Not a lot of characters get internet traction as much as Mr Fantastic gets. While the Fantastic Four film is still very early in the pre-production process, many have taken to fan-casting Reed Richards for it. We did get a small taste of what the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Reed Richards will be like when we saw John Krasinski’s version of the character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but the President of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige has confirmed it is improbable that the actor will play the canon variant in upcoming projects.
Since there are so many actors that could potentially be Mr Fantastic in the MCU, here are five actors we think would make a great Reed Richards, genius and all.
Check Out 5 Actors Who Can Play Mr Fantastic
Penn Badgley
After the performance he has given in Netflix’s You, Penn Badgley has become a household name. He has the ability to play characters in a way that humanises them. With Reed Richards, there is always a moral dilemma surrounded by existence-threatening events. Badgley’s representation of the character would make him more grounded in the story while also handling the big-stakes events. Since Kevin Feige has already mentioned that the Fantastic Four movie would not explore the backstory, he would definitely bring the levity that would subtly communicate the events that transpired.
Ioan Gruffudd
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. While MCU is completely reinventing the character, it doesn’t mean we cannot see Gruffudd put on the suit one more time and make an appearance as a variant of Reed Richards. He may be playing a senior version of the character, but with the universe opening up, there are definitely opportunities for the character to come back even if it is just for a cameo. The depth he brought to Reed Richards by making him a little timid while also giving him a stellar moral compass is what makes him such a great actor.
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Rahul Kohli
Kohli has been steadily becoming one of the most sought after actors, especially with his work in Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Bly Manor. Marvel has a reputation for picking up actors who haven’t been around in a lot of popular projects. Having done the same with Tom Hiddleston and Iman Vellani, they can bring Rahul Kohli on board for Mr Fantastic. Additionally, Kohli has really explored his acting chops by working in multiple genres including drama, horror, comedy and thriller. He would make a great reimagination of the character.
Zachary Levi
Already gotten the superhero treatment, Zachary Levi has made a great Shazam. However, if he did switch sides to Marvel, he would make a great Reed Richards. With the physique and the personality quirk that Levi has, the comic accuracy that he would bring would be interesting. Levi’s work in other projects like The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and The Mauritanian has shown that he can act in a range of projects. This character will just be another feather in his cap making him one of the first actors to headline both a DC and Marvel project.
William Jackson Harper
As Chidi Anagonye in The Good Place, he brilliantly embodied the neuroses an intelligent person feels on the daily. While Reed Richards is the Smartest Man Alive, he is crippled with anxiety and neuroses. William Jackson Harper would bridge this perceived gap brilliantly. Additionally, he is also just coming up in the industry, but his roles in shows like The Good Place and The Resort have proven him to be a versatile actor.
The actor had already joined the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania film in an undisclosed role and fans have taken to speculating that he would make a great Reed Richards and we agree. When Cassie was talking about her collaboration with the Quantum Realm satellite, she might be hinting at the Fantastic Four, or at least Reed Richards.
Which actor would make the best Mr Fantastic? Let us know in the comments below.