Fantastic Four casting rumors are coming thick and fast, as Jake Gyllenhaal is touted to be the latest actor to be offered the role of Mr. Fantastic.
Sources reported by MyTimeToShineHello on Twitter have confirmed that Matt Smith (Doctor Who, House of the Dragon, The Crown) turned down the role just before the SAG-AFTRA strikes, which puts Jake Gyllenhaal next in line.
Jake Gyllenhaal? Mysterio?
You’re absolutely right. Jake Gyllenhaal has already played a primary role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his portrayal of Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far From Home and (via archive footage) in Spider-Man: No Way Home. This is, to use MyTimeToShineHello’s words, ‘strange’ as no other actor has played two disparate and prominent roles in the mainstream MCU.
There are, of course, a few ways that writers could work around this.
The first would be to simply not mention it. Actors are actors, and we as the audience may just be expected to suspend our disbelief and see Jake Gyllenhaal’s two roles as being completely unrelated to each other.
The second would be to have it referenced by the characters as a throwaway line. “Dr Richards, has anyone ever told you how much you look like Mysterio?” Sometimes people look alike, so it could be a sight gag that is then left alone.
The third would be to have it referenced by Spider-Man, but no-one else. We haven’t really explored to what extent the events of the end of Far From Home have now been erased from their minds. Does anyone other than Peter Parker remember that Quentin Beck and Mysterio were one and the same?
The fourth, and most fun though I can see it causing a lot of backlash, would be to have them be the same character. Quentin Blake was an actor. What if he didn’t die at the hands of Spider-Man and instead started living his life in character as Reed Richards? I know there are a lot of potential plotholes there, but it could be a lot of fun to explore!
Finally, we could just call on our old friend the multiverse. Maybe another universe’s version of Quentin Beck went on to study sciences further and became the Mr Fantastic we all know.
Who Is The Mr Fantastic We All Know?
Reed Richards, is one of the founding members of the superhero team known as the Fantastic Four, created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. Reed Richards made his first appearance in “Fantastic Four” #1, published in 1961.
Reed Richards is one of the smartest individuals in the Marvel Universe. He is a brilliant scientist and inventor, specializing in a wide range of scientific disciplines, including physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering.
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Using his intelligence, Reed has created numerous technological devices and gadgets, many of which have been crucial in the team’s battles against super villains and cosmic threats. He is responsible for designing the Fantastic Four’s iconic uniforms and the Fantasticar, their signature mode of transportation.
As a result of exposure to cosmic rays during a space mission, Reed gained the superhuman ability to stretch and deform his body like rubber or plastic. This power allows him to elongate his limbs, change his appearance, and stretch his body into various shapes. He can also use this elasticity to enhance his physical abilities, such as strength and agility.
Reed Richards is married to Susan Storm, also known as the Invisible Woman, and in the comics they have two children, Franklin and Valeria Richards. The Fantastic Four is often portrayed as a close-knit family, including his best friend Ben Grimm, who becomes the Thing, and his scientific rival, Victor Von Doom, who becomes the supervillain Doctor Doom. and Reed’s role as a husband and father is an important aspect of his character.
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Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four have been integral parts of the Marvel Universe for decades, and they have played significant roles in many comic book storylines, crossovers, and adaptations into other media, such as animated series, video games, and live-action films.
Do you think this Jake Gyllenhaal casting rumor is likely? Would Marvel recast an actor in a completely different role? Do you think there will be a connection between Quentin and Reed or will they just let that lie? What is your favorite Jake Gyllenhaal role? Tell us all your thoughts about this rumor in the comments or on our social media.
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Source: Twitter
