Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Fantastic Four

  • Mila Kunis Claims She’s Not in MCU’s ‘Fantastic Four’ But She Knows Who Is

    Mila Kunis Claims She’s Not in MCU’s ‘Fantastic Four’ But She Knows Who Is

    The Late Late Show with James Corden is coming to an end, which had quite a line-up of celebrities. Among them was Mila Kunis, who has recently been the focus of various curious and even surprising rumors for the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Fantastic Four. Of course, Corden used the chance to ask her about it and she reflected on when the first rumors started, a shot of her with director Matt Shakman.

    We went out to a deli and had lunch together and the next day I was somehow in Fantastic Four.

    Mila Kunis

    She goes on to confirm that she is not playing anyone in Fantastic Four, but in a curious twist, she highlights that she knows “who is” in the project. Of course, she doesn’t go on to confirm anything

    I am not in Fantastic Four, but I know who is. But I don’t want to get in trouble with The Mouse, so none of you will find out.

    Mila Kunis

    Of course, there have been quite a few times when Marvel actors denied any involvement with upcoming projects. So, there’s always that slight chance that Kunis might have a role after all, but it’s definitely interesting that she’d tease knowing who might be appearing. So, it further implies that they may have finally cast the characters that we’ve been waiting for quite some time. So, perhaps the wait isn’t that much longer.

    Source: The Wrap

  • Hunger, If You Dare! Antonio Banderas Rumored to Be Discussing a Massive Marvel Studios Role

    Hunger, If You Dare! Antonio Banderas Rumored to Be Discussing a Massive Marvel Studios Role

    The rumor mill around the cast of Marvel Studios 2024 theatrical release, Fantastic Four, continues to churn out some fascinating information. Shortly after rumors of Adam Driver, Mila Kunis, Jodi Comer and more being on director Matt Shakman‘s shortlist for key roles in the film, a new rumor has emerged that might just be the best of them all.

    Scooper My Time to Shine Hello has revealed an unexpected–and quite frankly brilliant–potential choice for a major Fantastic Four character. According to the account, Antonio Banderas is in talks to play the Cosmic Being Galactus.

    One of Marvel Comics most incredible characters, Galactus has been rumored to be a part of Shakman‘s Fantastic Four for some time now. Originally a scientist named Galan who existed in a previous iteration of the multiverse, Galan survived the transition into the new multiverse and became one of the most powerful beings in it and was reborn as Galactus. The Devourer of Worlds has long been one of the Fantastic Four’s greatest antagonists, though a more complete understanding of the essential role he plays in the universe has been developed over time.

    Banderas has remained a force in Hollywood since making the jump from Spanish cinema in the early 1990s. An action star, a romantic lead and a talented voice actor, Banderas has been nominated for Academy, Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Awards. While it’s unclear exactly what role Galactus will play in Fantastic Four and the MCU in general, Banderas‘ experiences should allow him to play Galan/Galactus in live-action and also provide voice work for the character should he be a wholly CGI creation. Marvel Studios has not yet commented on the cast of the film but at the pace the rumors are flying, it is possible it could be revealed at SDCC ’23, should the studio decide to attend.

  • A Rumored Shortlist of Candidates for Sue Storm Makes the Rounds

    A Rumored Shortlist of Candidates for Sue Storm Makes the Rounds

    Though it’s not expected to begin filming for quite some time, Marvel Studios Fantastic Four film continues to be the subject of casting rumors. Recently, Adam Driver, whose name has been circulated in connection with the film previously, was rumored to be in final talks for the role of Reed Richards. And now another name familiar to those who have been following the rumor mill has popped back up on a list of potential candidates for Sue Storm.

    According to a popular YouTube sensationalist, Academy Award Nominess Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman) tops director Matt Shakman and casting director Sarah Finn‘s wishlist for the role of the Invisible Woman. According to the rumor, the rest of that list includes Allison Williams, Jodie Comer and Mila Kunis. Interestingly enough, Kunis was spotted meeting with Shakman in February, sparking speculation that she might be involved with the project.

