What's The Big Deal About Marvel's 'The Fantastic Four' And Why Is The Cast So Controversial?

Over the past two decades, The Fantastic Four has been a memorable – but rather inconsistent – superhero franchise. There have been quite a few adaptations of the comic book heroes over the years, and few were well received.

But when Marvel's The Fantastic Four was announced all the way back in 2019, fans were overjoyed with the news, and looked forward to seeing the "first family" of Marvel on the big screen. They've waited a pretty long time, but fortunately, some big news about the film has finally dropped. Unfortunately, it's not extremely well-received.

Here's everything to know about The Fantastic Four and its casting controversy.

Who Are The Fantastic Four, And What's The Big Deal About The Movie?

The Fantastic Four has been around for more than fifty years now. This four-person superhero group was one of the earliest in what would later become Marvel comics, with their first issue debuting in 1961. Though they might not have the same notoriety nowadays, ever since the comics first came out, The Fantastic Four has a pretty devoted fandom.

There have been three prior attempts at making a Fantastic Four movie franchise, none of which gained a lot of appreciation. No one seems to remember the 1996 movie based on the characters, and the 2015 reboot failed to make up for its budget at the box office. For years, fans hoped for a good Fantastic Four movie.

When Marvel acquired the rights to 21st Century Fox in 2019, rumors began to swirl surrounding a possible Fantastic Four movie joining the MCU. At San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, this was confirmed by Kevin Fiege.

Who Was Cast In The Fantastic Four?

On Valentine's Day, Marvel announced the release date and cast of The Fantastic Four via the site once known as Twitter, using a cute '60s-style drawing of the cast in their roles:

So, on July 25th, 2025, after a six-year wait, the film will hit theaters, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn as the titular characters. While many fans celebrated the news, some were not as thrilled with the casting choices.

Why Is The Cast Of The Fantastic Four Controversial?

While many online are quick to praise Pedro Pascal for his acting skills in a variety of roles, many didn't believe he was a good fit to play Reed Richards. Part of the backlash might be due to fans expecting John Krasinski to be cast for the role instead, since he played an alternate-universe version of Richards in Dr. Strange And The Multiverse Of Madness.

Joseph Quinn was an even greater subject of debate; one of his most notable roles is Eddie Munson from Stranger Things, and some believed this means he lacks professional acting skills, for some reason. At the same time, while the two are subjects of heavy criticism, thousands of fans are rushing to defend their favorite actors on social media, which is helping to overpower the negativity.

To learn more about 'The Fantastic Four,' be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.