Mila Kunis Denies Involvement In Marvel’s ‘Fantastic Four’ As New Rumor Claims She Will Appear As Gender-Swapped Version Of The Thing
Spencer Baculi
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According to a new rumor that is admittedly both so absurd that it borders on parody and so believable given the studio’s recent directorial direction, it seems Marvel may in fact be courting Mila Kunis for a lead role in their upcoming Fantastic Four not as Sue Storm, as previous rumors had claimed, but rather the team’s ever-lovin’ blue-eyed Thing.
The ever-lovin’ blue-eyed Thing on Mark Bagley’s cover to “Fantastic Four Vol. 4 #8 “The Mobsters are Due on Yancy Street!” (2013), Marvel Comics
RELATED RUMOR: Adam Driver, Several Actresses In Talks To Respectively Play Reed Richards And Sue Storm In Marvel’s ‘Fantastic Four’
Word of Marvel’s supposed interest in having join their First Family was initially raised on April 19th, courtesy of film scooper and critic Grace Randolph.
Sharing images of actresses Vanessa Kirby, Kunis, Allison Williams, and Jodie Comer, Randolph tweeted, “UPDATE – it seems the rumor I heard re an actress for #SueStorm is indeed legit!”
In follow-up, she clarified that these women were apparently “in the running only, not decided.”
Archive Link Grace Randolph via Twitter
However, according to fellow scooper MyTimeToShineHello – whose accurate scoops include leaking major plot details for James Gunn’s Peacemaker and Zod’s return in The Flash – Kunis is actually being eyed for the Invisible Woman’s thematic counter-balance of a teammate.
“They are looking at Jewish actors, both male AND female for The Thing in Fantastic Four,” the scooper tweeted on April 28th, indicating that the studio is seeking to stay true to at least one part of Ben Grimm’s character. “Mila Kunis is one of them.”
Archive Link @MyTimeToShineHello via Twitter
RELATED: Latest ‘Fantastic Four’ Rumor Claims Reed Richards And Sue Storm Will Already Be Parents
“Unlike their other Jewish character Matt Shakman INSISTED they actually cast someone Jewish to play The Thing,” they added.
Archive Link @MyTimeToShineHello via Twitter
Further, MyTimeToShineHello also noted “They have someone for Sue only reason I’m not saying who is because she already passed once so it’s not final. I’m being very careful with this one”.
Archive Link @MyTimeToShineHello via Twitter
Interestingly, amidst these various whispers of her future involvement in the MCU, Kunis recently denied that she had any part to play in the titular team’s third cinematic franchise attempt.
“Apparently, if you go to lunch with somebody that is also in the industry, you then start working together according to the internet,” she told late night host James Corden during a recent appearance on his show.
“We went out to a deli and had lunch together, and the next day, I’m somehow in Fantastic Four,” she laughed, joking, “But I know who is. But I don’t want to get in trouble with the Mouse so none of you will find out!”
This is Mila's response in a new interview by the way: pic.twitter.com/wU4nRZuazH https://t.co/prVeri5vIN
— A (@wandjuul) April 29, 2023
Of all the characters for Marvel to potentially subject to their obsession with identity politics, Grimm would be one of the most odd choices possible.
Not only does his story primarily deal with persevering in life even though he regularly finds himself being ‘othered’ and ‘romantically rejected’ due to his appearance – themes which obviously still resonate with many young men given the continued presence of ‘male influencer’ Andrew Tate in the cultural zeitgeist despite his insecure and laughably superficial rhetoric – but at no point in the multiverse’s history has Grimm ever had a ‘female version’.
Ben Grimm has his heart broken in Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #17 “And Now For Some Thing Completely Different” (2006) Marvel Comics. Words by Zeb Wells, art by Kano, Álvaro López, Lee Loughridge, and Dave Sharpe.
(Curiously, unlike DC, Marvel doesn’t even have a designated ‘Rule 63’ universe in their continuity!)
Yes, there were the notable Fantastic Four allies She-Thing and Miss Thing (the former coming into existence due to the manipulations of the Power Broker and the latter having gained temporary access to her powers via a special suit), and even Smash (who once played the role of ‘The Thing’ in a villainous version of the Fantastic Four created by the Mad Thinker), but these were all separate characters whose arcs and relationships with their respective ‘transformations’ were all different from Ben’s.
Doctor Strange meets She-Thing for the first time in New Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #3 “Hell in a Handbasket Part 3” (2022), Marvel Comics. Words by Peter David, art by Alan Robinson, Mike Spicer, and Joe Caramagna.
Fantastic Four is currently set to expose the MCU to cosmic rays on February 14th, 2025.
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