For months now, rumours have persisted about who will play Reed Richards and Sue Storm in Marvel Studios' Fantastic Four reboot. Weirdly, we've heard next to nothing about Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm, but in recent days, it's begun to look like the Human Torch has indeed been cast.
Irish actor Paul Mescal (Aftersun) has emerged as an apparent frontrunner to play the hotheaded hero, but a new report from Deadline seems to close the door on that happening.
Mescal has already nabbed what looks set to be his big break with a lead role in Sir Ridley Scott's long-awaited Gladiator sequel and is now in talks to also star in Chloé Zhao's adaptation of Hamnet alongside Jessie Buckley. That essentially closes the door on him having time to also play the MCU's Human Torch in Fantastic Four and beyond.
Adam Driver is thought to be a lock for Mister Fantastic, while we learned yesterday afternoon that The Suicide Squad star Margot Robbie has been offered the role of Invisible Woman.
Chris Evans played Johnny in Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer before being cast as the MCU's Captain America. Michael B. Jordan later played the hero in Josh Trank's ill-fated reboot, but would also go on to work with Marvel Studios as the Black Panther franchise's Erik Killmonger.
Casting rumours for Fantastic Four continue coming in thick and fast, so here's hoping an official announcement is made soon.
Fantastic Four is set to be released in theaters on February 14, 2025.
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