The MCU may have a new Big Bad, but Reed Richards has a seriously dark history in comic books which could spell doom for the MCU.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness introduced several new themes, concepts, and characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Most notably, and perhaps most highly anticipated, was John Krasinski as Dr. Reed Richards, the smartest man on Earth and leader of the Illuminati. While there have been many versions of Mister Fantastic before, Earth-838’s Richards brought a very specific (and worrying) air of arrogance that points to the character’s fatal flaw: hubris. Throughout his many incarnations, Reed Richards always possesses the same defining characteristics. He is viciously protective and a workaholic, but above all, he’s incredibly smart. Smarter than resident Avengers geniuses Tony Stark and Bruce Banner, Reed’s intelligence could be the most dangerous thing to hit the MCU yet — Kang the Conqueror included.
In Multiverse of Madness, audiences see a version of Reed Richards ready to stand by his beliefs and seemingly scarred by the potential devastation brought by interdimensional travel. He is quick to pass judgment, relies too heavily on his experiences, and is unwilling to tackle the nuance of the situation. His over-confidence and black-and-white attitude get him killed at the hands of another hero-turned-villain, Wanda Maximoff. Or do they?
Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on February 19, 2024: The Marvel Cinematic Universe finally has its Mister Fantastic. The cast of 2025’s Fantastic Four movie has officially been announced, with Vanessa Kirby as the Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as the Human Torch, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the Thing, and Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic. With Pascal taking over as the leader of the MCU’s Fantastic Four, there is no shortage of fun storylines to explore with his character — including his darker half from Marvel Comics.
Can Mister Fantastic Even Die?
In the comics, Mister Fantastic is nearly indestructible, though he’s torn asunder and tortured at the hands of an evil Hank Pym, not unlike the one fans see in What If…? It makes sense that becoming string cheese might not spell the end for Reed Richards. In fact, a nixed post-credits scene for Multiverse of Madness would’ve confirmed he did survive his encounter with the Scarlet Witch. This same Reed Richards warns of the risk of an incursion, something his comic counterpart knows of all too well.
In the Ultimates run of Marvel Comics, taking place on Earth-1610, Reed Richards is driven to villainy after a lifetime of tragedy and rejection, becoming one of the main antagonists in the Ultimates universe and the Multiverse at large. It seems the minds behind the MCU have been peppering in similarities between the heroes fans know and their Ultimate counterparts. Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark is based on the Ultimate Iron Man, Samuel L. Jackson basically is Ultimate Nick Fury, and Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner became the Hulk because he attempted to replicate the Super Soldier Serum, as did Ultimate Hulk.
Ultimate Reed Richards Destroys the Universe
In Secret Wars, the finale of the Ultimates run, a scarred, villainous Reed Richards known as The Maker, after having slowly destroyed other universes, triggers the incursion between Earth-616 (the original Marvel Universe and that of the MCU) and his own universe, Earth-1610 (the Ultimates universe). Reed Richards, as The Maker, becomes the biggest antagonist in the entire Multiverse, more so than Kang, Thanos, or any other seen thus far. This leads to the complete destruction of the Ultimate Universe, with certain characters finding their way to Earth-616 permanently. The Maker is then taken out by the Molecule Man, who splits him into an infinite number of beings and scatters him across the new multiverse.
Although The Maker’s storyline isn’t yet established in the MCU, the other key players in Secret Wars are making themselves known, including the Illuminati and now Namor, after the events of Wakanda Forever. The Reed Richards from Multiverse of Madness and his Earth-616 version in the upcoming Fantastic Four film are likely all-around heroic, good characters. However, with the revival of Ultimates and The Maker, the heroes of the Multiverse should keep an eye out because if even one of the Reed Richards turns out to be evil, it could spell the end for everyone.
Will The Maker Appear In The MCU?
The Marvel Cinematic Universe may have just inched closer to bringing a live-action version of the Maker to the big screen. Marvel Studios recently revealed that Pedro Pascal will play Mister Fantastic in The Fantastic Four, finally confirming the rampant rumors that The Last of Us actor had signed on for the 2025 MCU film. As exciting as it is for the franchise to finally bring the Fantastic Four’s origin story to life, audiences are already looking ahead to Avengers: Secret Wars, which will surely give Marvel’s First Family a prominent storyline. With the multiverse already at play in the MCU as the Fantastic Four come on the scene, it would make sense for the lead-up to Secret Wars to introduce Reed Richards’s villainous counterpart, perhaps as someone who brings about the incursions that lead to the near destruction of the universe.
Currently, the MCU is facing a major Kang problem in the lead-up to Secret Wars, with actor Jonathan Majors having been officially fired by Marvel Studios. While the studio will almost certainly recast the role, this process will take valuable time that the franchise simply doesn’t have. Any plans to use Kang in other films and series will have to be put on hold, including any storylines that would lead up to his role in The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars. The MCU may have to look to other villains to set up the multiversal chaos that leads to the finale of the Multiverse Saga, and the Maker could be the perfect fit. After all, it is the Maker — not Kang the Conqueror — who incites the events of Secret Wars in the comics. Having an evil version of the MCU’s Reed Richards kick off the events of Avengers: Secret Wars may be the perfect way to set the Multiverse Saga back on track.
This would also hint at a closer adaptation of Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four run in the MCU. Hickman, who also wrote 2015’s Secret Wars, is hailed as one of the best writers to work for Marvel Comics, delivering some of the best Fantastic Four stories of all time. Fans would be ecstatic if certain storylines from Hickman’s run were adapted for the MCU, including the arrival of the villainous Reed Richards from the Ultimate Universe. While 2025’s The Fantastic Four is still a long way down the road, there are countless exciting opportunities for the film to explore with each of its main characters, especially Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards.
