Pedro Pascal made his first appearance as Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, bringing a fresh take on Marvel’s iconic superhero. This debut introduced a new version of the superhero team on Earth 828, alongside Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn. As the fifth live-action iteration of the Fantastic Four, this team reflects Marvel’s continued evolution within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), especially amid the unfolding Multiverse Saga which opens the door to revisit earlier versions of these characters.
Imagining a Team-Up of Mister Fantastic Variants in Upcoming MCU Films
Pedro Pascal is confirmed to reprise his role in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday scheduled for 2026, a film centered on the multiverse which could feature several past versions of Mister Fantastic. Inspired by this possibility, new fan art created by Instagram artist @clements.ink showcases a striking gathering of all previous Reed Richards actors in the MCU. This artwork includes Alex Hyde-White, Ioan Gruffudd, Miles Teller, John Krasinski, and Pedro Pascal, portraying a potential collaboration of five distinct Mister Fantastic characters in Phase 6 of the MCU.
A History of Mister Fantastic Portrayals Leading to Pascal’s Role
Alex Hyde-White was the first to play Mister Fantastic in a live-action format, appearing in the unreleased 1994 The Fantastic Four film. Hyde-White recently made a cameo in the new First Steps film alongside co-stars Rebecca Staab, Jay Underwood, and Michael Bailey Smith, as a nod to their original but largely unseen adaptation.
Ioan Gruffudd took on the role in the 2005 and 2007 releases directed by Tim Story, embodying a classic portrayal of Reed Richards. In 2015, a darker reboot inspired by the Ultimate Universe featured Miles Teller as Mister Fantastic, although the movie received criticism for poor writing despite his performance capturing some of Richards’ complexity.
After Marvel Studios reclaimed the Fantastic Four in 2019, John Krasinski appeared as an alternate universe Reed Richards in the 2022 film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, playing a key member of the Illuminati. Although Krasinski was a fan-favorite choice before his debut, his portrayal had mixed reactions from audiences, leading Marvel to cast Pedro Pascal as their official Mister Fantastic moving forward.
Reviving Past Actors and Developing the MCU’s Permanent Mister Fantastic
Marvel Studios’ decision to cast Pedro Pascal ensures the character will have a stable and consistent presence in the MCU, allowing for deeper character development than prior adaptations. There is growing excitement among fans about the possibility of past Mister Fantastic actors returning to redeem their portrayals and bid farewell to their versions, especially given the multiverse storyline.
This fan enthusiasm was captured in the recent imaginative artwork uniting the five actors, suggesting a potential collaborative storyline in future MCU films. The return of classic Marvel stars for Avengers: Doomsday raises hopes of an involvement of all these Mister Fantastic variants, creating an unprecedented team-up that reflects the broader multiverse themes.
Looking Forward: The Impact of Multiverse Stories on the Fantastic Four’s Legacy
The evolving multiverse narrative offers Marvel Studios creative freedom to bring together different versions of its beloved characters, including Reed Richards. Pedro Pascal being the MCU’s official Mister Fantastic provides a new foundation for the superhero’s journey, while the return of past portrayals could enrich the story with layers of history and fan nostalgia.
This melding of timelines and iterations aligns with the MCU’s goal to explore complex storytelling avenues as it enters Phase 6, promising exciting developments for fans of the Fantastic Four and the multiverse saga as a whole.
“Every Comic Book Villain in Fantastic Four: First Steps”
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