as Nova after volunteering for the role to save Earth. While she’s not technically the same as the Silver Surfer, it would be plausible to assume at least some aspects of her story will be adapted into the newFantastic Fourfilm. However, it’s also possible that she will be an actual gender-swapped version of the character, who has also happened in the comics under the name Juno, albeit briefly.
Meanwhile, Galactus seems to be another character all but confirmed for the newFantastic Fourmovie. Currently, it’s rumored that Oscar-winner Javier Bardem is thetop choice to play Galactus, and it’s difficult to find any fault with that casting decision. On top of that, there are several other characters whose roles have also been reportedly cast. This includesThe Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic,Mission: Impossible’s Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman,Stranger Thingsstar Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch and everyone’s favorite cousin fromThe BearEbon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing.
That’s not even mentioning theseveral actors being eyed to play Doctor Doom, namelyJames Bond’s Ralph Fiennes,Oppenheimer’s Jason Clarke, andRogue One: A Star Wars Story’s Mads Mikkelsen. So there’s much to be excited about with the upcomingFantastic Fourreboot. Here’s hoping this is the one to break the curse.
Fantastic Fouris scheduled to be released in theaters on July 21, 2025.
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four are Marvel’s original team of superheroes. After being bombarded by cosmic rays, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm gained amazing superpowers, taking on the mantles of Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and The Thing. Their main adversary, Doctor Doom, has become one of Marvel’s all-time great villains.
