Fantastic Four cast: Full list of actors in MCU film First Steps

Of course, for a long time ahead of the announcement there was much speculation about which four actors would become the third group to play the legendary characters on the big screen, and most fans seemed delighted when it emerged who had been chosen in February 2024.

Director Matt Shakman recently revealed that there were no auditions or chemistry reads when it came to casting Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, telling Variety: "I believe in finding the people who I have an instinct are right for the part.”

Meanwhile, Moss-Bachrach recently spoke exclusively to RadioTimes.com about his first time meeting his co-stars, explaining: "Joe, Pedro and I were at Pinewood doing some rehearsal, and we were looking for Vanessa – and she was at the gym.

"So we all sort of tracked her down and burst into her little training session. And that was that: our first moment together. I'll never forget that."

Of course, there are several other big names included in the cast as well – from villains played by Ralph Ineson and Julia Garner to characters played by Natasha Lyonne, Sarah Niles and Mark Gatiss. However there is no room for the previously announced John Malkovich, with Shakman revealing that the veteran actor's small role had been cut.

Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of Fantastic Four and where you've seen the actors before.

Fantastic Four: First Steps cast – full list of actors

The confirmed cast list is as follows:

• Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic/Reed Richards
• Vanessa Kirby as The Invisible Woman/Susan Storm
• Joseph Quinn as The Human Torch/Johnny Storm
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing/Ben Grimm
• Julia Garner as Silver Surfer/Shalla-Bal
• Ralph Ineson as Galactus
• Paul Walter Hauser as Harvey Elder/Mole Man:
• Natasha Lyonne as Rachel Rozman
• Sarah Niles as Lynne Nichols
• Mark Gatiss as Ted Gilbert
• Matthew Wood as the voice of HERBIE

Read on for everything you need to know about the characters and who plays them.

Pedro Pascal plays Mister Fantastic/Reed Richards

Who is Reed Richards? The MCU’s stretchiest superhero, who is also known as Mister Fantastic. Richards is a brilliant scientist and the partner of Susan Storm.

During a panel at San Diego Comic-Con last July, Pascal said (via Deadline) that his favourite part about joining this cinematic universe is the "new family".

What else has Pedro Pascal been in? The actor has previously appeared in popular series such as Narcos, Game of Thrones and The Last of Us, as well as films such as Kingsman: The Golden Circle and The Equalizer 2.

Vanessa Kirby plays The Invisible Woman/Susan Storm

Who is Susan Storm? Susan Storm, AKA the Invisible Woman, is the first female superhero to be created by Marvel, and she can turn invisible and generate immense force fields. Storm is the partner of Reed Richards.

Kirby has said that she and Quinn bonded as on-screen siblings. "I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in a rehearsal period before," she recalled at the panel at San Diego Comic-Con. "When you read the comics, you feel a lot of joy... hopefully we can bring that into the movie."

What else has Kirby been in? Kirby is best known for starring as Princess Margaret in the first two seasons of The Crown as well as her role as The White Widow in the Mission: Impossible films. Other film credits include Pieces of a Woman, Everest, Me Before You, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Napoleon and The Son.

Kirby had been rumoured for the role for months and told Comicbook.com in 2023 that taking up the mantle "would be an honour" when she was asked if she might play the Invisible Woman.

Joseph Quinn plays The Human Torch/Johnny Storm

Who is Johnny Storm? Storm, AKA the Human Torch, is a superhero who can combust into a burning-hot flame. Johnny is the younger brother of Susan Storm.

What else has Joseph Quinn been in? Quinn won audiences over with his performance as Eddie Munson in Netflix's Stranger Things. He also appeared as Arthur Havisham in Dickensian and Enjolras in Les Misérables.

On the big screen, he has been building up an impressive filmography, with roles in the likes of A Quiet Place: Day One, Gladiator II and Warfare, and a future role as George Harrison in Sam Mendes's four-part Beatles biopic.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays The Thing/Ben Grimm

Who is Ben Grimm? A pilot who is turned into The Thing, an almost Hulk-sized person with the appearance of rock and stone. Traditionally, Grimm is the best friend of Reed Richards.

