The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in
The Fantastic Four #1 (November 1961), which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium. The Fantastic Four was the first superhero team created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby, who developed a collaborative approach to creating comics with this title that they would use from then on. As the first superhero team title produced by Marvel Comics, it formed a cornerstone of the company's 1960s rise from a small division of a publishing company to a pop-culture conglomerate. The title would go on to showcase the talents of comics creators such as Roy Thomas, John Byrne, Steve Englehart, Walt Simonson, John Buscema, George Pérez and Tom DeFalco, and is one of several Marvel titles originating in the Silver Age of Comic Books that is still in publication today. The four individuals traditionally associated with the Fantastic Four, who gained superpowers after exposure to cosmic rays during a scientific mission to outer space, are: Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards), a scientific genius and the leader of the group, who can stretch his body into incredible lengths and shapes; the Invisible Woman (Susan "Sue" Storm), who became Reed's wife, who can render herself invisible and later project powerful force fields; the Human Torch (Johnny Storm), Sue's younger brother, who can generate flames, surround himself with them and fly; and the monstrous Thing (Ben Grimm), their grumpy but benevolent friend, a former college football star and Reed's college roommate as well as a good pilot, who possesses superhuman strength and endurance due to the nature of his stone-like flesh. Ever since the original 1961 introduction, the Fantastic Four have been portrayed as a somewhat dysfunctional, yet loving, family. Breaking convention with other comic-book archetypes of the time, they would squabble and hold grudges both deep and petty, and eschewed anonymity or secret identities in favor of celebrity status. The team is also well known for its recurring struggles with characters such as the villainous monarch Doctor Doom, the planet-devouring Galactus, the sea-dwelling prince Namor, the spacefaring Silver Surfer, and the shape-changing alien Skrulls.
As we all know, Marvel's first family superheroes may get a reboot after two mediocre movies in 2005 and 2007. And of course there are so many considerable actors for the new movie. Check my picks of the heroes and several villains!
Thanks to
Wikipedia for all the introductions.
THE FOUR Mr. Fantastic/Reed Richards: Matthew Morrison
Reed Richards is the leader of the team, also one of the most brilliant human on Earth. He is the inventor of the spacecraft which was bombarded by cosmic radiation on its maiden voyage, granting the Fantastic Four their powers. Richards gained the ability to stretch his body into any shape he desires.
I would have picked actors like Hugh Laurie or others, but after I saw
Glee where Morrison was the club's teacher as well as their leader, I found he suits as Richards. A capable leader, wise, yet he can also act romantic in front of girls. Plus, he looks like Richards.
Invisible Girl/Sue Storm: Diane Kruger
Susan Storm is the team's second-in-command, Reed's girlfriend (Later wife) and also Johnny's sister. Sue received her powers after being exposed to a cosmic storm. Her primary power deals with light waves, allowing her to render herself and others invisible. However, she can also project powerful fields of invisible psionic energy which she uses for a variety of offensive and defensive effects.
'Nuff said I guess, Kruger has been a common people's choice, and she acts well. Of course I'd pick
January Jones if she is not Emma Frost already.
Human Torch/Johnny Storm: Ryan Kwanten
The youngest of the group, he is brash and impetuous when compared to his beautiful and compassionate sister, Susan Storm, his sensible brother-in-law, Mister Fantastic, and the grumbling Thing. Like the rest of the Fantastic Four, the Human Torch gained his powers on a spacecraft bombarded by cosmic rays. He can engulf his entire body in flames, is able to fly, can absorb fire harmlessly into his own body, and can control any nearby fire by sheer force of will. "Flame on!", which the Torch customarily shouts when activating his full-body flame effect, has become his catchphrase.
Well
True Blood's Kwanten is undoubtedly perfect for Johnny. But he's now 34, despite his young face he may be too old. And he can be Wally West too, so maybe we'll need another one...
Human Torch/Johnny Storm: Garrett Hedlund
After seeing
Tron: Legacy, we have seen Hedlund as a reckless, daring, fun-loving hero (Plus sometimes wise-cracking), yet brave and heroic. With his looks that fit, I can see him as Johnny.
The Thing/Ben Grimm: Adam Baldwin
Benjamin Grimm is Reed's friend since they were in college, and he was a football champion. When Reed told him that Reed was building a spaceship, Ben jokingly said that he would fly it. However, seeing that as a promise, Ben eventually became the pilot of the ship for Reed's cosmic ray experiment. During this unauthorized ride into the upper atmosphere of Earth and the Van Allen Belts, they are pelted by a cosmic ray storm and exposed to radiation against which the ship's shields are no protection. Upon crashing down to Earth, each of the four learn that they have developed fantastic superhuman abilities. Grimm's skin is transformed into a thick, lumpy orange hide, which gradually evolves into his now-familiar craggy covering of large rocky plates. Richards proposes the quartet band together to use their new abilities for the betterment of humanity, and Grimm, in a moment of self-pity, adopts the super-heroic sobriquet, The Thing.
