Finally, the MCU’s Fantastic Four release date is on the horizon, and it looks like we’re all set for the first great adaptation of this family of classic Marvel characters.
This is especially exciting because the MCU is in a stage of transition, and is looking for its next big team to headline the franchise. Enter four of the best Marvel characters ever: Reed Richards, Sue Storm, and co. Of course, that also means we could be about to see some of the greatest Marvel villains too, and we should all be preparing for a big shake-up when the upcoming Marvel movie arrives.
Fantastic Four MCU movie release date
Marvel Studios Fantastic Four will be released on Friday, May 2, 2025, and will mark the official start of Marvel’s Phase 6.
The film was originally scheduled for November 8, 2024, but since then things have been complicated. Delays relating to the Hollywood strikes in 2023 changed the franchise’s entire release schedule, in addition to the fact that Disney decided to make itself busier with a live-action Moana movie and a new Star Wars movie.
This all means that the MCU movie will eventually come to screens over half a decade after it was announced back in 2019 at San Diego Comic-Con. Details are sparse, but director Matt Shakman plans to start shooting in early 2024, so that should keep the May 2025 release date realistic.
Who is in the Fantastic Four MCU movie cast?
Pedro Pascal looks set to lead the Fantastic Four cast as Mr Fantastic himself, Reed Richards.
The news comes from a report via SlashFilm, after Deadline reported that the Mandalorian and The Last of Us star was deep in talks to take on the role. Pascal is quickly becoming a franchise king.
Prior to Pascal’s reported decision to take on the role, both Matt Smith and Adam Driver were linked to the role. To be honest, we think any of those three would have done excellently, and Pascal will undoubtedly be great.
As for the rest of the team, speaking with Collider, Shakman explained his eagerness to spill the beans. “There will be an announcement at some point! I know that the internet is very excited to find out, and I’m excited to share it. I just can’t do it yet.”
From Shakman’s wording, it does seem like Marvel has a clear idea about who to cast alongside Pascal. However, while we wait for official news, the internet has tons of theories.
Although there was talk of Amanda Seyfried and Margot Robbie as the Invisible Woman, Sue Storm is rumored to be played by Vanessa Kirby.
Joseph Quinn was said to have been cast as Johnny Storm. However, the actor has debunked these casting rumors via social media. Paul Mescal and Joe Keery are also heavily rumored to be casting choices for the Human Torch.
There are claims that Ebon Moss-Bachrach has been cast in the film, potentially as ‘the idol of millions’, Ben Grimm, aka The Thing. But again, nothing’s been confirmed, and Shakman’s dream casting was supposedly Hamilton star Daveed Diggs.
In an interview with The Digital Fix, Toby Kebbell said he would be open to reprising his role as Doctor Doom from 2015 but that he doesn’t expect that call to come. The comic book movie scooper @MyTimeToShineH has claimed that Cillian Murphy is Marvel’s top choice, but there’s no official line on this or any other claims.
However, when it comes to Galactus, reports from Jeff Sneider indicate that Javier Bardem could be in line to take on the intergalactic antagonist.
It looks like Silver Surfer is also a potential character, with reports of a gender-swapped Surfer on the horizon. One name that’s been floating around is Anya Taylor-Joy, and we could totally see her putting a unique spin on the enigmatic villain(ess). These are only rumors for now, so stay tuned.
Here is the rumored Fantastic Four MCU cast list:
- Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards
- Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm
- Joe Keery/Paul Mescal as Johnny Storm
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach/Daveed Diggs as The Thing
- Anya Taylor-Joy as The Silver Surfer
What will the Fantastic Four MCU movie be about?
There is no official synopsis for the new Fantastic Four movie. However, given that the heroes have already been softly introduced into the MCU in Doctor Strange 2 and the animated series What If…? it’s unlikely that the MCU’s plot for Fantastic Four will be an origin story.
We’ve been told to expect the unexpected from Fantastic Four, so don’t rule out the possibility of a fresh introduction either.
“It’s different in so many ways,” Shakman explained during an interview with Collider. “I wish I could be specific. I wish I could say more. But we are doing things very differently from a story standpoint, from an approach to the filmmaking standpoint, that really fits the material. I wish I could say more. I would love to, but I can’t. But I think it’s going to be unlike anything you’ve seen before.”
