Image Courtesy of Marvel Entertainment

The future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe looks fantastic. Thanks to the Disney/Fox deal, Marvel Studios can access more of the incredibly popular Marvel Comics characters. Most likely, that means a Fantastic Four franchise reboot is imminent. But who will Marvel Studios choose for their Fantastic Four cast? Should John Krasinski really play Reed Richards?

Casting can be tough for superhero movies. FANTASTIC FOUR (2015) was criticized endlessly for some of its controversial casting choices. CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019) recently received flak from its leading cast member. Therefore, these casting choices for the MCU’s FANTASTIC FOUR were determined very carefully.

Andrew Garfield as Reed Richards

Reed Richards is the head of the family. His intelligence and machismo set him apart from the rest of the group. Additionally, he is known to be a bit arrogant at times. The role of Reed Richards would require a lot of talking. More often than not, Reed’s spouting off about science this and science that.

Andrew Garfield is an Oscar-nominated actor with previous experience in the superhero genre. Many might cite the failure of THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2012) franchise as a detriment to his candidacy. It’s highly debatable. Remember, Marvel Studios loves to give actors second chances. In the past, they cast two former Human Torches (Chris Evans and Michael B. Jordan) as lead characters in successful franchises and everybody loved them.

At the ripe age of 35, Garfield is in the perfect position to begin leading the Fantastic Four cast within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His performances in films such as THE SOCIAL NETWORK (2010), SILENCE (2016), and HACKSAW RIDGE (2016) prove that he can masterfully display Reed’s intelligence, arrogance, and heroism. He deserves a second chance at superhero success!

(Plus, I’d rather see fan-favorite John Krasinski expand his skills as a writer/director than an actor at this point.)

Teresa Palmer as Sue Storm

If Reed Richards is the head of the family, Sue Storm is the Hulk. Her powers allow her to create invisible energy constructs and shields, making her a very valuable asset in the field. She once used her powers to suffocate the Hulk! She’s arguably the strongest member of the group. Whoever plays her must be able to exude strength, while also having motherly tendencies.

Teresa Palmer radiates confidence at the age of 33 and, like Andrew Garfield, she has experience working on projects with lots of special effects. Palmer’s background as an actress in films like LIGHTS OUT (2016), WARM BODIES (2013), and THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE (2010) makes it clear that she is prepared to make the jump to the bigger-budget filmmaking found in the MCU. But that’s not all she has going for her.

Any duo playing Reed and Sue as part of a future Fantastic Four cast needs to have good on-screen chemistry. Thankfully, in 2017, Palmer starred alongside Garfield in HACKSAW RIDGE as his love interest, Dorothy. Their romance was not only believable but one of the highlights of the film. If Garfield is to play Richards, there’s no one better than Palmer to star as his soulmate.

Ansel Elgort as Johnny Storm

The Human Torch, despite his many faults, is a hero. Some might find him to be annoying, hot-headed, and a bit of a douche, but he’s also very selfless. During Jonathan Hickman’s run on the FANTASTIC FOUR, Johnny gave his life in order to protect the Baxter Building from the Annihilation Horde. In addition to these key personality traits, it’d be nice to see a live-action Johnny Storm get along with Peter Parker. (They’re pals in the books.)

Flawed and charismatic types are not new to Ansel Elgort, who, at the age of 25, is already comfortable leading popular blockbuster films. Notable characters of his include playing Gus in FAULT IN OUR STARS (2014), and Baby in BABY DRIVER (2017). These roles allowed Elgort to flex his magnetic personality. Meanwhile, his performance in the undeniably unpopular film BILLIONAIRE BOYS CLUB (2018) shows that Elgort is capable of portraying Johnny’s occasional douchebaggery.

Another cool thing about adding Ansel Elgort to the Fantastic Four cast is that he seems to get along with the one-and-only Tom Holland. They were once photographed having a blast at an engagement party in 2017. As mentioned before, when bringing the Four to the MCU, it’s important that their relationships to other Marvel characters are adapted properly. If Elgort and Holland can bring the energy they bring to these photographs of their interactions as Peter Parker and Johnny Storm, fans will definitely be satisfied.

Ryan Gosling as Ben Grimm

Ben Grimm is the heart, and, therefore, the most important member of the Fantastic Four. Though he isn’t directly related to any of the other three heroes, he introduces a very unique dynamic to the family. Unlike Reed, Sue, and Johnny, Ben desires nothing more than to live an ordinary lifestyle. The duality that Thing naturally brings to the table is a staple of Jack Kirby’s and Stan Lee’s style of storytelling. An accurate portrayal of the cigar-smoking, blue-eyed, ever-loving Thing may be the key to success for the MCU’s FANTASTIC FOUR cast.

Two-time Oscar-nominee Ryan Gosling was born to play Ben Grimm. Those who’ve seen him in BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2017) or LA LA LAND (2016) might agree that he’s perfect for the job. After all, Gosling built his career by type-casting himself as a depressed, blue-eyed protagonist! Even at the age of 38, men and women alike admire his talents and his looks. Imagine how sad people would be to see those looks go to waste after he transforms into a rock monster. The audience would definitely feel Ben’s pain.

In all seriousness, Gosling would knock this out of the park. Aside from the excellent brooding he displays in DRIVE (2011), and BLADE RUNNER 2049, Gosling also has drastically under-appreciated comedic talent. He’s very lively in THE BIG SHORT (2015), but my favorite of his films is actually NICE GUYS (2016), where he plays a deadbeat private detective and father. I’d love to see Gosling flex his comedic muscles alongside some of the other wise-cracking Marvel heroes.

BONUS FANTASTIC FOUR CAST: Rami Malek as Doctor Doom

Doctor Doom is the foil to the four. The Latverian ruler primarily shares Richard’s intelligence and arrogance, but his magical prowess allows him to go toe-to-toe with all of the Fantastic Four simultaneously. He is elegant, fearsome, noble, and wicked. He is Doom.

The final addition to this Fantastic Four cast is Rami Malek. Malek is 37 years old and is an incredible, Oscar-winning talent with Egyptian heritage. I have no doubt in my mind that he would portray Doom to the best of his ability. But don’t take my word for it, Malek already has Robert Downey Jr.’s blessing. If none of this convinces you, check out the Mr. Robot channel on YouTube. (They posted some epic, spoiler-y clips of his best-in-show performances.)

The Best Fantastic Four Cast

These are the best Fantastic Four casting choices Marvel Studios could possibly make: Andrew Garfield as Reed Richards, Teresa Palmer as Sue Storm, Ansel Elgort as Johnny Storm, and Ryan Gosling as Ben Grimm. Additionally, Rami Malek would make a dope Doctor Doom. All of these actors are incredibly talented and have the proper age and experience necessary to lead a franchise for years to come.