According to a new Marvel Cinematic Universe report, the Fantastic Four relaunch is currently casting.

Casting for Fantastic Four has begun, according to @MyTimeToShineH on Twitter, who has been a reliable source of real Marvel Studios leaks in recent months. The film will be Jon Watts’ next project, implying that the director of Spider-Man: No Way Home would go from one MCU production to the next.

While it was assumed that the Fantastic Four would make their MCU debut after Walt Disney Studios purchased 20th Century Fox and acquired the Fantastic Four’s catalog of characters, the film didn’t get Watts as director until December 2020, and word came that it would happen during the MCU’s current fourth phase. Peyton Reed, the director of the Ant-Guy franchise, has long wanted to work on Marvel’s First Family, but it appears that the studio was more interested in the man behind the newest Spider-Man trilogy.

Where Does The Project Stand?

Despite the fact that the relaunch has a director, it’s unknown who will handle the writing and where the project stands. However, if the current report is real, it appears that things are progressing. In October 2021, another report surfaced, claiming that Thunderbolts and Nova films are in the works. The same report said that Fantastic Four will begin filming in 2023, which corresponds to the film’s current casting call.

Who are the fan favorites for roles? Fans have been waiting for John Krasinki and Emily Blunt to take on the roles of Reed Richards and Sue Storm, but the duo has mixed views about entering the MCU. Krasinski has expressed interest in playing Mister Fantastic, but Blunt has expressed no interest in portraying Invisible Woman.

Wrestler turned actor John Cena has expressed interest in playing Thing, while former Jar Jar Binks actor Ahmed Best has expressed interest in playing Reed. However, considering Marvel’s history of casting unknown or up-and-coming actors as franchise leaders, the squad could be made up of younger and lesser-known actors. Fantastic Four, directed by Jon Watts, has yet to be released.