During Comic-Con back in July we found out that one member of the next Fantastic Four movie would be created on screen completely in CGI. I am of course referring to The Thing, or Ben Grimm as he used to be called before cosmic rays turned him into the lovable orange rock monster we now know him as.
While Twentieth Century Fox seeks out replacement actors to fill out the cast of the next Fantastic Four franchise installment, they’re looking for a different set of acting qualities in an actor who will play The Thing. Specifically, they need someone with star quality who has a commanding voice. If Fox has their wish, it could be either Bruce Willis or Kiefer Sutherland who brings the voice of Ben Grimm to life.
Comic Book Movie reported earlier today that Fox is pursuing Bruce Willis to play Ben Grimm and the voice of CGI version of The Thing in the Fantastic Four quasi-reboot. I had heard the same throughout this last week without confirmation but I’m also hearing now that Kiefer Sutherland is the other choice of interest for the studio at the moment.
With three directors being pursued (David Yates, James McTeigue, Joe Carnahan), actors in talks for all four key roles as well as the villainous Dr. Doom, it appears Fox is trying to get a big head start on Fantastic Four compared to the last minute casting strategy we saw employed with X-Men: First Class.
Could Willis or Sutherland voice The Thing in the next Fantastic Four?
I’m a big fan of Kiefer but I can see Fox pushing hard for Bruce Willis’ name and starpower to help sell the movie. That being said, I’d prefer Kiefer’s voice as The Thing if I had to pick but I’m sold on both.
The latest casting talk for Fantastic Four further confirms Fox’s desire to bring in bigger talent into the mix for their upcoming Marvel franchise films. Despite there being actors in talks for the five key roles we know of thus far, none will be confirmed before a director signs on. Out of the options to helm the project, I’m in favor of Joe Carnahan who did The A-Team for Fox earlier this year which happens to be one of my favorite movies of the summer.
From what I’ve been told, Adrien Brody is the current top contender to play Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) and that they’re looking for established stars for that character and The Thing. As for the Storm siblings, Alice Eve is the top pick for Sue Storm (Invisible Woman) and that she dropped the chance at playing Emma Frost in X-Men: First Class for this opportunity. Playing Johnny Storm (Human Torch) could be Kevin Pennington who Fox also almost had play a part in First Class after an impressive reading but he’ll instead be seen in the comedy Horrible Bosses next year (currently shooting).
It seems Fox may be saving actors they were fond of from the First Class auditions to use in key roles for the Fantastic Four reboot. Once we get a director selected, expect confirmations on cast selections to be rolling in not too long after. I can say that I’m excited about all of those potentially involved so far.
Share your thoughts in the comments and with us on Twitter @rob_keyes and @screenrant.
The tentative plan is for Fantastic Four to being production next year for a Summer 2012 release.
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um,hello.it should be hands down kiefer sutherland-he would be perfect for that role.
what role? its voice acting lol any two year old can do it
I said Bruce Willis like every time they posted a FF Reboot post so again I say,”Bring in BRUCE WILLIS!!!!”
How about using Dennis Haysbert if it’s a commanding voice they’re looking for? He was great as Sgt. Maj. Jonas Blane, wasn’t he?..
it just gets sadder and sadder
NOOOO!!! Michael Chiklis was awesome
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hey fellas ..rogues back! my hard drive filled up on me so i am using my old dinosaur PC ’til i get my new one..seems like they want to make everything CGI..whats wrong with live action ..really i liked the actor who played the thing in ff4 whats wrong with using ole Vic Mackey..he was perfect.. as far as Sutherland goes i like him but he is not the right person to be thing no way..just doesn’t fit..its like the ‘Mexican Super-friends” or wrong sounding Muppet’s..Lamo! sorry guys i had a family guy moment there..lol!!!
Sutherland all the way. great voice. willis is a punk
diane,
LOL, say that to his face.
Why do you say Willis is a punk?
Vic
I guess in my opinion if anyone was to replace Chiklis, I’d want it to be Michael Clark Duncan
. He’s got that booming deep voice and he’s an awesome actor! Oh and Brucie isn’t a punk.. He’s just not right for this part, GO-GO JOHN MCLANE!!
