Summary

• Many expect Doctor Doom to be MCU's Fantastic Four villain, but Galactus, the oldest living entity, may be a better choice.
• Galactus first appeared in '66; consuming planets, his human-like form commands unimaginable power and knowledge.
• Galactus's portrayal in the 2007 sequel was deemed underwhelming. MCU's redemption may involve adding him in his original intimidating form.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm. However, one question that remains is who the main villain will be. There has been plenty of speculation on who it could be.

Many believe it could be Doctor Doom, as he is the most notorious Fantastic Four villain, and the MCU could introduce him as the next central antagonist for the Avengers if the franchise does indeed move away from Kang. However, there is another rumored villain who is one of the most powerful entities in the Marvel Universe. This antagonist also gives Marvel the perfect opportunity to redeem a dreadful mistake made in one of Fox's Fantastic Four movies.

Who Is Galactus? The Rumored Villain For the MCU's Fantastic Four

Galactus first appeared in Marvel Comics in Fantastic Four #4 from March 1966. The character was formerly Galan, a Taa-an explorer from the planet Taa, who existed before the Big Bang. After a cosmic explosion, Galan merges with the sentience of the universe and becomes Galactus, a cosmic being who survives by consuming entire planets. He is the first and oldest living entity in the known Marvel Universe.

Galactus has taken on many forms throughout his many appearances in Marvel Comics, but he is best known for his human-like form, with a blue and purple uniform and a spiky purple headset. In his first encounter with Earth, he was driven off by The Fantastic Four — with help from the Silver Surfer — but he has often come into conflict with many other Avengers and Marvel villains. He is one of the most intelligent beings in the universe and possesses power and knowledge that are unimaginable for other Marvel characters.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Turned Galactus Into A Giant Cloud

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer placed the classic Marvel heroes in direct conflict with Galactus, but not in the way comic book readers wanted. In the 2007 sequel, the Fantastic Four fight Silver Surfer, only to discover that he is just a warning to get Earth ready for Galactus' arrival. The threat of Galactus looms throughout the film, but his appearance is underwhelming. Instead of utilizing his classic form, the movie turned Galactus into a giant space cloud with the capability of consuming Earth.

This decision was considered controversial and is one of many creative choices made by Fox that were met with backlash by audiences. The same could be said for the portrayal of Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Doctor Doom in 2015's Fantastic Four. Beyond the poor adaptation, Galactus' appearance didn't work for the film as it took his intimidating stature away and made the stakes seem lower. Plus, the final fight was anticlimactic, with less focus on Galactus and more on Doctor Doom.

How the MCU Can Redeem Galactus

The simplest answer is that the MCU can deliver the version of Galactus from the comics that viewers expect and are eager to see. He is who can convey the power and menace Galactus possesses, and the studio might have picked the right guy.

Reports have suggested that Marvel is looking to Javier Bardem to play Galactus in Fantastic Four. Bardem has yet to the MCU, and this could be the perfect role. He has played many terrifying villains in the past to great effect, such as Anton Chigurh in No Country For Old Men, so it's safe to say he'd be a fantastic Marvel villain. Expectations are high for Fantastic Four, but Marvel could be the right studio to right the ship.