Warning: Major spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness!
John Krasinski’s cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has actually undermined his ability to return in the MCU’s upcoming Fantastic Four reboot. Despite being one of the most high-profile teams in comic book history, previous attempts to bring the quartet to the silver screen have largely underwhelmed, leaving the Fantastic Four overshadowed by groups like the Avengers, the X-Men, and the Guardians of the Galaxy. As such, if the Fantastic Four are to regain their place as top-tier heroes, it is vital that Marvel absolutely nails the casting of their MCU debut. With John Krasinski’s Reed Richards making a surprise cameo as part of Doctor Strange 2’s Illuminati, it seems likely that the group will play a key role in the broader MCU through Phase 4 and beyond, making it even more important that the studio does justice to its “first family.”
Krasinski’s cameo as Mr. Fantastic comes after a lengthy and impassioned internet campaign to see him cast in the role, with the former The Office star identified as the perfect choice to pull off Richards’ singular blend of aloof brilliance. With MCU enthusiasts also tipping his real-life partner Emily Blunt as Richards’ wife, Sue Storm (aka The Invisible Woman), it is not hard to see why the potential casting of Krasinski as Mr. Fantastic is such an exciting prospect. However, with or without Blunt alongside him, Krasinski faces an uphill struggle to succeed as the MCU’s Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, and his cameo in Doctor Strange 2 is to blame.
With Marvel facing a significant challenge in convincing audiences to invest in Fantastic Four, John Krasinski makes the worst possible first impression as Mr. Fantastic. Arrogant and ignorant, Krasinski’s Richards has none of the spark that sets the character apart as a maverick visionary. Even more damagingly, Richards’ unceremonious demise at the hands of Scarlet Witch represents a stunningly undignified ending for a figure of his stature, especially when compared with the relatively weighty exit of Doctor Strange 2’s Professor X. While any return to the MCU would see Krasinski play an alternate, likely more competent version of Mr. Fantastic, his brutal cameo in Doctor Strange 2 is so memorable that it would permanently undermine his authority as any incarnation of the character. Set against the already diminished stature of the Fantastic Four, Krasinski’s return would not only damage the character of Mr. Fantastic but also further weaken the group’s struggling brand and ultimately jeopardize Marvel’s plans to successfully integrate the quartet within the broader MCU.
If Marvel planned on using Krasinski’s cameo to set up his return as Mr. Fantastic in the longer term, then this would appear to represent a rare misstep for the studio. However, with reports suggesting that Krasinski’s place amongst the Doctor Strange 2 cast was only sealed after Daniel Craig pulled out of the movie, it is unclear whether the Jack Ryan star is in its long-term plans after all. If Marvel does intend to find a different actor for the role, then Krasinski’s slapstick cameo makes a lot more sense, serving as a treat for those who hoped to see him in the part while leaving the door open for a different actor to take up the role going forward.
Whoever Marvel does eventually cast as Mr. Fantastic, both star and studio have their work cut out if they are to make the Fantastic Four worthy of the spotlight again. While Doctor Strange 2’s main post-credits scene surprised audiences with the introduction of Charlize Theron’s Clea, it is Krasinski’s turn as Reed Richards that really set the internet alight. However, while this bodes well for the Fantastic Four’s continued relevance, the actor’s return may end up doing the franchise more harm than good; although Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness showed that characters could differ significantly between universes, it is hard to shake the image of the hapless Krasinski being torn limb from limb, and this could ultimately ruin the MCU's Fantastic Four reboot, no matter how different its incarnation of Mr. Fantastic may be.
