FANTASTIC FOUR Rumored To Include A Surprise Supporting Character And Possible Love Triangle Story

FANTASTIC FOUR Rumored To Include A Surprise Supporting Character And Possible Love Triangle Story

With us getting closer to learning who will play Marvel Studios' Fantastic Four, we have a few new updates about Marvel's First Family, including when cameras will begin rolling and more story rumours.

News
By JoshWilding - Nov 17, 2023 09:11 AM EST
Filed Under: Fantastic Four

It feels like we're finally on the precipice of learning who will play Marvel Studios' Fantastic Four. After months of rumours, all signs point to Pedro Pascal playing Mister Fantastic, while Vanessa Kirby is thought to be a lock for The Invisible Woman. 

The rest of the cast seems to be in flux, with Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach potentially playing the Human Torch and The Thing, respectively. Javier Bardem and Antonio Banderas, meanwhile, are both in the running for Galactus. 

Still, it's Reed Richards and Sue Storm who we've heard about most and we may finally have some insights into why casting them has been such a challenge for Marvel Studios. 

According to scooper @MyTimeToShineH, "Sue is the lead and that bothered some of the actors they talked to for Reed." That's a point John Rocha and Jeff Sneider also brought up while discussing Fantastic Four on The Hot Mic podcast. 

Emma Stone, for example, wanted more than Marvel Studios was willing to pay and Kevin Feige is determined not to blow the reboot's budget on the cast. Why? Well, he wants the characters to sell this movie, not just A-List stars. 

Pascal is 48 and Kirby is 35, leading to some discourse online about a "problematic" age gap. That's always been the case in the comics, of course, but it was inevitable some people would leap on this to create controversy. Debating that, Rocha mentioned a rumour Marvel Studios has considered a love triangle, suggesting Reed and Sue won't be the strong couple we know from the source material when we first meet them. 

Namor has often been a romantic rival to Mister Fantastic, but we'd bet on Marvel Studios and director Matt Shakman going back to the early Stan Lee and Jack Kirby comics to better explore the feeling Ben Grimm had for Sue before becoming the monstrous Thing. 

Sneider also mentioned that shooting is expected to start sooner than expected, with cameras rolling potentially as soon as the first week of December. 

Potentially contradicting that love triangle claim is the fact an earlier version of the script supposedly included Reed and Sue's son, Franklin. If he shows up, it could be a game-changer for the Multiverse Saga considering the fact he's a mutant who is powerful enough to create new realities!

Fantastic Four is currently scheduled to be released in theaters on May 2, 2025.

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HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 11/17/2023, 9:51 AM
Too early to bring in the kids, should just focus on the 4 and Reed is the leader. Did they learn nothing from Kevin Smith's sHe-Man?
Conquistador
Conquistador - 11/17/2023, 9:55 AM
@HashTagSwagg - I'd understand if Franklin comes from an alternate reality though. That could be cool.

But i believe the rumours they were going for well established names to lead. They've not really had any big names as LEADS post endgame other than Isaacs. They've mostly been relied on for villians or characters that aren't likely to continue much.
Amaru
Amaru - 11/17/2023, 9:59 AM
@HashTagSwagg - If Marvel is going to use Secret Wars for a soft reboot of the Universe, bringing in Franklin is an easy way to do that.
The1st
The1st - 11/17/2023, 10:51 AM
@HashTagSwagg - I saw the new trailer for revelation and it looks like Teela's taking over as a She-Ra character essentially. WW strike again lol.
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 11/17/2023, 11:17 AM
@HashTagSwagg - I think an adult Franklin showing up before sue and Reed get married would be kinda cool
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 11/17/2023, 11:59 AM
@Ryguy88 - It could but feel it is more likely they could have a very young Franklin already, married AND an Adult Franklin from the futute appears at some point.

I lean more towards we have already had a couple goes at early F4 origins and heading more ready made young family is more likely. Not against an early days pre-marriage F4 but would rather not have to go through the whole growing relationship stuff and HELL NO to a love triangle. Starting with them already fully commited to each other and at LEAST have the marriage planned I think but then I am not keen on too much love interest stuff in CBM's anyway, already married I'm fine with :D

