John Krasinski's cameo as Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse and Madness made years of Fantastic Four fancasting a reality, for a brief, and tragic, moment. However, his appearance as Mister Fantastic has also fueled further questions about The Office star's future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
But, surprising virtually no one, Krasinski is forbidden from publicly discussing a potential return in Marvel's Fantastic Four, as The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon learned firsthand on Tuesday.
Using as a springboard the announcement of Fantastic Four's 2024 release date, Fallon said, "You’re not allowed to say anything." Krasinski deadpanned "Nope," before the host pressed on with what certainly seemed to be an arranged bit. "I’m not allowed to really ask you," Fallon continued, leaving room for Krasinski's response ("That’s right."), before continuing with, "but… you think? You think?"
"Seriously, what have you heard?" the actor chuckled. "I need to know." He confirmed, "They don't tell you anything," which led Fallon to conclude, "Not until right before you’re about to shoot."
Krasinski's 'Fantastic' History, From Fancasting to Doctor Strange 2
Krasinski and his wife, and A Quiet Place co-star, Emily Blunt were fancast as Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman as early as 2018, just months after Disney announced plants to acquire most of 21st Century Fox's assets. Those included the film rights to the X-Men, Deadpool and, yes, the Fantastic Four.
Krasinki, whose post-Office career includes 2015's A Quiet Place (which he also directed, co-wrote and produced) and its 2020 sequel, repeatedly expressed interest in joining the MCU, specifically as Mister Fantastic.
"I would love to be in the Marvel universe," he said in 2020. "I love those movies because they’re fun, but I also think they’re really well done. And certainly a lot of my friends are in those movies. I have no idea what [Marvel] are thinking. But if they are considering me for Mister Fantastic, continue to consider me because I would love it."
That wish was granted with director Sam Raimi's Doctor Strange sequel, in which Krasinski plays Reed Richards of Earth-838, a member of the MCU's Illuminati. Unfortunately, that version of Mister Fantastic was quickly slaughtered, alongside most of his colleagues, by the Scarlet Witch.
While fans certainly hold out hope for Krasinski's return in Marvel Studios' Fantastic Four, Raimi may have cast doubt on his future as Reed Richards in audio commentary for Multiverse of Madness.
"It's so funny that [Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige] cast John, because the fans had a dream of who the perfect Reed Richards would be," the director said, adding, "And because this is an alternate universe, I think Kevin said, 'Let's make that dream come true.' I've always really enjoyed all of his performances."
However, like Krasinski, the film's writer, Michael Waldron, refused to speculate. "It's a question for somebody else," he said following the May release of Doctor Strange 2.
Scheduled for release on Nov. 8, 2024, Fantastic Four will kick off Marvel Studios' Phase Six slate.
Source: YouTube