Marvel's First Family has been brought to life on the big screen multiple times, but what would the cast of a Fantastic Four movie look like if it was made in the 1990s? Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1961, the Fantastic Four are one of the staples of Marvel Comics. The team is led by Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic and features Sue Storm aka Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm aka Human Torch, and Ben Grimm aka The Thing as the other .
Forty years after the Fantastic Four's creation in the comics, the team was finally given the chance to lead a movie. The first Fantastic Four movie from 20th Century Fox was released in 2005, with it performing well enough to greenlight the 2007 sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Both movies were directed by Tim Story and featured Ioan Gruffudd as Mr. Fantastic, Jessica Alba as Invisible Woman, Chris Evans as Human Torch, Michael Chiklis as The Thing, and Julian McMahon as Victor Von Doom aka Dr. Doom. A decade later, Fox rebooted the franchise with Josh Trank's Fantastic 4, which starred Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell. That iteration did not perform well, and Marvel Studios is now primed to reboot the Fantastic Four in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Before any of these movies were made, there was a plan to make a Fantastic Four movie in the 1990s. Constantin Films and producer Roger Corman made The Fantastic Four after obtaining the rights to the characters and made a movie in 1994. The film starred Alex Hyde-White as Mr. Fantastic, Rebecca Staab as Invisible Woman, Jay Underwood as Human Torch, Michael Bailey Smith and Carl Ciarfalio as The Thing, and Joseph Culp as Dr. Doom. The Fantastic Four was never officially released after Marvel bought the rights to the film back. While this attempt has been seen since with bootleg copies, the Fantastic Four never got a proper big-screen adaptation in the 90s. However, if the Fantastic Four did get the Hollywood treatment, here's an all-star cast that could've led it.
Harrison Ford As Mr. Fantastic
Harrison Ford was one of the biggest movie stars on the planet during the 90s. He had already starred as Han Solo in the original trilogy for Star Wars and wrapped up the Indiana Jones franchise for the time being in 1989. While Ford then played Jack Ryan in Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger, his talents were used to lead The Fugitive, Air Force One, and more 90s blockbusters. If a studio was looking to get someone to lead a Fantastic Four movie in this decade, Ford would be just about the biggest name they could get. He could bring a bit more charisma to Reed than he has in the comics while effortlessly commanding the room.
Sigourney Weaver As Invisible Woman
To play Sue Storm, we've selected Sigourney Weaver. By the 1990s, she had already starred in multiple movies in the Alien franchise, with her involvement coming to an end in 1997 after four films. Weaver was also in both Ghostbusters movies and even had a prominent role in Working Girl, a romantic comedy that just so happens to also star Harrison Ford. After the success of that film, and Weaver and Ford playing characters with a romantic history, a re-pairing for Fantastic Four would work. Weaver was already one of Hollywood's biggest action female stars, and her casting would guarantee that Sue Storm will be just as prominent in the film and the team's dynamic as Reed.
Brad Pitt As Human Torch
Brad Pitt was one of Hollywood's brightest emerging stars during the 1990s, so what better role for him to play than Human Torch. If this new Fantastic Four movie was made near the end of the decade, Pitt would be fresh off a string of major roles in Interview with a Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles, Legends of the Fall, Se7en, and 12 Monkeys. Pitt's movie-star looks and talent makes him a perfect choice to play Johnny Storm, as he can also believably be the younger brother to Weaver's Sue. And since Pitt has yet to tackle a major comic book movie role in his career, playing Human Torch retroactively and hypothetically gives him that chance.
Albert Brooks As The Thing
Albert Brooks would be an excellent choice to play The Thing. In a movie filled with major stars, Brooks would be the only one of the main four to have some awards pedigree. He was nominated for an Oscar for Best ing Actor for 1987's Broadcast News. It is easy to picture Brooks' Ben Grimm being the best friend of Ford's Reed and getting frustrated with the antics of Pitt's Johnny. Brooks has the range to deliver a compelling and comedic performance and a great voice to lend to The Thing. It's also worth noting that Brooks is Jewish, just as Ben Grimm is in the comics.
Gary Oldman As Dr. Doom
Gary Oldman has a history of playing great movie villains, so tackling Dr. Doom in Fantastic Four could be another. Throughout his many antagonistic turns, Oldman has repeatedly brought a gravitas to the roles that is necessary for Doom. He is much more than just an actor who can be a terrific villain though. Oldman has done it all throughout his career, playing despicable characters, outright heroes, and those who are morally gray. He can make the most of anything given to him, so a role as juicy as Dr. Doom is one that Oldman should excel at. Plus, with Oldman and Ford already facing off in Air Force One, the two of them meeting again as Dr. Doom and Mr. Fantastic would be a fun precursor or successor.
Ralph Fiennes As Silver Surfer
For the final major role of Fantastic Four, we're going with Ralph Fiennes as Silver Surfer. The herald of Galactus has only appeared in one of the Fantastic Four movies that were actually made, but Fiennes' addition in this new movie would ensure he's part of the story from the get-go. Fiennes really came onto the scene after 1993's Schindler's List and 1996's The English Patient. He received Oscar nominations for both performances. Fiennes might now be best known as Voldemort, but Silver Surfer needs a steady and powerful figure to play him, making Fiennes an excellent candidate to play him.
