Nearly twenty years into its unprecedented run, the Marvel Cinematic Universe still has tricks up its sleeve. Marvel Studios has been making the most of what it has for a long time, transforming C-list groups like the Guardians of the Galaxy into household names. Even the Avengers, who run the whole show in the MCU, aren’t the most important team in Marvel Comics. That honor goes to the X-Men, which is comprised of mutants, a type of human that’s about to become very important on the big screen. However, before Cyclops and Beast start battling evil, the MCU wants to make sure the Fantastic Four gets their chance to shine.
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps focuses on the titular team’s battle against Galactus, who seeks to devour the Earth and abduct Franklin Richards. Turning their child over to a deranged villain doesn’t sit right with Reed Richards and Sue Storm. Reed works tirelessly to come up with a solution, and although there are a few bumps in the road, he ultimately succeeds. It’s going to take more than a big brain to get Reed on the same level as the best heroes in the MCU, though. Here are three things that could make Pedro Pascal’s Mister Fantastic a cooler character.
3) Making Him the Leader of the Avengers
Right before the release of First Steps in theaters, director Matt Shakman seemed to insinuate that Reed was going to become the leader of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in Avengers: Doomsday. Those comments have since been clarified to mean that Reed will have a major role in the MCU moving forward, but there’s no reason to backtrack so quickly. Iron Man, who has a lot in common with Mister Fantastic, was the face of the Avengers for a long time, and his fellow genius could fill the same role.
Depending on how the battle for the multiverse shakes out, the Baxter Building is as good a spot as any to have the Avengers hang up their costumes. Having that much firepower in his arsenal would also allow Reed to solve countless problems that threaten the Earth and beyond. Galactus would have to think twice about attacking Earth again if Reed were able to assemble the Avengers.
2) Making Him a Villain
The members of the Fantastic Four are selfless. They spend all their time trying to make Earth a better place for the people living on it. However, humanity doesn’t return the favor when the team returns from meeting Galactus and informs everyone that the mysterious being wants Franklin in exchange for sparing the planet.
While Sue is able to calm the storm and bring everyone together, the truth about the Fantastic Four’s supporters is now clear to Reed. The next time a dangerous threat comes knocking, the world’s foremost mind may decide to focus on himself and his family, not the rest of the world. Watching Reed walk down a dark path will open the door for the introduction of his Maker persona, who makes Thanos look like a schoolyard bully.
1) Introducing the Council of Reeds
If the MCU doesn’t want to go down the villain route with one of its newest heroes, the best course of action is to double and triple down. Marvel Comics often calls upon a group called the Council of Reeds to offer advice and support to the leader of the Fantastic Four. Collaborating with other versions of himself allows Mister Fantastic to expand his horizons, and the MCU could easily take a page out of the source material’s playbook.
By bringing variants into the fold, whether they look like Pascal or another live-action version of the character, the MCU can ensure that Earth-828’s Reed looks like the best of the bunch. There is still a lot of love for Ioan Gruffudd’s iteration, and while there’s always a place for nostalgia, it shouldn’t come at the expense of progress, especially when Marvel Studios is putting a lot of faith in the Fantastic Four.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters now.
Do you think any of the options on this list could make Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards a cooler MCU character? Do you have any suggestions? Let us know in the comments below!
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Image Courtesy of Paramount
