The Avengers are set to deal with a massive shake-up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as the franchise settles into the Multiverse Saga proper, spanning Phases Four, Five, and Six. This expansive narrative is poised to climax with forthcoming movies like Avengers 5 (previously titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty) and Avengers 6, or Avengers: Secret Wars.
Kevin Feige’s MCU is poised to introduce fresh, new superhero squads beyond the Avengers, such as the fan-favorite Fantastic Four and X-Men, giving these new Marvel characters a chance to shine.
Related: Disney Has Reportedly Found Marvel’s New Leaders
The Fantastic Four, an iconic quartet of superheroes, plays a vital role in the Marvel Comics version of the Marvel universe. This team consists of the ingenious leader Mister Fantastic/Reed Richards; the nurturing “mom” of the group Sue Storm/Invisible Woman; the impulsive and fiery Human Torch/Johnny Storm; and the gentle giant The Thing/Ben Grimm.
These legendary Marvel characters have been central to the Marvel comic book world for years, sharing the limelight with other beloved figures such as the X-Men and Spider-Man. In fact, the Fantastic Four’s on-screen presence predates the emergence of now-beloved characters like Iron Man/Tony Stark and Captain America/Steve Rogers, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans in the MCU, respectively.
Now, it appears as if Marvel favorite and star Chris Evans will reportedly make his way back to the MCU.
How Will Chris Evans Return to the MCU?
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Well, it’s not in the way you might expect.
Before Captain America and Steve Rogers, Evans had played one other character in the Marvel universe
Film adaptations of the Fantastic Four, produced by 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios under Disney’s current ownership), kicked off in 2005 with the release of the similarly titled movie, Fantastic Four.
The ensemble cast featured Ioan Gruffudd as Mister Fantastic/Reed Richards, Jessica Alba as Invisible Woman/Sue Storm, Chris Evans as Human Torch/Johnny Storm, and Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm/The Thing, under director Tim Story. A subsequent installment, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, hit theaters in 2007, with both films garnering a mixed reception from critics and audiences alike.
According to the anonymous Hollywood insider and Marvel scooper My Time To Shine Hello (@My Time To ShineH), Marvel star Chris Evans is reportedly returning to play the Human Torch in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine (2024).
Marvel Film News broke the news from My Time To Shine on X/Twitter:
RUMOR
Chris Evans is set to return as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
(@MyTimeToShineH)
RUMOR
Chris Evans is set to return as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
(@MyTimeToShineH) pic.twitter.com/TYl2jAa3ht
— MarvelFilmNews (@MarvelNewsFilms) April 22, 2024
And oddly, there’s some precedence t0 this happening, as this fellow X/Twitter user points out:
@AbandonedLizard: Considering Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds got Chris Evans to cameo in Free Guy, maybe this will happen here
Considering Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds got Chris Evans to cameo in Free Guy, maybe this will happen here
— Lonely Abandoned Beagle (@AbandonedLizard) April 23, 2024
It’s certainly promising and would drum up a ton of hype in an MCU that is in dire need of a win.
John Krasinski has previously depicted Reed Richards in an alternate Marvel universe, appearing as a Multiversal variant in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).
But now that Disney has chosen an all new Fantastic Four cast, with Pedro Pascal set to step into the role of Reed Richards AKA the Smartest Man Alive, alongside Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Joseph Quinn (Eddie Munson on Stranger Things) (Johnny Storm), and Ebon Moss-Bacharach (Ben Grimm), it appears that a female Silver Surfer is also set to be the new film’s baddie.
Alongside the expected Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson/Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine, Deadpool & Wolverine’s returning actors include Morena Baccarin as Vanessa, Rob Delaney as Peter, Leslie Uggams as Blind Al, Karan Soni as Dopinder, and Matthew Macfadyen as Paradox.
Although a Chris Evans Johnny Storm cameo might not have been on everyone’s bingo card, it is definitely an exciting one!
Do you think Chris Evans will actually appear in Deadpool &Wolverine? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!