The Fantastic Four reboot stands to be the first major superhero franchise in a long time to star an actor of color in a lead role from the very start, and according to Variety, it’s out of script stages and will soon begin casting Reed Richards and Sue Storm, perhaps confirming the multiracial diversity of the Storm family.
According to Variety’s sources, here’s what’s going down:
Michael B. Jordan is on board to play Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, but will be testing with other actors for ensemble chemistry. In the running to play Sue Storm, Johnny’s older sister, are Kate Mara (sister of Rooney) and Saoirse Ronan. I suppose if we can’t have her in the lead in Star Wars VII, I’m just as happy to see her in as an adventurer, sister, and superhero.
Reed Richards, on the other hand, may very well come to us from the land of Westros. Both Kit Harington and Richard Madden are apparently expected to test for the part. Miles Teller, another of actor Variety says is in the running, confirmed his possible involvement with the franchise to reporters yesterday, so it’s not to far fetched to think that Variety might have gotten the real facts in this matter.
All a Fantastic Four reboot really needs to be is better than The Fantastic Four and Rise of the Silver Surfer. To go beyond that low hurdle and present an interracial family (whether mixed race, adoptive, or otherwise) is already impressing the heck out of me. Now lets just hope that we have, indeed, wrung these facts from the vapor of nuance.
(via Variety.)
