The Cast
Oscar Isaac as Reed Richards
Impeccably suave and a genius at portraying tortured minds on the screen, Oscar Isaac is, for me, the perfect choice to finally do justice to the character of Reed Richards. He would fit right into to navigating the life of an inspirational scientest tormented by his own fears, the lonely man who can adeptly speak the language of metaphysics but struggles to grasp the realm of human emotion. He is the perfect star to headline the homecoming of Marvel's first family.
Alison Brie as Sue Storm
Sue Storm is a character so rarely done justice. Alison Brie can fix that. She has navigated a long career holding her own alongside charismatic male leads in shows like Community and Mad Men and holds a wide cramatic and comedis acting range that covers the vast breadth of Sue's character: Loving mother figure to a broken family, Brilliant mind too often overlooked, and the conduit for incredible power evil-doers would be lucky to never see unleashed.
Seth Rogen as Ben Grimm
Well, for starters, Rogen is Jewish. And it would be nice to have a Jewish actor playing one of the few Jewish characters for a change. (Especially considering him as a reflection of his creators' own heritage) Beyond just that, however, Rogen is a great talent with a distinctive voice you can totally hear yelling "It's Clobbering Time" while possessing brilliant comedic timing to bounce off of Johnny's antics.
Glen Powell as Johnny Storm
From recurring roles on Scream Queens to Netflix RomComs to landing a role in Top Gun 2, Powell's star is rapidly rising in Hollywood, and it's only a matter of time before he suits up in a CBM. Marvel would be wise to snag him for a role that so perfectly suits him. Powell carries a killer combination of charm, wit and swagger that would deliver the definitive take on the Human Torch.
Rick Hoffman as Dr. Harvey Elder
Long-running Suits cast member Rick Hoffman has thrived in creating a persona that fans hate to love. Equal parts smarmy and witty, Hoffman would be a great opposite to Reed. A genius without the looks, charisma, or confidence to be accepted by the outside world. Hoffman can make the audience instinctively push him away, only to realize along with the characters on film just how wrong it was to do so.
Brennan Brown as Henry Peter Gyrich and Martin Sensmeier as Wyatt Wingfoot
An excellant character actor who has owned recurring parts ranging from Person of Interest to Man in the High Castle, Brennan Brown would fit like a glove into scheming beurocrat Gyrich, whose paranoia at the increasing alien presence in the MCU is all too topical to contemporary headlines. Martin Sensmeier, meanwhile, is rising talent well-fit for the Avengers world, a welcoming face for our voyaging heros.
Christina Hendricks as Abigail Brand
One of television's most outstanding actresses, Christina Hendricks is a force to be reckoned with. Abigail Brand will rise through the ranks to become Nick Fury's heir apparent. Those are big shoes to fill. Hendricks' confidence and powerful persona make her a prime fit to step onto the frontlines of an increasingly cosmic franchise.
Matthias Schoenaerts as Victor von Doom
He may not be as huge a name as you might expect for Doom. (I'll admit Jake Gyllenhaal was my choice before he was cast as Mysterio) But perhaps Marvel is in need of someone who can truly disappear into one of their greatest roles. Matthias Schoenaerts is a captivating presence who could match Isaac in ferocity and take on the untapped potential of Marvel's greatest antagonist.
The Plot
-60 years ago, man has landed on the moon. But deep within a SHIELD lab, Dr. Reed Richards seeks to achieve something far greater: Interdimenional travel. On a ship designed by prodigal engineer Johnny Storm and piloted by lifelong friend and ace pilot Ben Grimm, Dr. Richards, accompanied by linguist Dr. Sue Storm prepare to embark on a journey to unknown realms. But in a blinding flash of bizarre, ethreal light, they disappear, never to be seen again. Until today.
-In the present day, in orbit around Earth, a SWORD patrol craft detects the sudden arrival of an unmarked, non-responsive spacecraft. Upon inspection, it bears an American flag. The team, led by high level agent Abigail Brand, also including Agent Wyatt Wingfoot, boards the vessel. They are first attacked by its inhabitants, who wield intense power but stop when both sides realize what is happening. Human eyes have seen the "Fantastic Four" for the first time in decades. Yet while they've undergone incredible change, the crew has not aged a day.
Brand escorts the Four back to SWORD headquarters, where the agency begins to study them and update them on everything that has happened. We get to know our heroes and see how they adjusted to their changes, caused by exposure to unexplained energy in a journey that for them only lasted 6 years. Much of their recordings and memories, however, are warped by the same energy that brought them back. Reed attempts to take command of the SWORD operation, exploring the diverse projects and butting heads with Brand's superior, Henry Peter Gyrich, who distrusts the Four on sight.
We also meet Dr. Harvey Elder. Working on the lowest, darkest level of the base: Containment, Harvey tends to captured alien creatures. Do to his complete social inability, he is mocked and dismissed by his peers, even when he begins to develop means to communicate with the creatures. He also develops an unrequitted attraction to Sue. Unbeknowst to his coworkers, Harvey has also discovered something else: A shadowy man hidden in the deepest level of containment, completely off the books. And this man has been whispering in Harvey's ear.
Conflict builds as the Four wish to leave the base and Reed and Gyrich wrestle for authority. Our heroes are turned there separate ways, with Agent Wingfoot as their handler. Johnny immediately declares himself a superhero, revelling in modern technology and using his power to show off fighting crime and quickly aquire fame. Ben, however, finds life less accepting, as his appearence frightens people. Sue is heartbroken to realize everyone on Earth is dead. Reed, however, only wants to stay in the lab, studying what has ocurred in the last six decades. He only has one question: The fate of Victor von Doom, his former partner who quit SHIELD after they rejected his interest in the supernatural. Doom has not been seen since an American-backed coup took command of Latveria, which has now devolved into an oppressive regime.
The Four heroes seem intent on going their separate ways until, under the pressure of Gyrich's abuse and the mysterious man's influence, Harvey Elder snaps. Technologically linked to the minds of the Containment Beasts, he stages a massive breakout and leads his "true friends" on a rampage. Sue proceeds to drag the only family she has left back together to realize that together, they can stand strong for each other and for the world.
The Fantastic Four make their heroic debut as they take on Dr. Elder and his "Mole Men" monsters. When they emerge victorious, a mentally destroyed Elder is locked away, but Reed honors his wish and demands that Gyrich find humane housing for the creatures. Together, the new "First Family" breaks ties with SWORD, taking Wyatt with them, to establish the Future Foundation, a gleaming beacon to scientific advancement in the heart of New York City. Together, anything is possible.
Post Credit Scene
In the wreckage of the Containment Site, Agent Brand uncovers the remains of the secret cell, and a message left behind. A warning "To Reed, From Victor". On the other side of the world, in the dystopian police state of Latveria, we see grafiti heralding the ancestral mask of the old monarchy. Walking past, we see and folloe the cloaked figure of Victor Von Doom, unaged and with the glowing light of lagic in his veins, as he steps into sunlight for the first time in 60 years.