Marvel Studios’ disappointing introduction of Reed Richards in Phase 4 has me worried that The Fantastic Four: First Steps won’t give us the Mister Fantastic I desperately want to see in the MCU. I’m so excited about the upcoming debut of Marvel’s First Family in the MCU, especially since the cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps seems to perfectly captured the essence of the legendary Marvel Comics team. However, I’m a bit worried that Marvel Studios might repeat its mistakes from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Multiverse of Madness saw Doctor Strange come face-to-face with the Illuminati team on Earth-838, which included John Krasinski’s Reed Richards. I am a huge Krasinski fan, so I loved seeing him suit up as Mister Fantastic, but the iconic superhero was quickly torn to shreds by the rampaging Scarlet Witch, leaving me wanting a hell of a lot more. I hope that Marvel Studios will redeem Mister Fantastic when debuting Pedro Pascal’s iteration in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and not lose sight of the Smartest Man Alive’s other superpowers.

Reed Richards’ Mister Fantastic Is Not Only The Smartest Man Alive

Mister Fantastic Is Also A Very Strong Fighter

Typically, Reed Richards has two primary abilities as Mister Fantastic: his elasticity granted to him by exposure to cosmic radiation, and his remarkable intellect. Richards is the Smartest Man Alive, making him a huge ᴀsset when designing new equipment or coming up with schemes and plans to take on a variety of villains and improve the Fantastic Four’s effectiveness. However, there’s another incredible power that Reed Richards possesses that many people tend to forget about, so I really hope Marvel Studios finally shows just how skilled he is as a fighter.

Of course, Reed Richards usually prefers to fight with his mind than his body, but he is also a very skilled hand-to-hand combatant, though previous live-action adaptations have failed to accurately demonstrate this. It was established as early as 1963’s Fantastic Four #17 that Reed Richards is one of the Earth’s leading experts in Judo, and he was also later revealed to be a master of Atemi-Waza, which encompᴀsses an array of body-striking techniques. I really want Pedro Pascal’s Mister Fantastic to show off his powerful fighting skills as well as his incomparable brain.

I Hope We See Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards In Some Powerful Fight Scenes

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness Forgot Reed Richards’ True Power

Ioan Gruffudd had a few interesting fight sequences as Reed Richards’ in 2005’s Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel, but this barely scratched the surface of what Mister Fantastic is truly capable of. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness saw Earth-838’s Reed Richards try to reason with the Scarlet Witch, rather than use his fighting skills, but this only culminated in his, Black Bolt, Captain Carter and Captain Marvel’s deaths. I really want Pedro Pascal to get some well-thought-out and cinematic fight sequences in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

I reckon this could prove to be the perfect redemption for Reed Richards, as all of his previous live-action adaptations have been lackluster in their own ways. I’m very excited about Pedro Pascal’s casting as Mister Fantastic, but I want him to actually show off all of Richards’ abilities, putting his elasticity, intelligence and physical strength to the test. One of Marvel’s most recent releases, which introduced a new depiction of Reed Richards’ Fantastic Four leader, has only made me want even more from Pascal’s upcoming MCU debut.

Marvel Rivals Has Made Me More Worried For Pedro Pascal’s Mister Fantastic

Marvel Rivals’ Mister Fantastic Is Formidable

Published by NetEase Games and Marvel Games, 2024’s Marvel Rivals video game has introduced a new version of Reed Richards who is not afraid to show off his incredible fighting skills. Reed Richards was introduced alongside the other members of the Fantastic Four on January 10 as a part of the “Eternal Night Falls” theme, debuting the armored, muscular and skilled new iteration of Mister Fantastic. I would love to see Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps take inspiration from this new version, putting his physical prowess in the spotlight as well as his remarkable intellect.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Captain America: Brave New World

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  February 14, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Thunderbolts*

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  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

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  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

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  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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