While we can’t rule anything out after Shakman’s comments, we are still experts when it comes to the MCU and comic books. So, even if there are wild story swings, we are pretty confident we’ll see the four heroes already with their powers. The main villain is reportedly Galactus – a longtime foe of the team.
Given the recent casting rumors regarding Taylor-Joy, we know that the Silver Surfer would likely be alongside him, and that means plenty of drama. So, we’d be almost guaranteed to have multiple villains.
Even if the new movie doesn’t strictly follow a single story from the existing comics, there’s a high chance they at least were inspired or borrowed ideas from the mountain of source material available to them.
And then, of course, even if it is “different,” the new Fantastic Four movie is still in the MCU timeline and will have to clear up confusion around the multiverse and alternate realities they’ve appeared in before this outing.
We’ll keep you posted as more details come in. In the meantime, with creative changes being made to the typical Marvel formula, it looks like Fantastic Four could be the MCU’s most exciting movie since Guardians of the Galaxy.
Is there a trailer for Fantastic Four MCU?
We can expect to see the first trailer for Fantastic Four around early 2025, the year the film releases. However, no official teaser date has been announced (since filming for the production hasn’t begun) yet.
Since it’s set to release in May 2025, the best bet is to look out a couple of months before, prior to the premiere, for promotional material — trailers included.
Marvel hasn’t shuffled the current May 2025 window for the upcoming film, so (for now at least) a trailer will likely drop in March or April. Prior to that, though, we should hopefully start to see some behind-the-scenes images from shooting once production begins. (If Marvel can’t find ways to keep the cameras out, that is.)
We’ll keep you posted as more news heads our way. In the meantime, check out the classic F4 trailer from the 2000s below, featuring Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm, to remind yourself of what’s in store.
Where can I watch the Fantastic Four MCU movie?
You can watch Fantastic Four exclusively in cinemas from May 2, 2025.
After that, it’ll likely head to digital VOD and Disney Plus for streaming. Marvel movies have always gotten physical releases, too, so count on a Blu-Ray. But in the meantime, Disney Plus is your best bet for Marvel content.
The newest projects to enjoy in the timeline are Loki season 2, which hit the service on October 2023 and is fantastic (just read our glowing Loki season 2 review if you don’t believe us), and The Marvels. Click the button below to start your Disney Plus journey now.
Who will be the Fantastic Four MCU villain?
There are rumors that the MCU’s Fantastic Four movie will introduce the cosmic entity Galactus as the main villain. In typical Marvel fashion, though, these movies aren’t always limited to just one enemy.
Of course, with Galactus potentially being the movie’s villain, the MCU also looks set to introduce his shiny herald: the Silver Surfer. However, there’s a twist.
Instead of bringing us the version of the Silver Surfer that cinema-going audiences are already familiar with, industry insider Jeff Sneider reports that Marvel is looking to introduce the world to a female version of the Silver Surfer (with Anya Taylor-Joy in the running, as mentioned above).
Now, before all the usual suspects get up in arms about the prospect of a gender swap, hold your horses. The female version of the Silver Surfer is actually comic-accurate. Firstly, we had Juno, who was a female iteration of the character (though, not a very well-known one).
Then, there was also Frankie Raye, aka Nova. Nova was another herald of Galactus and has been a part of comic lore for decades. Now, she doesn’t go by the name Silver Surfer, but giving Frankie the Silver Surfer alias really wouldn’t be too much of a stretch.
If the Galactus rumors turn out to be just whispers, then we’d like to see the Four go up against The Wizard, an old foe of the group who’s never got the chance to shine on the big screen. The Wizard is basically a showboating scientist who grows jealous of the Fantastic Four’s fame and uses technology to battle them.
While he may not sound like a huge threat, he helped found the Frightful Four, a team of villains who became recurring foes of Reed and his family, and we can see Marvel Studios wanting to tee up further conflict down the road. Fun fact: one member of the Frightful Four is the Spider-Man villain Sandman, so maybe we could get a new Flint Marko?
That’s everything we know. If you want more on the Marvel machine, check out our explainer on Marvel’s Phase 5 as well as our guide on the best way to watch the Marvel movies in order ahead of Deadpool 3.
You can also see our ranking of the Marvel series. If you’re looking for something a bit grander, though, why not check out our list of the best movies ever made?