During the panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Moss-Bachrach said he was still processing putting on the superhero suit of Ben Grimm. "I got a nice text message from Mark Ruffalo. It just demystified the process of motion capture," he said.

What else has Eben Moss-Bachrach been in? The actor is no stranger to Marvel, having previously played David Lieberman in Marvel series The Punisher on Netflix.

Bachrach is best known to audiences for playing Richie in Hulu series The Bear. He also starred as Desi Harperin in HBO's The Girls.

Julia Garner plays Silver Surfer/Shalla-Bal

Who is Silver Surfer/Shalla-Bal? A female alien from the planet Zenn-La who serves as the herald of the planet-devouring being known as Galactus.

In the comics, the original Silver Surfer was a man named Norrin Radd whose love interest on his homeworld was Shalla-Bal.

What else has Julia Garner been in? Garner is best known for her award-winning role as Ruth Langmore in the Netflix crime drama Ozark, but she has also starred in numerous films including The Assistant and The Royal Hotel.

Garner portrays the Silver Surfer through motion capture.

Ralph Ineson plays Galactus

Who is Galactus? Galactus is a powerful cosmic villain who is capable of destroying planets as he must devour them to survive. He was once an ordinary man called Galan.

What else has Ralph Ineson been in? The actor is best known for his appearances in the likes of The First Omen, The Creator, Game of Thrones and The Witch.

Paul Walter Hauser plays Harvey Elder/Mole Man

Who is Harry Elder/Mole Man? The ruler of an underground society known as Subterranea, Harry had previously come up against the Fantastic Four but now has an alliance with Sue.

What else has Paul Walter Hauser been in? Hauser has starred in several acclaimed movies, including biopic I, Tonya and Richard Jewell, while TV credits include Cobra Kai, I Think You Should Leave and Black Bird.

Speaking to The Direct, Hauser said: "So I think our movie, Fantastic Four: First Steps, to me, only speaking from my opinion, everything I witnessed and took part in, everything I felt while in the presence of the creatives on the film, I believe we are the Marvel movie of the year."

Natasha Lyonne plays Rachel Rozman

Who is Rachel Rozman? A school teacher who has a flirtatious relationship with Ben Grimm.

What else has Natasha Lyonne been in? The star is best known for appearing in Orange Is the New Black. Other credits include Russian Doll, Poker Face, Scary Movie 2 and But I'm A Cheerleader.

More recently, she starred alongside Elizabeth Olsen and Carrie Coon in the Netflix film His Three Daughters.

Sarah Niles plays Lynne Nichols

Who is Lynne Nichols? Lynne is the CEO of the Future Foundation.

What else has Sarah Niles been in? Niles is best known for starring in comedies Ted Lasso and Catastrophe. She also recently starred in ITV drama Riches.

Mark Gatiss as Ted Gilbert

Who is Ted Gilbert? A talk show host who presents the self-titled Ted Gilbert Show, where The Fantastic Four appear as guests.

What else has Mark Gatiss been in? A very well-known face to British TV fans, Gatiss has been seen in Sherlock, The League of Gentlemen, Doctor Who, Nolly, Dracula, Taboo, Moonflower Murders, Wolf Hall, and the all-new Bookish, among many others.

Film credits include The Mercy, The Favourite, Operation Mincemeat, and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

Who else stars in Fantastic Four?

HERBIE, the Fantastic Four's faithful robot companion, will also appear in the film, voiced by sound editor and voice actor Matthew Wood – also known for voicing General Grievous in the Star Wars franchise.

HERBIE's appearance was first teased in a comic-style illustration of the big-screen Fantastic Four that was released last year.

In addition, it has been heavily speculated that Robert Downey Jr will make a post-credits scene appearance as the Fantastic Four villain Doctor Doom/Victor Von Doom ahead of his major role in Avengers: Doomsday. However, we'll have to wait and see!

Read more:

• Fantastic Four director says cast must get chemistry right amid Pedro Pascal rumours
• Fantastic Four director on upcoming reboot: “It's gonna be fun"

Fantastic Four is set for release in cinemas on 24th July 2025.

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