Marvel reveals new Fantastic Four cast: A look back at past versions

Pedro Pascal joins Marvel as Reed Richards in the new Fantastic Four film. The cast is revealed, and the movie is set for a 2025 release.

Pedro Pascal, known for his roles in "The Mandalorian" and "The Last of Us," is making the leap from Star Wars to Marvel. The actor is set to play Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, in the latest version of "The Fantastic Four," as announced by the studio on Wednesday.

The announcement also revealed the rest of the cast, with Vanessa Kirby taking on the role of Susan Storm, also known as The Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn from "Stranger Things" portraying Johnny Storm, also known as The Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach from "The Bear" as Ben Grimm, also known as The Thing. The gang was depicted in a retro illustrated Valentine's Day card, leading fans to speculate that this version of the film may be set in the 1960s.

"The Fantastic Four" is one of Marvel's longest-running comics series, and the team is one of its most beloved groups. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the scientists-turned-superheroes are known for their relatable and witty interactions as a team, even when they're not fighting supervillains. When the series debuted in November 1961, it was a groundbreaking revelation that helped shape the Marvel voice and set the stage for characters like Iron Man and Spider-Man.

However, the transition of the so-called first family of Marvel to the big screen has not been without its challenges, with false starts and negative reviews often following. The first attempt was a $2 million production in 1994 that was never released, with a cast including Alex Hyde-White, Rebecca Staab, Jay Underwood, and Michael Bailey Smith. The next attempt came from 20th Century Fox, which produced two films under director Tim Story, released in 2005 and 2007, featuring Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, and Michael Chiklis.

Another attempt was made in 2015, directed by Josh Trank and featuring a cast led by Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell. However, the film was met with negative reviews and financial losses for the studio. Following Disney's acquisition of Fox, the Marvel characters returned under its corporate umbrella.

The new "Fantastic Four" will mark the first time the team will be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, overseen by Kevin Feige. The film is set to be directed by "WandaVision" veteran Matt Shakman, with a planned theatrical release date of July 25, 2025. John Krasinski played a version of Mister Fantastic in 2022's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness." This new iteration of the beloved superhero team is highly anticipated by fans and marks an exciting new chapter for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.