Marvel Studios‘ Fantastic Four reboot has reportedly founds its Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in The Mandalorian star Pedro Pascal.
According to /Film, Pascal has signed on to play the patriarch of Marvel’s First Family in director Matt Shakman‘s Fantastic Four. Industry scooper Daniel Richtman (aka DanielRPK) initially reported that Pascal was simply in talks for the role. In contrast, /Film’s source says the actor’s involvement is a “done deal” and should be announced soon.
Deadline backs up reports that Pascal is up for the role of Mister Fantastic. However, that outlet’s sources claim that the deal is currently “far from done.” The Hollywood Reporter‘s sources echo this sentiment, saying that “scheduling is a factor in whether the deal will work out.”
At any rate, Pascal has certainly made a name for himself in the genre sphere as of late. He stars as main protagonist Din “Mando” Djarin in Disney+’s live-action Star Wars series The Mandalorian, which aired its third season earlier this year and is currently gearing up for a fourth.
Additionally, Pascal recently took on the co-lead role of Joel in HBO’s acclaimed television adaptation of The Last of Us. As far as superheroes are concerned, he also starred as main antagonist Max Lord in the 2020 DC Extended Universe film Wonder Woman 1984.
Mister Fantastic’s on-screen history
Of course, should a deal be finalized (if one hasn’t been already), Pascal would hardly be the first person to portray Reed Richards in live-action. Alex Hyde-White played the character in producer Roger Corman’s unreleased 1994 film The Fantastic Four. Ioan Gruffudd later played Mister Fantastic in 20th Century Fox’s Fantastic Four duology from 2005 to 2007.
Miles Teller took over the role for Fox’s 2015 Fantastic Four reboot. In 2019, Marvel Studios regained the screen rights to the Fantastic Four thanks to parent company Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox. John Krasinski subsequently made a cameo as a multiversal variant of Reed Richards in the 2022 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Still, a burning question in recent months has been who would play the MCU‘s main version of Mister Fantastic. Before news of Pascal’s apparent casting broke, the likes of Adam Driver and Matt Smith were said to be up for the role.
The Fantastic Four return to the big screen in 2025
Marvel Studios announced its big-screen reboot of Fantastic Four in late 2020. The studio originally tapped MCU Spider-Man trilogy helmer Jon Watts to direct. However, Watts ultimately departed the project, with WandaVision director Shakman taking his place. Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer penned the first draft of the script. Marvel subsequently hired Josh Friedman to do a rewrite.
In addition to Pascal as Reed Richards, the film will reportedly star Vanessa Kirby as Susan Storm/Invisible Woman. That said, Marvel itself has yet to confirm either casting. Still, with filming expected to begin in 2024 now that the SAG-AFTRA strike is over, MCU fans can likely expect more updates in the coming months.
Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four is currently scheduled to open in theaters on May 2, 2025.