As to Sue the lead, thought it was only supposed to be more Sue centric as in she is the 'in' for the audience not the lead. Co-lead parents seems more likely to me but super genious is tougher for a GA to connect with when you have a young Mom who is also probably the most powerfull there folk could connect with more. Ultimately it would still mostly be Reed making the plans, working out the problems and solutions and the tech (ie the Tony Stark) so Sue will likely be the Cap of the team type, powered and moral compass and for the TEAM can't have one without the other an likely never stated one is the lead over the other and for us to debate over, lol.
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 11/17/2023, 12:55 PM
@Apophis71 - sue should be the emotional lead and Reed the one who's pushing the plot along
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 11/17/2023, 1:03 PM
@Ryguy88 - Yup, that and obviously they will likely still use her bro for the fun bit and Thing bein the rock, pun intended being the most grounded and cautious I'd expect. Getting the ballance correct between ALL team members should be key however no matter which way they play it.
OleBobbyTiger
OleBobbyTiger - 11/17/2023, 1:50 PM
@UniqNo - Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Oscar Wilde, Owen Wilson, Richard Madden, Florence Pugh, Hailee Steinfeld, Will Poulter, Harrison Ford, Mahershala Ali, Mia Goth, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, David Harbour, Steven Yuen...

You keep insisting the MCU is not signing Big Names.... but the facts prove you wrong.
Conquistador
Conquistador - 11/17/2023, 2:30 PM
@RoberTiger - thought'd you'd be back, so i highlighted LEADS Mr poke a hole.

None of your mentions were LEADS aside from maybe Madden who id argue wasn't a huge name when he joined.

Jackman and Reynolds...thay movie is a straight up sequel AND merging them into the MCU... and they were already established when comparing to fantastic 4 newly coming into the MCU.

Try again.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 11/17/2023, 2:38 PM
Enough already!
Conquistador
Conquistador - 11/17/2023, 2:43 PM
@bobevanz - dam, the homie was in Buffy too!?

Don't forget Narcos!
DarthVanDyke
DarthVanDyke - 11/17/2023, 2:52 PM
@RoberTiger - They are signing EVERYBODY
kazuma
kazuma - 11/17/2023, 7:33 PM
@HashTagSwagg - If the rumored actors end up being real, then they'd have to do Franklin early, otherwise they'd all be in their 60s, with a baby.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 11/18/2023, 7:08 AM
@kazuma - Yup, I mean even a 35yr old Sue alone suggests already married with kids cos the average for a first child in the states is 28 and in regard to getting married, if the marrying type probably between 2 to 5yrs for most into a relaionship.

Sure not a given but assuming she started dating Reed at college they would have been a couple for at least 15yrs and typicaly a woman wanting kids would be have been aiming for them WAY before mid-thirties cos in the UK access to IVF dries up once you hit your forties under the NHS. Sure I know the trend for starting a family has gotten later with the rise in females wanting a career and all that but...
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 11/17/2023, 9:54 AM
Reed should lead.
bobevanz
bobevanz - 11/17/2023, 2:26 PM
@harryba11zack - lol this thousand year old website is a joke
Origame
Origame - 11/17/2023, 9:56 AM
Wow. You mean people were bothered by auditioning for the character who's always been presented as the main character only to sideline him? Shocking.
mountainman
mountainman - 11/17/2023, 10:01 AM
@Origame - Why can’t Reed and Sue be more or less co-leads? They are both compelling characters. Why sideline Reed? Also, Pascal is just too old for the role. They should get someone in their 30’s or 40 at oldest if they want this team to stick around for a while.
Origame
Origame - 11/17/2023, 10:20 AM
@mountainman - thats a good idea. Let the paternal and maternal figures of the family team be co leads. But it's just dumb making sue THE lead when that's always been Reed.
Conquistador
Conquistador - 11/17/2023, 10:35 AM
@Origame - TBH i'd argue that Alba was the biggest name at the time of the last couple movie and probably had just as much screen time as Ioan did. I've not watched them in many years though so i could be wrong. But co leads sounds about right. It does seems like they're banking on big names for leads to get audiences coming back though as they're clearly going elsewhere these last 12 to 18 months
Vigor
Vigor - 11/17/2023, 10:36 AM
@Origame - m'SHE'U.

Am I doing this right?
mountainman
mountainman - 11/17/2023, 10:38 AM
@Origame - Yeah Sue is the most powerful team member, but Reed is the smartest guy in Marvel and is integral to their stories.

I’m fine with Sue and Reed as co-leads, and Johnny and Ben are smaller characters.

I’m fine with Namor having a small role and being flirty with Sue, but she should be resisting his flirtations at this point.

