‘Fantastic Four’ Casting Rumors Are Keeping Restless Film Fans Engaged

By Savannah Walsh

The ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which has halted nearly all productions as actors lobby for a fair contract with the studios, has, due to the rules of the strike, also prevented any major film deals of any kind from officially being made. Perhaps, then, it’s the snoozy current landscape that’s led to rampant online rumors about the upcoming Fantastic Four cast.

For the last several days, there’s been a deluge of unfounded claims about Fantastic Four front-runners littering the internet—from The Bear’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach to former Doctor Who star Matt Smith. Steady speculation that Jack Quaid was in the running to play Johnny Storm/Human Torch even led the actor to set the record straight. “Hello everyone. Nope. Not playing Johnny Storm but hey I’m flattered,” he tweeted on Thursday. “Now that you’re here though, donate to the @sagaftra foundation if you can!” he added, including a link to the foundation’s website.

Yesterday, entertainment journalist Jeff Sneider reported that, according to sources, Crown star Vanessa Kirby and Stranger Things breakout Joseph Quinn had been tapped to play Sue and Johnny Storm, respectively, in Marvel’s Fantastic Four movie. Sue, or the Invisible Woman, was previously played by Kate Mara in 2015’s Fantastic Four and Jessica Alba in the 2005 version, while Michael B. Jordan and Chris Evans played Johnny Storm across those two iterations.

Sneider further reported that while Smith was in contention to play Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, a role occupied by Miles Teller in 2015 and Ioan Gruffudd a decade prior, sources now “don’t expect that deal to work out.” Director Matt Shakman (WandaVision) is helming the film, and producer Kevin Feige is reportedly “awaiting a new draft of the script” from screenwriter Josh Friedman (Avatar: The Way of Water), at which point Marvel may “reapproach Adam Driver” about the part. (Dev Patel has also been floated as a short list possibility, said film reporter Grace Randolph.)

The rumor mill has been less focused on the fourth superhero, Ben Grimm, a.k.a. The Thing. The rock-like character was previously played by Jamie Bell in the 2015 reboot and Michael Chiklis in the 2005 version.

It appears that once every decade, all corners of the film fandom will convene to speculate about a new era of Fantastic Four. Marvel’s take on the superpowered family is currently slated for May 2, 2025, as part of phase six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“It’s Raining Teens” at 20: Where Are They Now?

The Best TV Shows of 2023, So Far

Sex Toys, Financial Crimes, and the Origin of Barbie

That Sound You Hear Is Donald Trump Screaming, Crying, and Throwing Up in a Mar-a-Lago Bathroom

Ivanka Trump Is Not Letting Her Dad’s Mounting Legal Woes Ruin Her Summer

Inside the Actors Strike Press Apocalypse: “The Celebrity Factory Has Shut Down”

Is All This Amateur Therapy-Speak Just Making Us Lonelier?

From the Archive: Too Hepburn for Hollywood (2006)

By Savannah Walsh

By Katey Rich

By Chris Murphy