Ioan Gruffudd, who portrayed Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in the early 2000s “Fantastic Four” films, recently shared his reflections on the franchise in light of a new iteration that has just been released. Gruffudd starred in the original 2005 film and its sequel, “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” (2007), and revealed that there were initial plans for a third film in the series.
He recalled, “The mindset was that we were going to do three… I think the second movie was equally successful as the first and equally enjoyable for the fans.” Gruffudd fondly remembered his collaboration with Doug Jones, who portrayed the Silver Surfer, praising his talent for bringing characters to life with his physicality. Despite the positive momentum, Gruffudd noted that decisions regarding the future of the film series were ultimately out of his hands since the films were distributed by 20th Century Fox.
The original films featured notable actors such as Jessica Alba as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Chris Evans as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm/The Thing, and the late Julian McMahon as the villain Doctor Doom, who sadly passed away last month at the age of 56.
Additionally, Gruffudd shared his thoughts on Chris Evans’ recent cameo in “Deadpool and Wolverine,” reminiscing about their time on set and the joy of seeing Evans reprise his role. He expressed delight at the homage paid to Evans’ portrayal of Johnny Storm, calling it “a beautiful homage to what Chris did as Johnny.”
The original superhero team has faced challenges since then, with a reboot in 2015 that did not meet expectations. However, the latest film, “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which debuted on July 25, 2023, stars a new cast including Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Vanessa Kirby, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, promising fresh perspectives on the beloved characters.
The evolution of the “Fantastic Four” franchise showcases both the lasting impact of the original series and the excitement surrounding new adaptations, suggesting a hopeful future for these iconic characters in the superhero genre.