John Krasinski Could Return as Reed Richards in the MCU Soon

by

There’s renewed speculation that John Krasinski might reprise his role as Mister Fantastic in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following recent comments about “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” As one of many fans who’ve longed for Krasinski to embody Reed Richards in the MCU, I believe he possesses the acting skills to pull off both dramatic and comedic roles. His performance in shows like “Jack Ryan” on Prime Video has demonstrated his versatility, making him an ideal choice for the character of Reed Richards. Even his knack for comedy could have added depth to some of the MCU’s most memorable films.

The reason I was thrilled when Marvel selected him as Reed for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was because it was a unique opportunity. However, Pedro Pascal took on the role of Mister Fantastic in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Although Krasinski’s Reed met his end in the MCU, the Multiverse Saga provides a chance for his return in future films, and after a while without any news about this possibility, comments from the director of the Fantastic Four movie have sparked my hopes that Krasinski might rejoin the MCU again.

Matt Shakman Has Revealed His Marvel Comics Inspiration For The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Jonathan Hickman’s Influence On The MCU Continues To Grow

Marvel Studios often draws inspiration from comics for plotlines, costumes, characters, and beyond when bringing stories to life within the MCU. As Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four will make their debut in the franchise with a movie heavily influenced by the team’s classic 1960s tales. However, a contemporary take on the Fantastic Four is also playing a significant role in shaping the film, as Director Matt Shakman recently shared in an interview. Shakman has acknowledged that the Fantastic Four comic book series penned by Jonathan Hickman had a profound impact on him during the movie’s creation process.

In the introduction for the launch of Marvel Premiere Collection’s version of Hickman’s “Fantastic Four: Solve Everything,” the director of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Shakman, discussed his affection for the author’s portrayal of the characters and his frequent revisits to Hickman’s Fantastic Four storyline during the development of the script for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Among many fascinating points made by Shakman, one particular concept caught my attention, as he expressed his excitement over intellectual twists such as the Council of Reeds. Furthermore, Shakman has revealed that The Bridge, a device enabling Reed to explore parallel realities, will indeed be incorporated in the upcoming MCU film.

Who Are The Council Of Reeds? The Team’s Marvel Comics Origin Explained

The MCU’s Multiverse Saga Is Perfect For The Team’s Debut

In an earlier plan by Marvel, Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror was set to lead a council known as the Council of Kangs in “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty”. This council would debut in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”, featuring various versions of Kang from across the multiverse. Interestingly, a similar concept exists in the comics with the Council of Reeds, which is a multiversal organization comprised of different Reed Richards from multiple universes joining forces. Although the team’s role was previously to counter the Council of Kangs, Marvel can still effectively utilize this concept.

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but get excited about the Council of Reeds from the comics, a group dedicated to solving every puzzle and mystery that comes their way. The Fantastic Four team members, particularly Mister Fantastic, are the masterminds behind The Bridge, a marvelous invention that gives Reed Richards the ability to gaze into other dimensions.

Intriguingly, the director of the upcoming Fantastic Four movie found the concept of the Council of Reeds captivating and has decided to incorporate The Bridge into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This means we might just see our favorite superheroes debut in the forthcoming Fantastic Four film, a sequel, or even one of the Avengers movies in the Multiverse Saga!

Another fascinating tidbit is that the Council of Reeds has gone so far as to lobotomize various multiverse versions of Doctor Doom. Now, that’s some next-level problem-solving, if you ask me!

I Believe John Krasinski Deserves To Return To The MCU As Reed Richards

Marvel Studios Owes The Actor A Better Storyline

For quite some time, fans had John Krasinski as their preferred choice for portraying Marvel Comics’ Reed Richards. Marvel Studios acknowledged this preference and made him the initial Mister Fantastic in their franchise. When Krasinski’s Reed appeared with Earth-838’s Illuminati in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness“, I was thrilled in the theater. The team’s appearance marked a significant moment in the MCU’s multiverse narrative, and in his limited time as Reed Richards, it was evident to me that Krasinski had the potential to excel in this role.

Nonetheless, it’s common knowledge that this didn’t last long. Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch proved to be more powerful than Mister Fantastic could handle, so I don’t dispute whether or not it was realistic for her to kill him so effortlessly during her deadly spree across the multiverse. However, it was immensely disappointing to have waited for years to see my preferred casting choice, Krasinski, embody Reed Richards flawlessly on screen, only to lose that opportunity in a matter of minutes. Both Krasinski and the fans deserved a more satisfying outcome than that.

Speaking about his short stint in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), John Krasinski expressed his enthusiasm for the Marvel universe by stating, “I hold a deep affection for all those characters and that realm“. Given his passionate portrayal of Reed and my desire to see more of him, I hope he reappears. Although his character perished, the multiverse might introduce another Mister Fantastic, played by Krasinski. As the Council of Reeds may soon materialize, this team would provide an ideal platform for Krasinski’s return to the MCU and even enable interactions with Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards.

John Krasinski’s Mister Fantastic Would Not Be The Only Reed Who Could Return In The MCU

The MCU Should Explore The Fantastic Four’s Live-Action History

The Council of Reeds opens up the opportunity to reintroduce various interpretations of Mister Fantastic, apart from Krasinski’s portrayal. The return of Chris Evans as Johnny Storm from the earlier Fantastic Four films in “Deadpool & Wolverine” is one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) most impressive accomplishments in recent times, and I eagerly anticipate other cast members reprising their roles before the Multiverse Saga comes to a close. In my opinion, Ioan Gruffudd was an ideal choice for Reed Richards, and if Marvel Studios had brought him back for the MCU’s Fantastic Four, I would have wholeheartedly embraced it.

MCU Fantastic Four Member Played By
Reed Richards’ Mister Fantastic Pedro Pascal
Sue Storm’s Invisible Woman Vanessa Kirby
Johnny Storm’s Human Torch Joseph Quinn
Ben Grimm’s Thing Ebon Moss-Bachrach

Among the different portrayals of the character, it’s plausible that one would be the creator of The Bridge and possibly a member of the Council of Reeds in the upcoming Marvel project. Another possibility is bringing back Reed Richards from Miles Teller’s 2015 Fantastic Four reboot. Although I have fond memories of the Chris Evans version, Teller has demonstrated his acting versatility and could convincingly portray a malevolent version of Reed, causing trouble for the team in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Read More

2025-06-05 18:38