Kevin Feige confirmed that Marvel’s First Family will be the first project of theMCU’s Phase 6. While Phase 6 is still a ways off, withPhase 5 having kicked offthis February release ofAnt-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, there are already plenty of rumors circulating regarding who will be taking the roles of Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm in the upcomingFantastic Fourmovie. With John Krasinski playing a variant of Mr. Fantastic inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, he seems like an obvious choice. However, he has admittedhe’s not surewhether he’ll be coming back or not.
Updated August 13, 2025: If you’re a fan of the Fantastic Four or just looking to see who might be a good choice to play them, you’ll be happy to know that this article has been updated with additional information.
With an estimated 2025 release date, audiences don’t know much about the film yet. Casting on the film has hit a standstill due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Even still, that has not stopped rumors from flying or fans from making their picks for who should play the Fantastic Four. Reddit users have chosen their own fan-favorite casting suggestions for the First Family and the iconic villains, and here are some of the biggest names and some that might actually come true.
Rahul Kohli as Reed Richards
As the leading man of the First Family, casting Reed Richards is no easy task. However, a dive into the subreddit, Fan Cast suggests castingRahul Kohlias the iconic Mr. Fantastic. TheiZombiestar is virtually tied withThe Officestar John Krasinski as a favorite fan cast. To add an extra level to that, Kohli has teased Marvel fans with aFantastic Four costume. Sure, it may all be for fun and simply a joke aimed at fans, but maybe Kohli is genuinely interested in the role of Mr. Fantastic.
Glenn Howerton as Reed Richards
Straight out of The Fantastic Four subreddit, one Redditor has suggestedGlenn Howertonplay Mr. Fantastic, even offering fanart of Howerton as the character. As a classically trained actor in the business for 20 years, he knows how to play a character who is first and foremost a family man, second a genius, and third someone who is married to his work.
Related:Fantastic 4 in the MCU: Every Actor Rumored to Play Mr. Fantastic
A controversial pick for sure, as Howerton is known for his roles as a narcissistic jerk, such as his role as Dennis Reynolds inIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Howerton also previously tested for the role Star-Lord inGuardians of the Galaxyand almost got the part, so he is clearly on Marvel Studios radar. Casting him as Reed Richards would be a surprising and refreshing take on the iconic character.
William Jackson Harper as Reed Richards
Another strong candidate to play Reed isWilliam Jackson Harper. On the Fancast subreddit, he’s been a very popular choice, with one Redditor saying that “he can come of as smart, he can play a loving husband and father who’s also a bit of a jerk.” His history playing Chidi Anagonye onThe Good Placeshows that he has experience portraying the lovable genius that Reed needs to be.
Harper has every trait you’d be looking for in Mr. Fantastic and has the support of tons of fans already. While he may have recently playedQuaz in this year’sAnt-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, he’d hardly be the first actor to take on two roles in the MCU.
Matt Smith as Reed Richards
Another popular fan cast for the role of Reed Richards for years has beenMatt Smith. Matt Smith is most popularly known for playing the Eleventh Doctor onDoctor Who. He also played Prince Phillip in the first two seasons ofThe Crownand recently stars in a major role on the hit HBO seriesHouse of the Dragon. While he previously played a villain inMorbius, nobody will hold that movie against him. Smith certainly would be a great addition to the MCU alongside his formerDoctor Whocompanion, Karen Gillian, who plays Nebula in theGuardians of the Galaxyfilms.
Lily James as Sue Storm
While many fans want to see Krasinski cast as Reed Richards and his wife Emily Blunt as Sue Storm, the latter has not shown much interest in taking the role. A top fan casting of the movie without Krasinski or Blunt showsLily Jamesas Invisible Woman. James is an excellent actor with great range. It certainly helps that she resembles Sue. One Redditor even claims that she “can play the erudite, fiercely intelligent, stoic force of character with the reserved, almost maternal protectiveness that Sue needs to bring to the team.”
Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm
One of the most popular choices for Sue StormVanessa Kirby. Ever since the film’s announcement all the way back in 2019, Kirby’s name has been thrown out, and fan cast for the Invisible Woman. Rising to prominence starring inThe CrownandMission: Impossible - Fallout, Kirby’s star power has been on the rise over the last few years. As the heart of the Fantastic Four, Sue Storm’s caring nature is what keeps the team together.
Kirby possesses those qualities and could easily bring the character to life. There’s been so much support behind her casting that theactress herself has been asked about it, to which she said it would be an honor.
Margot Robbie as Sue Storm
Margot Robbieis certainly on top of the world right now, following the box office sensation ofBarbie. Robbie is one of the most in-demand stars, having worked with directors like Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino onThe Wolf of Wall StreetandOnce Upon a Time in Hollywood, respectively. She is also no stranger to superhero projects as she played Harley Quinn in the DCEU in films likeSuicide Squad,Birds of Prey, andThe Suicide Squad.
With the DCEU status currently unknown, many fans have wanted to see Robbie join the MCU and see the role of Sue Storm as the perfect fit for her. She was recently rumored for the part, and audiences certainly would embrace the multi-talented star as being the famous Fantastic Four member.
Dacre Montgomery as Johnny Storm
Brought into the public’s eye for his role in the Netflix seriesStranger Things,Dacre Montgomeryhas quickly become a popular fan choice for the Human Torch. The hero is best known to be a handsome and charismatic character, which Montgomery has already channeled on-screen. In addition, Montgomery already has experience acting as a superhero, as seen in his role as the Red Ranger in the 2017Power Rangersfilm. This makes him a perfect choice to play Johnny Storm.
Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm
AnotherStranger Thingsalumni is a fan favorite for Johnny Storm, aka The Human Torch. A recent rumor suggests thatJoseph Quinn, who played Eddie Munson in the fourth season of the acclaimed Netflix series, is reportedly being considered by Marvel Studios to play the hot-headed member of the Fantastic Four. Quinn is a high-profile actor on the rise, and he certainly would be a strong pick to play the Human Torch and join the MCU.
Zac Efron as Johnny Storm
Another popular choice to play the enigmatic Human Torch isZac Efron. Coming to fame for starring in the Disney Channel original filmHigh School Musicaland quickly becoming a teenage heartthrob, Efron moved into becoming acompelling leading actorfor many fans. He’s even already interested in joining the MCU, previously stating that he would jump at the first opportunity to become a part of the MCU.