    A previous trade report indicated that Shakman and crew were looking to find their Sue Storm before casting anyone else, suggesting Sue was the “center” of the team and after finding the right fit, they would build “out the rest of the team.” There’s not a bad choice on the list of rumored front-runners and it’s very likely that the casting process is coming to a close given that it has been ongoing for months.

  • Matt Shakman’s ‘Fantastic Four’ Adds ‘Avatar 2’ Writer

    Matt Shakman’s ‘Fantastic Four’ Adds ‘Avatar 2’ Writer

    Josh Friedman of Avatar: The Way of Water and Snowpiercer fame has found his next project, and it’s quite the big one. It seems he is joining the upcoming Fantastic Four film that’ll be the first arrival of Marvel’s first family in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’ll join director Matt Shakman in what may be one of their most ambitious projects yet.

    It’s a big get for the studio given he was part of one of the biggest releases in 2022. Previously, Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer were attached to write. Friedman joining may be a hint that they are moving further away from the pure comedic direction the project may have had given their involvement with various comedies. Friedman is more serious in tone with his tone and, bigger yet, a huge sci-fi veteran.

    He was involved with Steven Spielberg‘s War of the Worlds, created the Terminator spinoff series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and more. Given the announcement dropped now, he has likely been involved with the project for a few months now. We also recently found out that Thunderbolts also added a new writer in Beef‘s Lee Sung Jin. Some may not remember but this is very much a pre-pandemic Marvel movie. Outside of a handful of writers, they had a variety of people work on the scripts before releasing a film. So, perhaps something for the “quality over quantity ” crowd.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • RUMOR: Marvel Studios to Cast a Jewish Actor for ‘Fantastic Four’s The Thing

    RUMOR: Marvel Studios to Cast a Jewish Actor for ‘Fantastic Four’s The Thing

    In the world of Marvel Studio’s castings, the discussions surrounding the Fantastic Four might have been the most trailblazing. Everyone is excited to finally know who will play Marvel’s First Family in their first Marvel Cinematic Universe adaptation. After a decent comedy spin and a dreadful reimagining, it was time to see these iconic characters reunited once again as part of a bigger universe.

    Ever since the project lost Jon Watts as a director, many were wondering what the future might hold for the project. WandaVision‘s Matt Shakman took over the project and hinted that castings have yet to truly being. Many rumored front runners have found their way online for Mr. Fantastic with some hoping to see the return of John Krasinski after Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, or rumors surrounding Penn Badgley, Dev Patel, and countless others.

    Now, it seems that we have a new rumor stirring the pot but this time for the casting of The Thing, better known as Ben Grimm. While no specific name is set, The Hot Mich’s Jeff Sneider has shared that Marvel Studios is actively looking to cast the role with a Jewish actor. They also considered going for a person of color but are focusing on Grimm’s heritage potentially in the casting process.

    That would make him the second openly Jewish character in the franchise after Oscar Isaac‘s Marc Spector in the Disney+ series Moon Knight. Though, there was some controversy in how it was portrayed in that series, which didn’t ignore it but skimmed over some parts that many felt were important to the character.

    Still, we now has the question remaining of who they might cast for the role. The Direct pointed out that Jason Segel might be a popular choice, and has also been among the many rumored for a part in the Fantastic Four film. It’ll be interesting to see if this new rumor might spark a new wave of

    Source: YouTube via The Direct

  • Fantastic Four and Blade May not Appear in ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’

    Fantastic Four and Blade May not Appear in ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’

    With every Avengers movie, it becomes a big question of who we might see take on a major role in the project. Throughout the last three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was easy to follow the main cast that’ll appear in these films but as the franchise continues to grow, there are many more opportunities to see some new familiar faces.

    Many are excited about the prospects of their favorite characters having a major role in an Avengers film, especially with the more diverse offerings with Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop, Spider-Man, and many more. We also have the upcoming new additions of Blade and the long-awaited Fantastic Four, though it seems that they may not have a role in the next Avengers film, The Kang Dynasty.

