is jumping from Star Wars to Marvel. The 鈥淟ast of Us鈥� and 鈥淢andalorian鈥� actor is set to play Reed Richards (also known as Mister Fantastic) in the newest incarnation of 鈥淭he Fantastic Four,鈥� the studio announced Wednesday.
The rest of his squad was revealed, too, with stepping up as Susan Storm (The Invisible Woman), of 鈥淪tranger Things鈥� as Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), and of 鈥淭he Bear鈥� as Ben Grimm (The Thing). In the announcement, the gang was depicted in a retro illustrated card that had fans guessing this version takes place in the 1960s.
鈥淭he Fantastic Four鈥� is among Marvel鈥檚 longest-running comics series and the titular crew is one of its most beloved groups. Created by and Jack Kirby, the scientists-turned-superheroes are relatable and wry in their interactions as a team 鈥� even when they aren't fighting supervillains. When it debuted in November 1961, it was a refreshing revelation that helped inform the Marvel voice and set a path for Iron Man and Spider-Man.
But the so-called first family of Marvel has not had with false starts and bad reviews often trailing. First came a $2 million Roger Corman production in 1994 that was never ultimately released, with Alex Hyde-White as Reed Richards, Rebecca Staab as Susan Storm, Jay Underwood as Johnny Storm and Michael Bailey Smith as Ben Grimm. The shoestring production was directed by Oley Sassone.
Just a year after Corman's was shelved, 20th Century Fox acquired the rights to the characters and began developing what would become two films under director Tim Story, though that would take about 10 years and see several directors come and go (including Chris Columbus, Raja Gosnell and future 鈥淎nt-Man鈥� helmer Peyton Reed). In 2005鈥檚 鈥淔antastic Four鈥� and its 2007 sequel 鈥淩ise of the Silver Surfer,鈥� was Reed, was Susan, was Johnny and was Ben.
Fox tried again, with Josh Trank at the helm, and a cast led by , , and But the 2015 film was panned by critics and lost the studio over $80 million. Plans for a sequel were scuttled and a few years later, 鈥� bringing the Marvel characters back under its
The new 鈥淔antastic Four鈥� will mark the first time the mutant misfits will be together as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, overseen by ( played a version of Mister Fantastic in 2022's ). The film is set to be directed by veteran Matt Shakman, with a planned July 25, 2025, theatrical release.
Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press
