Pedro Pascal leads the team as Mister Fantastic

Marvel Studios surprised fans on Valentine’s Day with a sweet announcement: the new cast of ‘The Fantastic Four’, the iconic superhero team that has been rebooted several times on the big screen. The studio revealed the four actors who will play the roles of Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm in a vintage-style card that hinted at a 1960s setting for the film.

The leader of the team, Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, will be played by Pedro Pascal, who is best known for his roles in ‘The Mandalorian’ and ‘The Last of Us’. Pascal will bring his charisma and versatility to the role of the brilliant scientist who can stretch his body into any shape.

Susan Storm, the Invisible Woman, will be portrayed by Vanessa Kirby, who has impressed audiences with her performances in ‘The Crown’ and ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’. Kirby will play the love interest of Reed and the sister of Johnny, who has the power to turn invisible and create force fields.

Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, will be played by Joseph Quinn, who recently appeared in ‘Stranger Things’ as Eddie Munson. Quinn will bring his youthful energy and humor to the role of the hot-headed adventurer who can fly and manipulate fire.

Ben Grimm, the Thing, will be played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who starred in ‘The Bear’ and ‘Girls’. Moss-Bachrach will play the loyal friend of Reed who transforms into a super-strong rock-like creature.

The Fantastic Four joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe

‘The Fantastic Four’ is one of the oldest and most beloved comic book series in Marvel history, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1961. The team of scientists-turned-superheroes has been a source of inspiration and innovation for the Marvel universe, paving the way for characters like Iron Man and Spider-Man.

However, the Fantastic Four has not had much luck on the big screen, with three previous attempts that failed to capture the essence and popularity of the comics. The first was a low-budget film in 1994 that was never released, followed by two films in 2005 and 2007 that were criticized for being too cheesy and bland. The most recent attempt was in 2015, which was a dark and gritty reboot that flopped at the box office and received harsh reviews.

Now, Marvel Studios has the chance to redeem the Fantastic Four and introduce them to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the sprawling franchise that has dominated the film industry for over a decade. The new film will be produced by Kevin Feige, the mastermind behind the MCU, and directed by Matt Shakman, who recently helmed the acclaimed series ‘WandaVision’. The film is expected to be released on July 25, 2025, and will likely connect to other MCU projects, such as ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’, which featured a cameo by John Krasinski as an alternate version of Mister Fantastic.

Fans are eagerly awaiting to see how the new Fantastic Four will fit into the MCU and what adventures they will embark on. With a talented cast, a creative director, and a loyal fanbase, the Fantastic Four may finally get the cinematic treatment they deserve.