New The Fantastic Four: First Steps comments have brought back the possibility that John Krasinski could play Mister Fantastic in the Marvel Cinematic Universe again. I am one of the fans who wanted Krasinski to play the MCU’s Reed Richards for years. While he is mostly known for his comedic talents as Jim Halpert in The Office, Krasinski has shown in projects like Prime Video’s Jack Ryan series that he has what it takes to play a more dramatic character like Reed Richards, and even his comedic talent would have been perfect for some of the MCU’s best movies.

That is why I was so excited by how Marvel actually went through and cast him as Reed for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, that was a one-off, with Pedro Pascal leading The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ cast as its version of Mister Fantastic. Despite the death of Krasinski’s Reed, the MCU’s Multiverse Saga leaves the door open for the actor to return in future MCU movies, and after some time with no updates on that possibility, new comments by the Fantastic Four movie director have reawakened my Krasinski MCU return hopes.

Matt Shakman Has Revealed His Marvel Comics Inspiration For The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Jonathan Hickman’s Influence On The MCU Continues To Grow

Marvel Studios is known for looking at the comics for key storylines, costumes, characters, and more to bring to life in the MCU. As Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four will debut in the franchise with a movie that is very much inspired by the team’s classic stories from the 1960s. However, a more modern iteration of the Fantastic Four is also a major influence on the film, as has been revealed in a new interview by director Matt Shakman. According to Shakman, the Fantastic Four comic book run written by Jonathan Hickman was a big influence on him.

Shakman wrote the foreword for Marvel Premiere Collection’s release of Hickman’s Fantastic Four: Solve Everything. The MCU director detailed how he fell in love with the writer’s interpretation of the characters and how he would keep returning to Hickman’s Fantastic Four run while Marvel developed the script for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Shakman’s comments have many interesting aspects, but I found his mention of one concept intriguing, as he was “thrilled by brain-bending innovations like the Council of Reeds.” Shakman also confirmed The Bridge, which allows Reed to see alternate worlds, will be in the MCU movie.

Who Are The Council Of Reeds? The Team’s Marvel Comics Origin Explained

The MCU’s Multiverse Saga Is Perfect For The Team’s Debut

Before Marvel fired Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror, the MCU’s plan was to have the Council of Kangs serve in a key role in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. The team debuted in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, being made up of different Kang variants from all over the multiverse. Well, the Council of Reeds follows a similar path in the comics, with the team being a multiversal organization that consists of Reed Richards of different universes coming together. While the team made a lot of sense previously to fight the Council of Kangs, it can still work for Marvel.

The goal of the Council of Reeds in the comics is to “solve everything.” The Mister Fantastic variants that are part of the team are those who created The Bridge, which allows Reed to peek into other worlds. Interestingly, not only did The Fantastic Four: First Steps director enjoy the concept of the Council of Reeds, but he is bringing The Bridge to the MCU, making it possible for the team to debut in the upcoming Fantastic Four movie, a sequel, or one of the Multiverse Saga’s Avengers movies. The Council of Reeds also lobotomized multiverse variants of Doctor Doom.

I Believe John Krasinski Deserves To Return To The MCU As Reed Richards

Marvel Studios Owes The Actor A Better Storyline

John Krasinski was the most popular choice to play the MCU’s Reed Richards among fans for years. Marvel Studios listened to that, making him the first version of Mister Fantastic to appear in the franchise. I was ecstatic in the theater when Krasinski’s Reed showed up as part of Earth-838’s Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The team’s inclusion was a major moment in the MCU’s overall multiverse storyline, and in the little time he had in the role, I could see that Krasinski had what it takes to be perfect as Reed Richards.

However, as we all know, that was short-lived. Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch was too powerful for Mister Fantastic to take on, so I don’t even argue that it was believable or not for her to kill him so easily as she went on her murderous multiversal rampage after her kids. However, it was incredibly frustrating to get the fancasting I had wanted for so many years, see Krasinski be the perfect version of Reed Richards on the big screen, and then lose it in the span of minutes. Krasinski and the fans deserved better than that.

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When talking about his brief time in the MCU, John Krasinski revealed he is a fan of the Marvel franchise, saying, “I’m a big fan of all those characters and that world.” Based on his excitement and how good his Reed was, I’d love to see him return for more. Despite his character’s death, the multiverse could easily pull another version of Mister Fantastic who looks like Krasinski. With the Council of Reeds potentially coming soon, the team would offer the perfect way for Krasinski to come back to the MCU and even interact with Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards.

John Krasinski’s Mister Fantastic Would Not Be The Only Reed Who Could Return In The MCU

The MCU Should Explore The Fantastic Four’s Live-Action History

The Council of Reeds also offers the possibility to bring back other versions of Mister Fantastic beyond Krasinski’s. With Chris Evans’ brilliant return as Johnny Storm from the 2000s Fantastic Four movies in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Woverine being one of the best things the MCU has done in recent years, I would love to see the rest of the films’ cast return before the Multiverse Saga ends. Ioan Gruffudd was the perfect casting for Reed Richards, and had Marvel Studios just brought him back for the MCU’s Fantastic Four I would have accepted it with open arms.

His Reed would believably be one of the character’s variants who created The Bridge and could be part of the Council of Reeds. The other version of the character that Marvel could bring back is Miles Teller’s Reed Richards from the failed 2015 Fantastic Four movie reboot. While I don’t have happy memories of that project like I do the Chris Evans Fantastic Four movies, Teller is a nuanced actor who could bring the Maker version of Reed, an evil take on the character, to life perfectly, making life hell for The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ team.

All Announced Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday

  Release Date

  
  December 18, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

  Release Date

  
  July 31, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  December 17, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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