Following Feige’s announcement of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the rumor mill began to spin, suggesting actors who could have assumed the four titular roles of Marvel’s First Family. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Marvel Studios finally confirmed the cast of The Fantastic Four by sharing an image of the team on X. On February 4th, 2025, Marvel shared a teaser trailer giving fans a glimpse of the new iterations of these beloved characters. With Marvel’s First Family finally joining the MCU, there is a lot to love about the cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, A.K.A. Mister Fantastic
Born April 2, 1975
Active Since: 1996
Actor: Pedro Pascal rose to prominence as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones and Javier Peña in Narcos, but has achieved more widespread acclaim for his roles in The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, and also appeared in the DCEU’s Wonder Woman 1984 as Maxwell Lord. Pedro Pascal has more than proven his leading-man potential prior to The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and has already shared his excitement about joining the MCU.
Character: Pedro Pascal was long-rumored to be cast as Reed Richards’ Mister Fantastic before Marvel Studios confirmed the news, beating out other fan-casts such as Ryan Gosling, Adam Driver and Penn Badgley. Mr. Fantastic is the leader of The Fantastic Four and is married to Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman. He has the ability to stretch his body into any shape while also being one of the smartest people alive.
Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, A.K.A. Invisible Woman
Born April 18, 1987 or 1988
Active Since: 2010
Actor: Vanessa Kirby made her acting debut on stage, but rose to prominence as Princess Margaret in The Crown. Kirby achieved acclaim for her performances of Martha Weiss in Pieces of a Woman and Empress Joséphine in Napoleon, and has starred in action franchises Mission: Impossible and Hobbs & Shaw.
Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, A.K.A. The Human Torch
Born January 26, 1994
Active Since: 2011
Actor: Joseph Quinn became internationally known as Eddie Munson in Stranger Things season 4 with his breakout performance, but had been working for years before that in smaller roles in shows like Game of Thrones, Catherine the Great and Small Axe. He also played a significant role in A Quiet Place: Day One and worked with Ridley Scott on Gladiator II.
Character: Joseph Quinn has been cast as Johnny Storm’s Human Torch in The Fantastic Four. Johnny Storm is the younger brother of Sue Storm, so Quinn’s chemistry with Vanessa Kirby must be perfect in the upcoming project. Joseph Quinn takes over from Chris Evans and Michael B. Jordan, two MCU alumni, as Johnny Storm.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, A.K.A. The Thing
Born March 19, 1977
Actor: Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s portrayal of David Lieberman’s Micro in Netflix’s The Punisher gives him valuable experience with Marvel, having already been part of a superhero production, but he is known for roles in a variety of different shows. These include incredible performances in The Bear (for which he won two Emmys), Girls and Andor.
Character: Ebon Moss-Bachrach has been cast as Ben Grimm, a.k.a. the Thing, in the MCU’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, with his form as the Thing being mostly CGI. His casting has been well-received, as Ben Grimm is a Jewish character, so Moss-Bachrach’s casting is authentic and representative.
Julia Garner As Shalla-Bal, A.K.A. Silver Surfer
Born February 1, 1994
Active Since: 2010
Character: Garner is set to play the role of Shalla-Bal, who will be the franchise’s version of the Silver Surfer. This is especially interesting for comic fans, as the main Marvel Silver Surfer is usually that of Norrin Rad, with Shalla-Bal often being his main romantic interest. This move helps to avoid making the MCU predictable for those who read the comics, and also places distance between this movie and the 2015 film.
Ralph Ineson As Galactus
Born December 15, 1969
Active Since: 1993
Actor: Ralph Ineson has a commanding presence on screen, best known for his roles in projects like The Witch, The Green Knight, Nosferatu, and Chernobyl. Alongside live-action performances, he has lent his voice to a number of video games, which includes Charles Vane in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Lorath Nahr in Diablo IV
Character: In Marvel Comics, Galactus is a towering individual able to change his size but often large enough to devour planets in a single bite. Galactus was previously featured in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, trading his trademark humanoid appearance for a vague cosmic cloud. He is briefly shown in The Fantastic Four: First Steps teaser trailer, sporting a comic-accurate look as he looms over New York City.
Galactus isn’t a villain so much as a force of nature. He destroys planets to sustain himself, and his destructive appetite balances the universal forces of creation and destruction.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Supporting Cast & Characters
Top-Tier Actors Fill Out The Rest Of The Cast
Paul Walter Hauser in an Undisclosed Role: It is currently unknown what role the actor will be playing. Due to Hauser’s talent for bringing intensity and humor to his roles (though he’s also shown dramatic chops), some have speculated that he could have a small role as Mole Man. The diminutive villain was the very first that The Fantastic Four ever faced in Marvel Comics, so his inclusion could be a fun nod to the team’s history.
Natasha Lyonne in an Undisclosed Role: Like the rest of the supporting cast to this point, Natasha Lyonne will have a role in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but it is currently unclear who she will actually be playing.
Sarah Niles in an Undisclosed Role: The British actress known for I May Destroy You and Ted Lasso will also have a role in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but it is also currently unclear who she will be playing in the film.
