When Marvel first grew its film presence with the MCU, it did so largely based on the star-power it brought into each production. Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and more helped make the franchise the behemoth it is today and so much of what continues to draw viewers is finding out who will slip into the role of their favorite superhero.
Equally as engaging though now, are the alternative possibilities that could have been. Speaking at MCM Comic Con in London, “Doctor Who” star David Tennant admitted that he put himself up for Mister Fantastic in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” but it didn’t end up working out.
“In terms of superheroes, I don’t know, I did slightly have my eye on Reed Richards, and unfortunately, it looks like they’ve gone in a different direction,” he said, jokingly, when asked which superhero he’d like to play, “although if it has to be someone, I’m happy for it to be Pedro Pascal, frankly.”
This marks yet another franchise for Pascal, who recently completed his run as Joel in the TV series adaptation of video game series “The Last of Us.” Tennant similarly has participated in a number of franchises, including “Doctor Who” and “Harry Potter,” but something about the stretchy superhero felt special to him.
“I would have quite liked to be Reed Richards, I’d quite like to be able to do all that,” Tennant said, referencing the character’s powers of elasticity. “So I’ll stick with that even though it’s gone, even though it’s gonna be a while before there’s another go at that, I think, unfortunately.”
He added, “I think Pedro Pascal is great. I’m very, very pleased that he exists.”
When asked about the limits of Mister Fantastic’s stretching abilities in the film during a March 2025 interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Pascal got a bit flustered in his response.
“Everything has to stretch,” he said.
Pascal is joined in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” by Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch. Other members of the cast include Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, and Natasha Lyonne.
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” releases in theaters on July 25 from Marvel Studios and Disney.
