We already know that the new Fantastic Four movie is going to be really young and hip, and not just more young and hip than the first film, because no matter how nice his hair is, Ioan Gruffudd is not hip, and Michael Chiklis is hip like a hip dad, so the bar is a little low on this one. But, really, just how hip is this thing going to be? The Josh Trank movie already has Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell lined up to play three of the four, with Miles Teller probably on board to lead the cast as the stretchy good time known as Mr. Fantastic, but what about villains? Will there be hip villains?
Will there be hip villains? Oh, you. Yes, of course there will be. Well, at least if a news bit from The Wrap is to be believed, as the outlet is now reporting that four actors (all with accents! Hip!) are currently on the shortlist of possible candidates for Dr. Doom. Will one of them take to the silver screen to battle the pure fantastic-tivity that is our four good guys? Maybe, but it’s hard to get too excited about the possibilities, because said list includes some pretty fresh talents that plenty of comic book fans might not recognize.
The Wrap reports that the four guys currently in the mix are Domhnall Gleeson, Sam Riley, Toby Kebbell, and Eddie Redmayne. Quick, name one film each of them has appeared in! You can’t? That’s fine, we’ve got you covered.
1. Domhnall Gleeson
Domhnall Gleeson is too charming for this. He’s too sweet to play a bad guy. He was a Weasley, for chrissakes. That said, it could be compelling to see the sweet-faced Irish guy playing a steel-faced villain in a big time comic book movie. Gleeson previously played Bill Weasley in the Harry Potter films, and he recently charmed audiences in both Anna Karenina and About Time. He’ll next be seen in the Angelina Jolie-directed true-life tale Unbroken, and he co-starred in two Sundance films earlier this year that are still bound for release: Calvary and Frank.
2. Sam Riley
Perhaps best known for his stunning turn as Ian Curtis in Control, Riley has been pretty choosy about his work since breaking out in the Joy Division frontman biopic in 2007. He’s only appeared in seven movies since then ‐ not all of them good, but at least all of them different ‐ and will next be seen in the starring role of The Dark Valley, a Western picture set in the Alps (and shrouded in mystery!). He also has a small role in this year’s Maleficent.
3. Toby Kebbell
Shortlists are Kebbell’s game ‐ the British actor frequently pops up on them, but he doesn’t have a lot of recognizability in the mainstream. That’s too bad, because he’s done a lot of stuff, from The Counselor to The East to Wrath of the Titans to Prince of Persia. This guy is around, and he’s due for a big break. That’s not to say that Fantastic Four is going to be that big break ‐ Kebbell is also co-starring in another pair of upcoming blockbusters: Warcraft and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.
4. Eddie Redmayne
Eddie Redmayne just looks like a villain, which is why it’s been sort of sad that the Brit has never gone full baddie on the big screen, instead busying himself with roles in Les Miserables and My Week With Marilyn. Sure, he’s gotten close to villain territory ‐ Hick springs to mind ‐ but busting out in a fully evil role is something he’s due for.
The Wrap also reports that Jack Huston was also a part of this shortlist several weeks ago, though it is unclear if he is still a possibility.
The Fantastic Four is set to open on June 19, 2015.
[Photo credit: Marvel]