Following months of speculation,Pedro Pascalhas officially joined Marvel’sFantastic Fourin the lead role of Reed Richards, also known as Mr. Fantastic. Pascal emerged as the leading choice andwas in negotiations for the role in November of last year, following reports that various actors includingJohn Krasinski, Adam Driver, Jake Gyllenhaal,andMatt Smithwere said to be contenders for the role at different points in the past two years.
Krasinski, who was a fan favorite for the role of Mr. Fantastic, had a short-lived appearance as a variant of the character inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where his character quickly meets a brutal end at the hands of Wanda Maximoff, portrayed byElizabeth Olsen, being torn apart after only a brief time on screen. However, it’s Pascal who has won the right to lead Marvel’s first family as Richards, a scientist and inventor noted as one of the most brilliant minds in the Marvel Comics universe. Richards' powers, gained from exposure to cosmic radiation, include the ability to stretch his body, absorb impacts, and reshape his form to bounce off objects, like a human trampoline.
Pascal is currently in high demand, not a surprise given the charisma and magnetism of the man. The star of HBO’sThe Last of Usand Disney’sThe Mandalorian, he’s also recentlybeen filmingRidley Scott’s sequel toGladiatorin Malta before heading to shoot the second season of HBO’s hit series. It was also recently confirmed he would be reprising his role as Din Djarin, the titular Mandalorian in anew film for Disney,The Mandalorian & Grogu. However, Pascal does tend to do voiceover work for the role more than anything, making rare appearances in person on the series when required.
Why Marvel Needs ‘Fantastic Four’ To Succeed
Marvel announced a reboot of Fantastic Four in 2020 during Disney’s investor call, a period marked by the company’s success followingAvengers: Endgame.Jon Watts, known for directingSpider-Man: No Way Home,was originally set to direct the film.However, in April 2022, Watts amicably departed from the project, andMatt Shakman(WandaVision), took over as director.
Since the announcement, Marvel and Disney have encountered a series of challenges, includingunderperforming box office results and critical flops. These setbacks have heightened the need for a major hit. As of now,Deadpool 3is the only significant release scheduledby Marvel before 2025, emphasizing the importance of a successful blockbuster. The casting of Pascal inFantastic Fouris a clear indication of Marvel’s dedication to ensuring this film’s success. Pascal will lead the film alongsideEbon Moss-Bachrachas The Thing,Vanessa Kirbyas Sue Storm, andStranger Thingsbreakout starJoseph Quinnas Johnny Storm.
Fantastic Fourwill be released on July 25, 2025. Stay tuned at Collider for further updates.
