Fantastic Four Movie Has Reportedly Found Its The Thing

Just barely two years now before Marvel‘s Fantastic Four hits the theatres on Valentine’s Day 2025, casting rumours are still about and this time, it’s The Thing.

With the WGA strike still going on, many productions and projects are put on hold. Writers have put their pens down to raise their cause. Marvel Studios under Disney is among the companies that are feeling the brunt of the strike.

However, scripts and screenplays aside, projects still need their cast. Actors who will be chosen to portray the written character will go through a rigorous selection process. And by rigorous, we can also expect many names to get considered for just one part.

One will know which projects are highly anticipated by the number of casting rumours and the turnover of names per character. Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four definitely fits the bill for such a movie, with casting rumours on a weekly, maybe daily, basis.

For years Marvel has waited for its First Family to come home. Now that they are, they mean to do everything right.

Nowadays, certain considerations in the selection process of actors for a role apply, and the list of checkboxes could be getting longer day by day. Multiply that by four for the four characters Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and The Thing.

Among these four, The Thing, whose name is Ben Grimm, could be the one with the most diversified aspects to the character. Marvel describes him as

…a powerhouse with a heart of gold and the backbone of the Fantastic Four.

Fantastic Four May Have Found The Thing

READ MORE: Galactus And Silver Surfer To Feature In Fantastic Four Film

In the latest episode of the Hot Mic Podcast with Jeff Sneider and John Rocha, the two discussed the many rumours circulating about the MCU’s F4 casting. Further, Rocha and Sneider talked about casting an all-white team for the movie would “never happen”.

Despite many insiders saying that the roster is already a “done deal”, the fact remains that the studio has yet to make official announcements. Thus, all casting news at present is considered pure speculation.

The current roster lists Adam Driver as Mr. Fantastic, Margot Robbie or Jodie Comer as Sue Storm, Paul Mescal as Johnny Storm, then Mila Kunis as The Thing. Of the four, Mila Kunis already clarified and put the rumours to rest during her appearance on The Late Show With James Corden. She said:

We went out to a deli and had lunch together and the next day I was somehow in Fantastic Four. I am not in Fantastic Four but I know who is.

But before the audience would even begin to imagine she would share the juicy news, she continued:

But I don’t want to get in trouble with The Mouse, so none of you will find out.

Credit: Marvel Comics Group

When Rocha asked Sneider about what he thinks about the whole Fantastic Four casting developments, Sneider replied:

I think we’re seeing a lot of *bleep* grasping at straws like *bleep* really.

…the only way I kind of see Torch as a white guy is if Daveed Diggs winds up as The *bleep* thing right? He’s Jewish, … that would be interesting.

Rocha added his theory that if they are going to cast an all-white team, to which Sneider immediately countered with “never going to happen”, Rocha said:

You kill two birds with one stone. What I’m saying is that if you have Daveed Diggs to balance three other white actors in Fantastic Four, that could work because you check the Jewish box and you check the African-American box…

…But Ben Grimm has had always a testy relationship with Reed Richards. You can explore that a little bit more along racial lines as well.

Daveed Diggs Could Be Fantastic Four’s The Thing

Credit: Marvel Comics Group

READ MORE: The MCU’s Fantastic Four Team To Be From The 1960s (RUMOR)

Most likely, official announcements could even be released by this year’s D23. The soonest could probably be during this summer’s San Diego Comic Convention. Until then, all news about Fantastic Four casting coming from anywhere other than Disney itself will be speculation.

However, official casting has had its beginnings as speculation. Even John Krasinski portraying Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness started out as a speculation based on popular fan casting. And he has been made official.

Credit: 20th Century

Daveed Diggs was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 2021 as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his portrayal of Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson in Hamilton. He lent his voice to Sebastian in the upcoming live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid and Spruce in Trolls Band Together later this year.

Diggs’ previous work includes the critically acclaimed Snowpiercer, from which he also won many notable acting awards, Andre Layton, Blindspotting, Star Wars: Visions, The Crossover, and so much more.

Any chances of the above actors, including Daveed Diggs, portraying the listed roles would be anyone’s guess. But for now, we know that Mila Kunis knows who Sue Storm is. She just doesn’t want to mess with the Mouse.

What do you make of the rumour that Fantastic Four has found its The Thing in Daveed Diggs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

What do you make of this story? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages! And if you enjoy listening to film podcasts, why not check out our podcast, The Small Screen Podcast, wherever you get your podcasts!