Actor David Krumholtz recently opened up about why he wanted to play Ben Grimm/The Thing in Marvel Studios‘ The Fantastic Four.
In an interview with ComicBook.com to promote his new movie, Lousy Carter, Krumholtz revealed why he campaigned so feverishly for the role of The Thing in Marvel’s Fantastic Four reboot, explaining, “I grew up reading Marvel comics obsessively and they saved me. I think, for a lot of young people, you emulate superheroes, you wish you had those powers, you wish you were somehow able to save people.”
He continued, “I’m an empath, so that felt good to me. I loved every aspect of it. When the MCU happened, the satisfaction in seeing the actual costumes and seeing what they could do and do it accurately and authentically, it was exactly my dream come true. When you read those comics, it’s hard not to imagine them as films, and they did it. They did it really, really well. It was emotional, for me.”
David Krumholtz still wants to join the MCU
While Krumholtz was unsuccessful in landing the part of The Thing, the actor — who is known for his roles in Oppenheimer and The Santa Clause — shared that he still “very much” wants to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He also held no ill will towards Ebon Moss-Bachrach for beating him out for the superhero role, adding that the actor would “do an amazing job with that.”
As for what role Krumholtz could end up playing in the MCU, he jokingly suggested “Ghost Rider’s orthodontist,” while in a previous interview, he pitched himself as the perfect actor to take on the role of the Mole Man, the Fantastic Four’s first nemesis who was introduced in Fantastic Four #1 in 1961.
Who is playing Marvel’s First Family?
Following months of rumors, Marvel Studios announced on Valentine’s Day that Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn would be playing the MCU’s Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Ben Grimm/The Thing, and Johnny Storm/Human Torch, respectively.
Directed by Matt Shakman from a screenplay by Josh Friedman, The Fantastic Four is scheduled to hit theaters on July 25, 2025.
