Summary
TheFantastic FourMCU reboot might have hit a roadblock with its first choice for the film’s villain, Javier Bardem, as a side effect of the actors' strike.
TheFantastic Fourhave so far been largely absent from the MCU due to the film rights to the characters being outside of Kevin Feige’s control when he helped create Marvel Studios. Since Disney’s aggressive acquisition campaign fixed that hiccup, fans and executives alike have discussed thebest way to bring the Fantastic Four into the MCU, with a standalone project set for 2025 being the decided-upon avenue to bring in not just the Fantastic Four but also work in their nemesis Galactus and his powerful Herald.
WithMarvel falling way behind on theFantastic Fourreboot, largely thanks to the strikes that took up a large swath of the year, one more issue stemming from that situation seems to be affecting the project. According toThe Insider’s Jeff Sneider, the top choice for the pivotal role of Galactus is award-winning star Bardem. However, a schedule conflict might get in the way. “One insider I spoke to said that Bardem had a scheduling conflict, which appears to be Apple’s F1 movie starring Brad Pitt,” Sneider writes. “The question is whether that F1 movie will truly preclude Bardem from performing what is largely a voice role a la Josh Brolin’s Thanos, though I imagine there will be some motion-capture element involved that may require whoever plays Galactus to be on set.” Sneider also noted that Bardem’s schedule may not permit him to join the Fantastic Four, potentially allowing another rumored contender to play Galactus.
I know that Antonio Banderas had previously been tipped for the role of Galactus, and perhaps it will come back to him, but for now, I believe Bardem is the frontrunner, schedule permitting… which it may not! The strike just ended, and that F1 movie is expected to be a long shoot, so we’ll see… but Marvel has a history of getting its man, with a few exceptions here and there.
While the casting decision is more recent, the potential scheduling conflict is likely partly due to the halt in activity brought about by the strike, which also stopped any new information from coming out to fans until now. On that note, and in addition to giving a fair assessment of the situation, Sneider also reiterated rumors thatthe MCU’sFantastic Fourcould potentially see a female Heraldat Galactus' side, as opposed to the popular male Silver Surfer character from the comics. These reports remain unverified by Marvel Studios or Disney.
Marvel’sFantastic Fourwoes aren’t new, as the first family has always had a tumultuous time at the theaters, even before the creation and consolidation efforts of Marvel Studios. From multiple critically panned reboot attempts to an infamously scrapped completed film in the ’90s similar to the more recentBatgirlincident, the Fantastic Four have been quite the uphill battle to introduce endearingly to a wider audience. Casting for the film hasn’t been a clean slate either, as the tentative nod to the group provided by John Krasinski’s Mr. Fantastic cameo inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessdidn’t do much for fans beyond raising hopes that the eerily fitting casting choice would be retained. Instead, Pedro Pascal seems set to portray the conflicted genius in the upcoming film.
With bringing in a new equally-threatening villain into the MCU beingone strategy for replacing Jonatha Majors' Kang, having a strong choice for a role like Galactus could be a decision with ramifications beyond just theFantastic Fourfilm. Likewise, if Bardem is to sign on, it will be with the understanding that a significant commitment might be attached.
The MCU’sFantastic Fourreboot is currently set for theatrical release on June 17, 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.
