UPDATE: According to Slash Film, ”After much speculation, wondering, fan-casting, and impatience, word has come out — and /Film's sources can confirm — that Pascal will be starring as Reed Richards, also known as Mr. Fantastic...the deal is done and should be announced soon." Deadline, meanwhile, is a little less definitive but adds, "Insiders add scheduling is still being worked out but multiple sources close to the negotiations are saying its headed in the right direction for Pascal to do this and his other future projects."
The Fantastic Four rumours continue, and this time, it looks like Marvel Studios is finally close to casting Reed Richards, a.k.a. Mister Fantastic.
Spider-Man: Far From Home star Jake Gyllenhaal was recently said to be the frontrunner, with Matt Smith (Morbius) and Adam Driver (Star Wars) also potentially in the mix. Now, though, it looks like the role could go to The Mandalorian and The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal.
If accurate, this news is a massive win for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Pascal previously played the villainous Maxwell Lord in Wonder Woman 1984 and was a highlight in the otherwise hit-or-miss DCEU sequel.
In recent years, the actor's popularity has only increased thanks to memorable turns in the aforementioned TV shows and movies like The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and Strange Way of Life. While an unexpected choice to play Reed, we've no doubt he'll be...well, fantastic. Of course, nothing is confirmed just yet but if he signs on, it sounds like an official casting announcement will follow.
John Krasinski played Reed in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, while Miles Teller and Ioan Gruffudd played the hero in 20th Century Fox's previous Fantastic Four movies.
This is the latest in a long line of casting rumours for the upcoming movie, so we appreciate many of you will likely roll your eyes at this latest update. Fingers crossed it sticks, though, because the sooner we get Fantastic Four in theaters, the better.
As of now, it appears Vanessa Kirby is a lock for Invisible Woman. Antonio Banderas supposedly remains in the mix to play Galactus, while Ebon Moss-Bachrach may end up playing either an unnamed Herald (The Fallen One and Terrax the Tamer are very real possibilities) or, considering the fact we're now hearing that character will be a female Silver Surfer, probably The Thing. As for the Human Torch, Joseph Quinn looks likely.
Director Matt Shakman has worked with both Avatar: The Way of Water co-writer Josh Friedman and WandaVision's Cam Squires on the latest draft of Fantastic Four's screenplay.
The movie is currently scheduled to be released in theaters on May 2, 2025.