A love triangle in the first movie sounds so dumb. Let them be a happy family at first. We have enough dysfunctional families in media already. It seems that any movie or show about a family these days has to only focus on how flawed they are.
Origame
Origame - 11/17/2023, 10:41 AM
@UniqNo - those movies were treated as ensemble films, and alba had plenty of screentime while also being the main character yes. But Reed was still the main character. It was considered his problem to fix with the powers they got and how to control/cure them. And Dr doom as the villain was specifically motivated to go after Reed.
Origame
Origame - 11/17/2023, 10:44 AM
@Vigor - I mean, you keep laughing at that but it's been proven right numerous times. The mcu has been far more focused on securing a female audience by just shoving female characters everywhere while badmouthing men the whole time. And the funny thing is the marvels was not only a massive flop but it was mostly men who went to see it. So that attempt to secure the female audience still failed spectacularly.

But again, sue shouldn't be the main character because that's not her character. Reed is the main character. By doing it this way you basically aren't adapting the fantastic four.
Origame
Origame - 11/17/2023, 10:46 AM
@mountainman - I would t be surprised if Sue dumps both of them and stays single. So much for the first family 🙄
marvel72
marvel72 - 11/17/2023, 10:48 AM
@Vigor -

The1st
The1st - 11/17/2023, 10:52 AM
@mountainman - Cuz Hollywood's cision is just so grand...
California
California - 11/17/2023, 1:14 PM
@mountainman - Heck YES! Make Sue the lead! Reed should be portrayed as either an absentee, dead beat father and a manipulative, controlling husband. Sue should be infinitely powerful and Reed should also be a blundering idiot to rub it in the whiney fanboys who hold onto the patriarchy, insecure males who are threatened by a strong female character. Sue should be free and on her side, the marriage should be open. She should pursue both Namor and another female romantic interest. The nuclear family is just plain stupid and needs to be destroyed. The future is transhuman and people need to get that through their heads!
Corruptor
Corruptor - 11/18/2023, 10:18 AM
@Origame - Comic-wise I always thought Torch and Thing were the "main" characters, visually most interesting, plenty of flame-ons and clobberins is they key to a good super-hero movie.
Corruptor
Corruptor - 11/18/2023, 10:20 AM
@Corruptor - Reed was "leader" in the same way Prof X was leader, the brains behind the operation and the sensible one dealing with Johnny and Ben's frequent tantrums.
WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 11/17/2023, 9:59 AM
Spec
u
La
Tion
mountainman
mountainman - 11/17/2023, 9:59 AM
Let’s not add too much in to the first movie. Already having marriage problems and a love triangle? I think it would be perfectly fine for Namor to be in it in some capacity and to have him flirt with her.

But at this stage, she shouldn’t be interested at all. Also, at this point in the MCU Namor is still somewhat of a villainous character and it’ll take some time and work to truly redeem him.

We want to see the family dynamic of the team and it would be nice to kick it off on a mostly positive note before introducing the family issues. Save that for down the road.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 11/17/2023, 10:00 AM
I did not know that Ben apparently had secret feelings for Sue in the early 616 comics , I always thought that was just an Ultimates thing (didn’t they end up together after Reed broke bad?).

Anyway , if this is our F4 then I’m down for it (not sold on Kirby but Pedro is growing on me and I like Quinn & Bachrach as Johnny and Ben respectively).



Hope this turns out well!!.
AC1
AC1 - 11/17/2023, 10:03 AM
Are people really bringing up "problematic age gaps" when the youngest person in said couple is 35? Really? Or is that just something being made up as clickbait?
mountainman
mountainman - 11/17/2023, 10:40 AM
@AC1 - Yeah 48 and 35 really isn’t odd at all. 13 years can be problematic if a 32 year old is dating a 19 year old, but once someone is in their 30’s they can date whoever they choose.

I still think Pascal is too old for Reed. Would prefer an actor in his 30’s or at oldest young 40’s. This is supposed to be a main Marvel team for a long time to come.
Slotherin
Slotherin - 11/17/2023, 11:20 AM
@AC1 - look, I don't like Wilding much either but it's not clickbait when it's in the article and not the header.
Blastaar
Blastaar - 11/17/2023, 12:05 PM
@mountainman - Too old, doesn't look like Reed, and I although he's an actor, I can't imagine him pulling off the tortured genius role.
OleBobbyTiger
OleBobbyTiger - 11/17/2023, 1:52 PM
@mountainman - Meh. Intellect, maturity and common ground matter way more than birthday. I've met 50 year olds less mature than some 20 year olds.
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