    In an interview with Gizmodo, Jeff Loveness revealed that he’s hard at work on The Kang Dynasty and is seemingly actively trying not to have any of the other projects shape his work in some way. As such, he hints that he’ll “probably not even” include the Fantastic Four or Blade in the upcoming Avengers sequel.

    But much like when I took on this Ant-Man job, I can’t really focus on that outside stuff. I have just got to lay down the bones of a good story, hopefully, and find the characters that I want to tell [it]. And then it becomes a game of ping pong with the other people. Like whoever comes on and does Fantastic Four or Blade or—I’m probably not even using those characters, you know—but it all informs itself. And so, you just keep an ear open if [someone says], “Hey, if Blade wants to jump in, go for it, man.” But it’s up to me to focus on my movie and, you know, work with [Michael] Waldron a little bit on his thing to make sure it all kind of makes sense. But I think the second you start looking at the 25 other movies coming out, you get a little lost in the sauce.

    Jeff Loveness

    He does keep the door open and who knows if Marvel Studios might consider some rewrites from Avengers veterans to help find the balance between the various crossovers. Still, it’s great that Loveness stands by his approach to creating a singular story which he also highlighted for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. While it didn’t get the reception as hoped, it still shows he just loves telling a good story.

    Source: Gizmodo

  • New Rumor Suggests One of Marvel’s Most Powerful Characters is Headed to the MCU’s Phase 6

    New Rumor Suggests One of Marvel’s Most Powerful Characters is Headed to the MCU’s Phase 6

    The MCU’s fifth phase of projects just kicked off with Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (you can read our review here) which introduces one of Marvel Comics’ most compelling villains in Jonathan Majors‘ Kang the Conqueror. The Conqueror is the second Variant of Kang to show up in the Multiverse Saga and we know he won’t be the last as the narrative progresses towards Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. With such a powerful and cunning villain set to antagonize the heroes of the MCU, they’ll need all the help they can get and a new rumor suggests that one of Marvel Comics’ powerhouses may be ready to join the MCU in Phase 6.

    A recent report suggests that the casting process for the 2025 Fantastic Four film is kicking off in earnest and that Marvel Studios plans to start by finding their Susan Storm, adding fuel to the fire that star Mila Kunis could be in contention for the pivotal role. Hot on the tail of this potential casting coincidence comes another intriguing tidbit from YouTube. According to the YouTube personality, Marvel Studios is skipping the origin and angling to introduce a more experienced Fantastic Four who are a bit farther down the road in life and, in the case of Sue and Reed, have already become parents!

    Though the rumor doesn’t specify, assuming Marvel Studios is following comic book canon in this regard, Sue and Reed’s first child is Franklin Richards, a character whose vast set of powers includes reality warping, matter manipulation and time travel. As an adult, Franklin was powerful enough to make Galactus his herald and lived free of the rules of the omniverse. As a child, however, as he would likely be portrayed in the film, Franklin’s powers would often manifest themselves subconsciously making him a wild card. The character played a large role in Jonathan Hickman’s companion Fantastic Four and Future Foundation series and with Hickman’s influence already being felt in the Multiverse Saga, it’s not surprising that his work may inspire Marvel Studios Fantastic Four and, potentially, Avengers: Secret Wars.

    What about the Richards’ second child, Valeria? While it’s unknown just how far into their superhero careers the Fantastic Four are, the unique circumstances of Sue’s pregnancy with Valeria and Franklin’s role in saving his sister’s life–along with Dr. Doom–it would be a shame not to see it on screen. All things being equal, some exposition could fill in the blanks of Franklin’s birth and early life just fine, but Val’s story may require and deserve to unfold on screen.

    Source: YouTube

  • ‘Fantastic Four’ Casting Update Teases a Sue-Centric Story

    ‘Fantastic Four’ Casting Update Teases a Sue-Centric Story

    Reed Richards is the brains of the Fantastic Four but Susan Storm has always been the heart and soul of Marvel’s First Family. As casting for Marvel Studios Fantastic Four gets underway, it looks as though the studio heads and director Matt Shakman understand just how important of a character the Invisible Woman is to the success of the project.

