2023 is winding down and we still don't know who will lead Marvel Studios' Fantastic Four reboot. Last month, however, it was widely reported that The Mandalorian star Pedro Pascal is being lined up to play Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic.
As far as we're aware, Vanessa Kirby remains the frontrunner to play Sue Storm/Invisible Woman), who is said to be the movie's lead, with Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach eyed for the Human Torch and The Thing, respectively.
Antonio Banderas remains a contender for Galactus, while The New Mutants star Anya Taylor-Joy is being eyed for his Herald, Frankie Raye, a cosmic being who went by the name "Nova" (not to be confused with Richard Rider of the Nova Corps). Or a gender-swapped Silver Surfer. We'll see.
For a time, it looked like Free Guy star Jodie Comer might play the MCU's Invisible Woman. The actress denied those casting rumours earlier this year, and once again dismissed the possibility of joining the Marvel Universe in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter...for now, at least.
"It’s so funny because people come up to me - even friends and family - and they’re like, ‘Are you doing X, Y and Z?’ And I’m like, 'No,'" she said of the upcoming reboot. "I’ve always felt very clear on where I want to go, and some rumors that come up may not necessarily be something I’d be interested in right now."
"But I’d never shoot them down because who knows where I’m going to be or what I might want to do in years to come," Comer continued. "People change, their interests change. So it’s always just fascinating, and sometimes, I’m like, 'Where did they come from?'"
The actress is making an effort to choose her words carefully here, but it doesn't sound like she's angling for a role in Fantastic Four or any superhero project for the time being. Given the challenges facing the genre right now, that's not overly surprising, and it's safe to assume Comer isn't our Sue Storm.
The Fantastic Four, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, debuted in 1961. The team is comprised of Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Susan Storm (Invisible Woman), Johnny Storm (Human Torch), and Ben Grimm (The Thing). They gained superpowers during a space mission, becoming Marvel's first family of superheroes.
Reed is the brilliant stretchy strategist, Sue has invisibility and force field powers, Johnny controls fire, and while Ben possesses super strength, he's also covered by rock. The team confronts cosmic threats, explores alternate dimensions, and battles iconic foes like Doctor Doom. Their groundbreaking stories revolutionized superhero comics, emphasizing family dynamics and sci-fi adventures.
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.