It sounds like the Fantastic Four script still isn't quite where Marvel Studios would like it to be.
Despite previous reports indicating that cameras were set to begin rolling around April, we recently heard that production had been pushed back, and filming is not expected to get underway until Q3 (between July and September).
No specific reason was provided at the time, but we may now know what was behind the delay.
According to Daniel Richtman and rDCULeaks, the script is undergoing another rewrite, with Academy Award-nominated The Disaster Artist and The Fault in Our Stars writers Michael Weber and Scott Neustadter have been brought on to work on Josh Friedman’s script before filming starts.
We're not sure how extensive these rewrites will be, but we can't imagine the story is going to be completely revamped at this stage in the game. Also, Richtman notes that the new script should be ready "within a month or so."
We're still waiting on that official announcement, but the cast is believed to b e locked in, and it's looking highly likely that Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards will be joined by Vanessa Kirby (Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning) as Sue Storm, aka the Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things) as Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Punisher, The Bear) as Ben Grimm, aka the Thing.
There are rumors that both Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer) and Mads Mikkelsen (Rogue One) are top picks to play Doctor Doom, but other actors are sure to be in contention.
The team's most prolific foe is not expected to have a significant role in the reboot (in fact, he may only show up in the post-credits scene), but the villain could well emerge as the new big bad of the Marvel Cinematic Universe - especially after the recent news that Marvel has decided to part ways with Kang actor Jonathan Majors.
Several well-placed sources have claimed that Doom will be one of the main villains of Avengers: Secret Wars.
Javier Bardem is said to be the top choice for Galactus, but his schedule may prevent him from signing on. The Eater of Worlds' herald is believed to be Silver Surfer, but a female take on the character. A recent rumor claimed that Anya Taylor-Joy is being eyed for that role.
Matt Shakman will direct FF. Plot details are still a mystery, but Kevin Feige has confirmed that this will not be another origin story for the super-team.
“A lot of people know this origin story. A lot of people know the basics. How do we take that and bring something that they’ve never seen before?” he said in a 2022 interview, comparing this new take on the heroes to Marvel Studios' pact with Sony to bring Spider-Man into the MCU. “We’ve set a very high bar for ourselves with bringing that to the screen.”