    According to Deadline’s Justin Kroll, as Shakman and Marvel Studios casting department, led by Sarah Finn, start the search for the MCU’s Fantastic Four, Sue is at the center. Kroll states that “the focus” of the casting process is finding their Sue Storm “and building out the rest of the team” from there.

    Given the importance of Sue to the rest of the cast, it would seem that the character will be the centerpiece of whatever story Shakman intends to tell, something that has long been the case in the comics. The report’s indication that casting is just now gearing up is interesting as a slew of names has been passed around as “top contenders” for months now. It also makes Shakman’s recent meeting with star Mila Kunis a bit more interesting as it could indicate potential interest in Kunis for the role of Sue.

  • Kevin Feige Calls ‘Fantastic Four’ A Pillar of the MCU, Teases Forthcoming Updates

    Kevin Feige Calls ‘Fantastic Four’ A Pillar of the MCU, Teases Forthcoming Updates

    It’s been nearly four years since Kevin Feige announced that Marvel Studios was developing a Fantastic Four film. At the time, no details were shared about the project and, unfortunately, in the time that’s passed since the announcement, not much has changed on that front. The studio has provided information on the writers, director and release date but as the project continues to get pushed back, the lack of any solid information about it seems to be wearing on fans. It looks like that may change sooner rather than later, however.

    In an interview with EW, Marvel Studios’ gato grande gave a brief, but promising update on the state of Fantastic Four. Feige revealed that along with the two saga-ending Avengers films, Fantastic Four is one of the projects he is most excited about. “The only other one in terms of me personally and my 23-year history is the Fantastic Four,” Feige said of which upcoming projects peaked his personal interest. “We sort of talked about mutants and that whole aspect to the Marvel world, but Fantastic Four is the foundation for everything that came after in the comics,” he explained.

    Despite the wait, fans are certainly excited as well and, according to Feige, the wait may be ending soon. “People will start to hear more about that [Fantastic Four] soon,” pledged Feige. “We plan on that being a big pillar of the MCU going forward, just the way they’ve been in the comics for 50 or 60 years.” “Soon” is a very relative term. It could mean next week or it could mean July, but with a script complete and casting in the works, desperate fans will hope it’s the latter.

    Source: EW

  • ‘Fantastic Four’ Director Matt Shakman Recently Met with Mila Kunis

    ‘Fantastic Four’ Director Matt Shakman Recently Met with Mila Kunis

    Casting for Marvel Studios Fantastic Four is underway and while it seems a new front-runner for the role of Reed Richards emerges each week, another and potentially more important role of the film never gets quite the same amount of attention. While Reed is the brains, Sue Storm is the heart and soul of Marvel’s First Family and any successful film adaptation of the source material would benefit from a strong actress in the role. Though the rumor mill for Sue had been quiet, it’s likely about to heat up now.

    Thanks to the Daily Mail, it’s been revealed that Fantastic Four director Matt Shakman recently met with That ’70s Show star Mila Kunis. While there’s no indication that the two met to discuss a role in Fantastic Four, it is possible that Kunis has the star power necessary for the part. While she’s a strong comedic actress, Kunis received Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice and Screen Actors’ Guild nominations for her supporting role in Black Swan.

    Of course, even if the meeting was for a role in Fantastic Four, there’s no guarantee that it was for the role of Sue. With Jonathan Hickman‘s influence being felt across the Multiverse Saga, it’s possible Shakman could be ironically looking at Kunis for the role of Yabbat Ummon Turru, Marvle’s own Black Swan who played a large role in Marvel Comics’ 2015 event Secret Wars. Kunis also has a wealth of experience as a voice actor, having voiced Meg Griffin on Family Guy in 393 episodes over the past 24 years as well as doing voice work on Stoner Cats, Wonder Park and more.

    Though no casting announcements have been made officially, Shakman is deep in the process. Production on Fantastic Four is currently scheduled to get underway early in 2024 ahead of a February 14, 2025 release.

    Source: Daily Mail