Fantastic Four: 4 Reed Richards Actors Rumored

Fantastic Four is one of Marvel’s longest-running superhero teams, pre-dating Iron Man, Hulk, and Thor with their 1961 comic debut. In all that time, however, we haven’t had a single great Fantastic Four film.

Marvel, of course, is keen for that to change with its upcoming Fantastic Four movie, scheduled to release May 2, 2025. But first, they need to lock down the cast. With the recent news that Adam Driver has allegedly turned down the Fantastic Four, here are four other fantastic actors who’ve been linked to the role.

Penn Badgley

The You actor has just the right blend of charisma and cunning to play Richards, as put to devious effect during his stint as a calculating serial killer on the hit Netflix drama. At 36, Badgley is the youngest actor on the list, which means he could play the role for years to come. He was asked about the rumors on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, but could “neither confirm nor deny” them.

Ioan Gruffudd

Maybe Marvel already found the perfect Reed Richards? Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd portrayed the stretchy scientist in 2005’s Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and many fans would love to see him return. At 49, he’s not aged out of the role, and with the multiverse established, he could be written in easily.

Ryan Gosling

Marvel would love to land Gosling, who’s currently one of the world’s most in-demand leading men, having starred in Barbie, as well as Blade Runner 2049, LA LA Land, and Drive. On his podcast The Hot Mic, host Jeff Sneider said: "Then there's the rumor of Ryan Gosling playing Sentry in the MCU. People tell me he's like a Superman-kind of [character]. I haven't heard anything like that, obviously. I'd heard some Gosling Fantastic Four stuff..."

John Krasinski

We last saw Krasinski in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where he played a version of Reed Richards from an alternate Earth. Director Sam Raimi cast him as a wink to fans after years of rumors, so it’s likely Krasinski’s Richards was a one-off. Then again, Marvel does have his made-to-measure suit sorted now, so getting The Office man back would save a bit of hassle.

For more on all things Marvel, check out these official stills from Loki: Season 2