Having act in
Firefly,
Serenity, as well as voicing many characters in various media (Including as Superman in
Superman: Doomsday and recently as the Decepticon Breakdown), Baldwin also looks perfect as Ben Grimm. And with his muscular build, he can be The Thing too; or if The Thing will be made CGI, he surely can be a nice voice actor. A perfect choice.
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS Alicia Masters: Teresa Palmer
Alicia is a blind sculptress who is able to create incredibly lifelike representations of real people by touch and memory alone; her sculptures of the Fantastic Four and other superheroes are frequently depicted. A caring, sensitive character, she has been a romantic interest and confidant of The Thing, a member of the Fantastic Four who is frequently ashamed of his monstrous appearance. She has also helped explain human life and emotion to the alien Silver Surfer.
Teresa act nice as a 'sweet girlfriend' in
Sorcerer's Apprentice, so why can't she be Alicia.
Wyatt Wingfoot: Adam Beach
Wyatt Wingfoot is a fictional, comic-book supporting character in the Marvel Comics universe, who first appeared in
Fantastic Four #50 (May 1966). While having no superpowers, he has spent much time in the company of the Fantastic Four due to his friendship with Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, and his relationship with occasional Fantastic Four member She-Hulk. Even with his lack of powers, Wingfoot is an excellent athlete, marksman, hand-to-hand fighter, tracker and animal trainer, and has been of timely help in numerous potentially devastating situations. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
Adam Beach has a nice acting talent. He's not too tall for Wyatt, however when compared to the other actors I pick, he'd be a bit taller than them so it's fair to say that he'll fit the role. Plus he's got the other physical attributes to fit Wyatt, so why not.
Silver Surfer/Norin Raad: Doug Jones - Laurence Fishburne's voice
Norrin Radd, a young astronomer of the planet Zenn-La, made a bargain with the cosmic entity Galactus, pledging to serve as his herald in order to save his homeworld from destruction. Imbued in return with a tiny portion of Galactus' Power Cosmic, Radd acquired great powers and a new version of his original appearance. Galactus also created for Radd a surfboard-like craft — modeled after a childhood fantasy of his — on which he would travel at speeds beyond that of light. Known from then on as the Silver Surfer, Radd began to roam the cosmos searching for new planets for Galactus to consume. When his travels finally took him to Earth, the Surfer came face-to-face with the Fantastic Four, a team of powerful superheroes that helped him to rediscover his nobility of spirit. Betraying Galactus, the Surfer saved Earth but was punished in return by being exiled there.
I know this is a reboot, but I can't find other actors that will be the perfect Surfer. Doug was nearly perfect as him, plus Fishburne's voice was great. No matter in which continuity, Doug-Fishburne will always be the perfect Surfer.
Namor the Sub-Mariner: Zachary Quinto
The mutant son of a human sea captain and of a princess of the mythical undersea kingdom of Atlantis, Namor possesses the super-strength and aquatic abilities of the "Homo mermanus" race, as well as the mutant ability of flight, along with other superhuman powers. Through the years, he has been alternately portrayed as a good-natured but short-fused superhero, or a hostile invader seeking vengeance for perceived wrongs that misguided surface-dwellers committed against his kingdom. The first known comic book antihero, the Sub-Mariner has remained a historically important and relatively popular Marvel character. He has served directly with the Avengers, Fantastic Four, the Invaders, and the X-Men as well as serving as a foil to all of them on occasion.
You can't doubt Quinto's act as an antagonist, as he was in
Heroes. Also he was a bit anti-hero in
Star Trek. And you can't also doubt his looks as Namor if you see him in Spock make-up!
Black Bolt/Blackagar Boltagon: Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Black Bolt's first appearance established the character as being a member of the Inhuman ruling class. The title
Thor featured a back-up feature called Tales of the Inhumans, which recounts the character's origin story. The son of two preeminent Inhumans, Black Bolt is exposed to the mutagenic Terrigen Mist while still an embryo and eventually demonstrates the ability to manipulate electrons. To protect the Inhuman community from his devastating voice, Black Bolt is placed inside a sound-proof chamber and is tutored in the use of his powers. Reentering Inhuman society as a young man — having vowed never to speak — the character is attacked by his younger brother Maximus, who attempts, unsuccessfully, to goad him into speaking. Black Bolt proved popular, and decides to leave Attilan to explore the outside world. The character reappears in a story focusing on his cousin Medusa, drives off the Hulk after the monster defeats the entire Inhuman Royal Family (Medusa, Gorgon, Karnak, Triton, and Crystal), and with the Fantastic Four battles his brother Maximus and his own group of rogue Inhumans.
