Marvel Studios has cast Paul Walter Hauser in The Fantastic Four, and he could be bringing one of Marvel Comics’ oldest villains into live-action for the first time since his debut 63 years ago. Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige teased the development of Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four reboot back in 2019, shortly after Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox was finalized. The official cast of the Fantastic Four team in the MCU was revealed in February 2024, including Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, while Ozark star Julia Garner joined soon after as Shalla-Bal’s Silver Surfer.

The Fantastic Four is one of the MCU’s most exciting upcoming projects, despite not much yet being known about Marvel Studios’ highly-anticipated reboot. The confirmation of the strong main cast of The Fantastic Four has only increased excitement, and this took a huge stride forward on May 2, 2024, as Deadline reported that Paul Walter Hauser has been cast in an undisclosed role. Following performances in Black Bird, BlacKkKlansman and Cobra Kai, Paul Walter Hauser is a brilliant addition to the MCU, and theories have already begun to emerge regarding whom the acclaimed actor could play in The Fantastic Four.

Paul Walter Hauser Would Make A Brilliant Mole Man In The MCU

While popular theories suggest Paul Walter Hauser could be voicing the Fantastic Four’s robot assistant, HERBIE, who appeared in the cast announcement poster on Valentine’s Day, Hauser would perhaps better fit a wildly different character in The Fantastic Four. Paul Walter Hauser deserves a bigger role in the MCU, and his potential debut as Mole Man in the MCU’s Phase 6 could grant him this more substantial position. Mole Man was the first villain that the Fantastic Four team ever fought in Marvel Comics back in 1961’s Fantastic Four #1, but the iconic villain has never been adapted into live-action.

After portraying antagonists in BlacKkKlansman, Cruella and Black Bird, Paul Walter Hauser has proven that he would be perfect at portraying the menacing underground villain, Mole Man. Apple TV+’s Black Bird, in particular, saw Hauser portray sinister serial killer Larry Hall, which could inform the more terrifying aspects of Harvey Rupert Elder, a man shunned by society due to his abrasive personality and eccentric conspiracy theories. Hauser also has the perfect stature for Mole Man, so it’s very possible that one of Marvel Comics’ oldest and strangest villains could finally be making his live-action debut in the MCU’s Phase 6.

Mole Man May Have Already Been Teased For The Fantastic Four

Shortly after Julia Garner’s casting in The Fantastic Four as Shalla-Bal, Marvel Studios recommended five issues of Marvel Comics that formed the inspiration behind The Fantastic Four’s potential upcoming storyline. Among these was 1961’s Fantastic Four #1, which not only detailed the titular team’s origin story, but also saw them band together to battle Mole Man and his monsters. The fact that this issue was included in Marvel Studios’ list, and the fact that it is one of the most recognizable and memorable issues in Marvel Comics’ history, suggests that Mole Man will play a role in The Fantastic Four.

Mole Man went on to become one of the Fantastic Four’s most persistent villains, so Paul Walter Hauser being cast in the role could set him up for a bright future in the MCU. Indeed, Mole Man didn’t pose the same threat level as Doctor Doom, Galactus or Annihilus, but he was a regular thorn in the side of the Fantastic Four, so he certainly deserves to finally make his live-action debut in the MCU. Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four being inspired by Fantastic Four #1 makes this possible, though it seems Mole Man won’t be the movie’s biggest antagonist.

Mole Man Likely Won’t Be The Fantastic Four’s Main Villain

Julia Garner’s casting as Shalla-Bal’s Silver Surfer in the MCU’s The Fantastic Four all but confirmed Galactus’ involvement in the movie. Galactus is a monumental cosmic being who devours entire worlds to sustain himself, and he was prominently featured in other issues of Marvel Comics that Marvel Studios recommended prior to watching The Fantastic Four. Galactus will likely be the primary antagonist of The Fantastic Four, but that certainly doesn’t discount Paul Walter Hauser from appearing as Mole Man, as he could debut as a minor villain, introducing the new team, before posing a greater danger in future MCU stories.