Anyone who thinks Sutherland should be Ben Grim has no respect for care about the true spirit of the fantastic 4..Casting Sutherland as Ben Grim is ;like playing Dana Carvey to play batman it sucks..Sutherland is just not the right actor to play Ben Grim..i say bring back Chiklis after all he pegged it perfect and he enjoyed plying the role..I am beginning to wonder if perhaps a Peter Griffin type mentality is persistent lately with these bad choices considering the mess they are making out X-men first class ..so Afr its as bad as the crap in a baby’s diaper and should be tossed out in the waste bin..AND ANYONE WHO THINKS IAM WRONG ..WELL I HAVE A MIDDLE DIGIT FOR YOU.LOL!!
I met Bruce Willis for real and had coffee with him at a comic back in mid 90s in Atlanta Georgia …he was real laid back guy comfortable to hang with the fans so to me he is great guy nota punk..i have the paper cup he signed for me that he dark..yes i kissed Bruce Willis..on the cheek..lol but hey i have kissed alot of actors at sci fi conventions and most are pretty cool with fans..so do not trash Bruce boy.,however i agree he is not right to play Ben grim.:) I was into far-scape the and i was dressed as Erin ..i met her as well and many others..lol
that was actually Dragon con back then..i think they still have it going ..
Roguex props for giving a shout out to the greatest show in TV history the shield.
By the if your looking for a new comp I’ve got a great hook up for you awesome computers very cheap.
That goes for everyone by the way. Been using this guy for a long time and have gotten alot of others to use him. He gets his parts direct for dirt cheap and gives mind blowing deals.
Rogue I have a friend who does the same type of work as me but in LA she works with celebs all the time and basically said the exact same thing about Bruce. I work as a PI/Private Security as does she. Most celebs she works with are very cool only heard her say bad things about Eddie Griffith, John Travolta and Martin Lawrence. Also she said RDJ is cool and alot of fun but a problem to work for. He doesn’t hire security for perfection he hires it as a distraction. He uses them to walk one way and with our telling them he ducks away some where else takes hours to track him down.
Thanks Daniel..i knew there was reason i like you so much.XXOOLOL1 I am going to have to wait a bit in new PC ..It is tough being a single mom and i am lucky for sure to be back online..what i am using now is old PC i had stored away it still has windows 2000, Just a word of caution if you ever find an old PC you forgot and you open it up ..just beware you may find things you forgot..i found old e-mails from my baby’s day who does last year..just you never know..Thanks fir the neat stuff about your friends experience with celebs..i am glad to know Bruce Isa nice guy like i remembered..I have heard that Richard Dean Anderson is comfortable with fans too..funny seeing him doing chillies commercials after stargate..lol
That was supposed to say when i opened my old PC i found some messages sent to from iraq from my babies father who died year ago..i saved them and printed everything i could find ..but wasn’t easy..not at all..I’m tough gal but apparently i fold every so often.
@Rogue no problem hit me up at Stupify_me@yahoo.com anytime. Even If your not ready for a new comp my side biz is computer repair/tech support so I may be able to lend a hand. Usually this guy will get a very nice duel core comp for around 300.
By the way loads of respect to all single moms. My mom raised me by her self and I know how hard it can be. Keep up the good work your stronger than us all.
Jon Hamm = Mr. Fantastic
Radha Mitchell = Invisible Woman
Jensen Ackles = The Human Torch
Michael Chiklis = The Thing
I CAN’T NOT BELIEVEN IT DOING REMAKING FANTASTIC FOUR
Between the two, Willis because he does a good job with the tough voice. Personally, I didn’t think they really needed to recast (except maybe Jessica Alba and Ioan Gruffud, although Ioan was fantastic in King Author). Reboot is fine and make less kid friendly, though Fantastic Four is kidish (to me). I thought Chikilis and Evans were awesome in their roles.
there really is no hope for this franchise after the first two CGI sh!tfest’s….actually i take that back the first one wasnt that bad if you like your superhero’s to be public stars and commodities the second was a CGI sh!tfest with that being said they really need to go back to basics and figure something out as far as the voice goes why not get hugo weaving his vocal performance as megatron was top notch in my opinion atleast.
there really is no hope for this franchise after the first two CGI sh!tfest’s….actually i take that back the first one wasnt that bad if you like your superhero’s to be public stars and commodities the second was a CGI sh!tfest with that being said they really need to go back to basics and figure something out storywise, as far as the voice for ben goes why not get hugo weaving his vocal performance as megatron was top notch in my opinion at least.
I definitely do not think Sutherland or Willis are right for this part. Besides, Sutherland is to busy with his drinking and acting a fool. Acts more like he is 24 than 43.