It was the worst-kept secret in Hollywood, but Disney and Marvel Studios have finally confirmed the cast of The Fantastic Four (formerly known as just “Fantastic Four” without “The” in front). It’s exactly who everyone was expecting with Pedro Pascal leading the team as Reed Richards/ Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby (no relation to FF co-creator Jack Kirby) as Sue Storm/ Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/ Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/ The Thing.
The Announcement
Marvel announced on social media with an illustration of the actors in their roles (although it looks like they are wearing pajamas and not super suits), with the caption “Happy Valentine’s Day from Marvel’s First Family! Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn are The Fantastic Four.”
Also pictured is H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot, the mascot for the team introduced in the rather unpopular 1978 cartoon series The New Fantastic Four.
In the background is a portrait of an astronaut, reinforcing the rumor that this story will at least begin as a period piece, set in the 1960s when the characters and comics were first introduced.
WandaVision‘s Matt Shakman is directing with a script by Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer, and Josh Friedman.
When Will The Fantastic Four Be Released?
Marvel also announced a new release date of July 25, 2025, pushed back from February 14, 2025. This makes this announcement so appropriate. The delay is presumably due to the actors’ and writers’ strikes of last year. Just as a note, this comes hot on the heels of Superman: Legacy, which is currently scheduled to open on July 11, 2025.
Despite working for many years on many projects, Pascal’s star has risen over the past few years due to his starring roles in The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, the latter earned him an Emmy nomination (his third). Among his many other credits are Game of Thrones and Narcos. This won’t be his first comic book project as he starred in both Wonder Woman 1984 as the villain Maxwell Lord and in the unaired Wonder Woman TV pilot from 2011, but this will be his time playing an actual superhero.
Kirby was nominated for an Academy Award for her leading role in Pieces of a Woman and an Emmy for her role in The Crown. Most recently, she appeared in Napoleon and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning.
Quinn broke big with his turn as Eddie Munson in 2022’s Stranger Things 4. Moss-Bachrach just won his first Emmy for his role in The Bear. He also has not only comic book experience but Marvel experience, having co-starred in Netflix’s The Punisher, which… may or may not be MCU canon now.
What do you think of this cast? Are you excited about The Fantastic Four?