To cast Black Bolt, looking for an actor who has serious skill of acting is very neccessary since he will not speak a word. Meyers' quality as an actor is not doubtable; check out
Elvis and
The Tudors, and he'll show us that quality without the needs to utter even one line. Additionally, he has portrayed a king in both of those series (Alright, a "king" actually in
Elvis, just kidding), so no one can say that he doesn't have any charisma to fit the character.
Medusa/Medusalith Amaquelin Boltagon: Evan Rachel Wood
Medusa belongs to the race of Inhumans, a species of prehistoric earthlings mutated by the Terrigen Mists produced deep under the Inhuman city-state of Attilan, presently located in the oxygen-rich Blue Area of the Moon. Crystal (who later became the wife of the Avenger Quicksilver) is Medusa's younger sister. Medusa was born on the island of Attilan to nutritionists Quelin and Ambur, who were both Inhumans. Quelin was the brother of Rynda, wife of King Agon. Because of that family connection, Medusa was considered a member of Attilan's Royal Family. Her parents chose to expose her to the Terrigen Mists when she was a child, though currently the Inhumans' tradition dictates that exposure to the Mists must wait until puberty. During her adolescent years Medusa would often visit her distant cousin Black Bolt during his confinement, and she learned to communicate with him through body language. During the course of these visits, the two fell in love and became engaged. She attended Black Bolt's release from his isolation cell at the age of eighteen, and witnessed the first confrontation between Black Bolt and his insane brother Maximus the Mad. Maximus also claims to be in love with Medusa, and has made frequent attempts to usurp both the throne of Attilan as well as his brother's bride-to-be. It was in Maximus' first successful attempt to take the throne that Medusa was knocked off a sky-sled by the Trikon and afflicted with amnesia. She left Attilan, and wandered Europe as a thief.
Wood's fitting looks for Medusa was my first reason on why I picked her. But then after seeing
True Blood where she also portrayed a queen (Of vampires in this case), I'm pretty convinced of her skills and so I decided that she is a nice pick for Medusa.
Uatu The Watcher: CGI - Phil LaMarr's voice
Uatu, often simply known as The Watcher, is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and designed by artist Jack Kirby, he first appeared in
The Fantastic Four #13 (April 1963). He is a member of the Watchers, an extraterrestrial species who in the distant past stationed themselves across space to monitor the activities of other species. Uatu is the Watcher assigned to observe Earth and its solar system.
Not only LaMarr has voiced the character in
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, but apparently he has a very fitting voice for the role and is able to make Uatu (Who I envisioned to be built by CGI) 'alive'.
VILLAINS Dr. Doom: Mads Mikkelsen
Victor von Doom is the son of a gypsy. His late mother was a sorceress out of his knowledge, while his father was a gypsy healer. After his father's dead, he discovered his mother's sorcery tools, and learned them by himself. Besides his sorcery knowledge, he is also a genius and inventor. He was offered to go to Empire State University, where he first met Reed Richards, his future archenemy. He attempted to build a trans-dimensional device, however it was a failure. The explosion of the device left his face severely scarred, and he blamed Richards for this. He then went to Tibet, where he was found by a group of dark monks. In their hideout, Doom forged his armor and his trademark mask, swearing to conceal his face forever and take revenge to Reed Richards.
I would pick someone like Christoph Waltz, which may make a perfect Doom, however behind the mask Victor is still a rather young man and originally handsome. Mads has this 'charm', and he can also portray a ruthless, cunning villain as recently seen in
Casino Royale. Plus, he is also a European descend as Victor is.
Mole Man: Timothy Spall
The Mole Man was originally Harvey Rupert Elder, an American nuclear engineer and explorer. Elder was socially shunned due to a combination of his abrasive personality and his homely, dwarfish appearance. Furthermore, his fellow explorers ridiculed him for his eccentric, crackpot theories regarding a Hollow Earth. While following the group of explorers called the Monster Hunters, he stumbled upon Monster Island, which was at the time a base of the Deviant Warlord Kro. When Elder fell into a massive cave leading deep into the underground realm of Subterranea, he decided his theories had finally been vindicated. However, he suffered permanent damage to his eyes when he gazed directly upon a highly reflective deposit of diamonds. Partially blind and apparently secluded from the surface world forever, Elder dubbed himself the Mole Man and began exploring his new home. He eventually became the ruler of the branch of Subterraneans now known as the Moloids, and the ruler of much of Subterranea and the caverns of Monster Isle. He used the Deviant-derived creatures and technology that he found in Subterranea to strike back at the outer world in numerous attempts to rule or humble the world that had rejected him.
