Marvel Studios has spent some time getting their Fantastic Four film ready. This latest news gives us insight into what is taking so long.
A new report from Jeff Sneider on John Rocha’s The Hot Mic podcast puts the long-rumored inclusion of Adam Driver as Reed Richards into question. We first noted Driver’s possible inclusion as early as October 2022 from the original reporting on The Hot Mic.
Sneider starts the story by stating this update “contradicts some things” previously reported by the scooper. He tells viewers that Driver reportedly was never really involved with the project. Citing someone on the film’s production, Sneider adds that Driver wasn’t “engaging” with the Fantastic Four, saying the actor couldn’t connect to the character on the page.
This isn’t a complete surprise since recent reports have made Matt Smith a possible contender for the Reed Richards role. Sneider’s source also noted that they’d like to see Josh Hartnett in the part of Mr. Fantastic.
The added note is that Marvel could re-offer Driver the role once the strikes end when they get Josh Freidman’s new script turned in.
WandaVision’s Matt Shakman will helm this long-awaited Fantastic Four film. Josh Friedman will pen the script, reworking the project initially from Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer.
Fantastic Four was set for release on February 14th, 2025, but there’s no word if the Hollywood strikes will impact the release date.
Originally published July 30, 2023. Updated July 31, 2023.
