If there is one set of comic book characters who have never gotten their due on screen, it's the Fantastic Four, with its movies ranging from bad to worse so far. But fans haven't given up on Marvel's First Family, and as the cinematic portrayals of the Hulk, Spider-Man and the Punisher have shown, if you keep plugging away at characters and trying new things, eventually you can get it right. A big part of getting the Fantastic Four right is casting, and recently fans have been calling for real life couple John Krasinski and Emily Blunt to take on Reed Richards and Sue Storm, respectively. For Krasinski, who is directing and starring with his wife in this week's A Quiet Place, he certainly sounds open to the possibility, saying:
Oh yeah, the Fantastic Four. I would love that! I mean listen, I'm still getting into the whole superhero thing. I didn't read comics as a kid, not as many, I read some but not as much, but I'm a huge superhero fan so yeah, I'd love to do something like that. If there are any left, a lot of these have been taken but the ones that are left, yeah, I would love to do something like that. And listen, I'd love to work with her again so any chance I got would be great.
John Krasinski may not be a huge comic fan, but speaking with Screen Rant, he appears to be interested in taking on the role. Lest he worry, there are still plenty of superhero roles that haven't shown up on the big screen, but few may be more perfect than the Reed Richards idea. I didn't know I wanted this until now but I'm sold. This isn't a case of fans forcing casting because two actors are married either. John Krasinski and Emily Blunt are both fun and exciting choices to play Mr. Fantastic and The Invisible Woman. John Krasinski was once up for the role of Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger, and Emily Blunt turned down the role of Black Widow in the MCU. Perhaps that was for the best because these two feel ideally suited to Mr. & Mrs. Fantastic.
The man who became known for playing Jim on The Office has branched out in major ways since that show, showcasing his talent in front of and behind the camera. He is even playing an action hero in the upcoming Amazon original series Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. He's a really compelling choice for Reed Richards, who is one of the pillars of the Marvel Comics universe. I think he is well suited for Mr. Fantastic's nerdiness, as well as his leadership qualities, and given the rave reviews his film A Quiet Place is receving, he may even be a great choice to direct the Fantastic Four's return to the big screen. As for Emily Blunt, the actress has a serious onscreen presence, and she can be a true badass, as she's shown in Edge of Tomorrow. Sue Storm is both a powerful hero and a caring matriarch, and Emily Blunt could convey both aspects of the character.
While this is all speculation at this point, there are plenty of reasons to think we may be seeing Marvel's First Family back on the big screen sooner rather than later. It was just announced that a new Fantastic Four comic book series is coming from Marvel in August, the first since 2015. That makes me think that the game is afoot, and should the Disney purchase of 20th Century Fox go through, the Fantastic Four may be quickly brought into the MCU fold. Unlike the X-Men, the Fantastic Four could be easily integrated into the MCU without setting up some massive history of mutant civil rights. The MCU's Phase 4 just seems appropriate for the triumphant return of the Fantastic Four and a chance at finally getting them right, and bringing John Krasinski and Emily Blunt on board to star would be a solid start.
You can see John Krasinski and Emily Blunt fighting an enemy far more frightening than Doctor Doom in A Quiet Place, in theaters Friday, April 6.