I initially picked Eugene Levy for this one, however then I saw
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban several weeks ago, where Spall portrayed Peter Pettigrew (Sorry if I'm wrong on this one; my memory isn't that good and I'm not a fan of
Harry Potter as well). I was impressed by Spall; not only that he's a good actor, but he also will fit Mole Man perfectly, considering that in that movie I saw he portrayed a similar character: a character with a rather weird posture, bitter and not so 'bright'. He will be the perfect choice.
Super Skrull/Kl'rt: Nathan Jones
Kl'rt - more commonly known as the Super-Skrull - hails from the Skrull capital world of Tarnax IV (in the Tarnax System in the Andromeda Galaxy) which has since been destroyed by Galactus. The Skrull Emperor Dorrek VII wanted revenge against the Fantastic Four, who thwarted the Empire's attempt to invade Earth. Dorrek handpicked the mighty warrior Kl'rt, who was artificially augmented and given the combined abilities of the Fantastic Four. Kl'rt's power levels, however, exceeded the originals--stronger than the Thing; superior flight and greater pyrokinetic ability than the Human Torch; better control of invisibility and telekinesis than the Invisible Woman; and an ability to stretch beyond that of Mr. Fantastic. The newly-named "Super-Skrull" also retained his innate Skrull shapeshifting abilities and strong hypnotic skills. He was then dispatched to Earth to defeat the Fantastic Four and pave the way for a renewed invasion by the Skrull Empire. During their first encounter, the Super-Skrull keeps the Fantastic Four at bay with his superior powers. However, Mr. Fantastic correctly guesses that Kl'rt's powers are augmented by an energy beam directed from the Skrull home world after he detects it. He then challenges the Super-Skrull to a fight on the uninhabitated Crater Isle. Blocking the beam with a device the Invisible Girl places on him while the rest of the members distract him deprives Kl'rt of his new powers and he is quickly defeated and imprisoned in a crater by the Human Torch while pursuing the Invisible Girl. He returns in the guise of the Invincible Man, to fight the Fantastic Four. He returned to the Skrull home world in exchange for Johnny Storm and Sue Storm's father, Franklin Storm, who then dies due to a bomb placed on him by a Skrull in a last attempt to kill the Four. The Super-Skrull was also among the villains summoned by Doctor Doom to attack Reed and Sue at their wedding, though Mister Fantastic used a machine to remove all the villain's memories of it. He is sent back to Earth time and again, and battles other heroes such as Thor, and Captain Marvel. The Super-Skrull also acts as the Empire's agent on Earth during the Kree-Skrull War, and manages to temporarily disband the superhero team the Avengers and kidnap Mar-Vell and the Avenger siblings the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. With the war ending in a truce, the disgraced Super Skrull later sides with the Titan Thanos and alongside Skragg aids Thanos in his quest for the Cosmic Cube. The Super-Skrull attempts to capture Rick Jones for Thanos, but winds up fighting Mar-Vell and the Thing. The hero Mar-Vell, however, defeats both the Super-Skrull and eventually Thanos. After a skirmish with Spider-Man, the Human Torch, and Ms. Marvel, Kl'rt becomes trapped in the Van Allen radiation belt.
It is undeniable that Jones has the perfect build to fill in the role of this character. I've never seen him act though, but I'm pretty sure that Kl'rt doen't require that much of acting and as for Jones, uttering several lines won't hurt either.
Galactus: CGI - James Earl Jones's voice
Galactus was originally an explorer called Galan from a planet called "Taa" in a universe which existed before the Big Bang. When the impending cataclysm gradually killed all life in his universe, including almost all of his own people, he and other survivors sought to escape the decay of their world. They left Taa via a space vessel, but it was eventually engulfed in the cataclysm that ended the old universe and spawned a new one. Galan, however, did not die, but was transformed through a bonding with the Sentience of the Universe, and gestated for billions of years, emerging - partially due to the inactivity of a Watcher - into the new universe as Galactus.
My previous pick would be Hugo Weaving, based on his performance as the voice of Megatron in
Transformers series. Yes I realized he's Red Skull and thus I was kind of hard on that choice. But then I remembered Earl, who was the voice of Darth Vader himself. Havin an experience in voicing a space tyrrant, how could he doesn't fit for the voice of a planet-eater.
Jolt17: Now I think this is pretty much enough, so tell me what do you think in the usual spot!
Also check out my other fan casts!
MARVEL
Fantastic Four Reboot
X-Men Reboot
DC
Justice League
UPDATED: Justice League