Summary
Paul Walter Hauser has shared his initial concerns about joining the cast for Marvel Studios' upcomingThe Fantastic Fourreboot in theMCU. Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige first teased the development ofThe Fantastic Fourin 2019, but it wasn’t until Valentine’s Day 2024 when the first cast announcements were revealed for the much-anticipated Phase 5 movie. Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach have been cast as the titular superhero team, and they will be joined by a whole host of remarkable performers in theMCU’sThe Fantastic Four, currently scheduled to premiere in July 2025.
Golden Globe and Emmy-winning actor Paul Walter Hauser joined thecast ofThe Fantastic Fourin May 2024 in an as-yet-undisclosed role.Hauser achieved huge acclaim for his portrayal of serial killer Larry Hall in Apple TV+ seriesBlack Bird, and will soon bring his talents to the MCU, but has revealed that he was initially hesitant to joinThe Fantastic Four. In conversation withThe Hollywood Reporter, Hauser noted that the Fantastic Four"has not fully been nailed just yet,“but revealed thatThe Fantastic Four’sremarkable cast, dedicated department heads, and committed director, Matt Shakman, assuaged these concerns.
Don’t think that didn’t weigh in as I was deciding whether or not to take the job. That movie has not fully been nailed just yet. But I really do think the combination of the screenplay, and the department heads that are working on the film, and that classy cast of really exciting actors — some of them known for a long time, and some of them having a moment right now — [make me feel that] this movie is special, and it was something I wanted to be a part of. Matt Shakman directed me years ago inIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.To come back together and collaborate on this movie in some capacity, it’s really exciting. I’m excited to be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Fantastic Four Is The MCU Multiverse Saga Movie I Have Been Waiting For
After many movies and shows were released in recent years, The Fantastic Four is the MCU film that I have been waiting to see in the Multiverse Saga.
Why The MCU’s Fantastic Four Will Be Better Than Past Attempts
Before the film rights to the Fantastic Four reverted to Marvel Studios in 2019, they resided with 20th Century Fox, allowing two attempts at bringing Marvel’s First Family to be delivered by the studio that producedtheX-Menfranchise. 2005’sFantastic Fourand 2007’sFantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surferfeatured one team, while 2015’sFantastic Fourreboot included a new line-up. However,despite being one of Marvel’s most popular properties, neither of these attempts managed to capture the audience’s imagination, so there’s no doubt that Marvel Studios will do a better job at handling the team’s MCU debut.
2005’sFantastic Fourand its 2007 sequel introduced Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, and Michael Chiklis as the Fantastic Four. Despite a strong cast, these movies were diminished by lackluster scripts and an over-reliance on special effects. These were a product of their time, but the more recentFantastic Fourreboot in 2015is widely regarded as one of the worst superhero movies ever. Led by Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell,Fantastic Fourwas let down by a humorless script and a failure to deliver comic-accurate depictions of the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom.
Marvel Studios will surely side-step these concerns. Not only have visual effects improved massively in the last two decades, butwith acclaimed writer Josh Friedman (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Snowpiercer, Foundation)working on the script, and MCU veteran Matt Shakman directing,The Fantastic Fourpromises to be a faithful, entertaining, and intense installmentin theMCU’s Phase 5. With powerhouse talents including Pascal, Kirby, Quinn, Moss-Bachrach, Hauser, John Malkovich, Ralph Ineson, Natasha Lyonne, and Julia Garner on board, too,The Fantastic Fourin the MCU is very likely to be the strongest incarnation of the team yet.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Cast
The Fantastic 4: First Steps features Marvel’s First Family navigating their dual roles as superheroes and family members in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. They defend Earth from a formidable space god, Galactus, and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer, testing their familial bonds and heroic resolve.
