Rumor: Marvel’s ‘Fantastic Four’ Film To Be “Sue Storm-Centric”, Reed Richards “So Poorly Depicted That Some Actors Even Passed On Playing The Role”

Sue Storm takes center stage on Taurin Clarke's variant cover to Fantastic Four Vol. 7 #10 "The Long Way Home" (2023), Marvel Comics
Sue Storm takes center stage on Taurin Clarke's variant cover to Fantastic Four Vol. 7 #10 "The Long Way Home" (2023), Marvel Comics

In a rumor that does not spark any confidence in Marvel’s supposed desires to rebuild their crumbling cinematic universe, a new rumor suggests that the studio’s upcoming Fantastic Four film will not only center on Sue Storm as its main protagonist, but also build up her character by absolutely thrashing that of Reed Richards.

Sue Storm looks her best on Peach Momoko's variant cover to Fantastic Four Vol. 6 #33"Bride of Doom, Part 2: Royal Wedding" (2021), Marvel Comics

RELATED RUMOR: Marvel’s ‘Fantastic Four’ Film Will See Team Originate “Not Just From The 1960s But Also A Different Universe”

This latest whisper regarding the upcoming MCU debut of Marvel’s First Family was first raised by noted independent Disney reporter WDW Pro.

Speaking with Force of Light Entertainment’s Michelle Smith in a September 27th video uploaded to his channel, WDW Pro informed his guest that he had received some interesting Fantastic Four-related information.

[Time Stamp: 01:38]

“This came to us from a high level source, one of our highest level sources,” WDW Pro explained to Smith, adding that he would be withholding any identifying information in order to protect the source from retaliation. “The Fantastic Four movie was Sue Storm-centric.”

Further, WDW Pro relayed that “Reed Richards was only referred to as ‘Mr. Fantastic’ ironically – even negatively in the film.”

The Illuminati looks on as the The Maker escapes back to the 1610 in Ultimate Invasion Vol. 1 #1 "Chapter One: Good Artists Copy" (2023), Marvel Comics. Words by Jonathan Hickman, art by Bryan Hitch, Andrew Currie, Alex Sinclair, and Joe Caramagna.

RELATED: Marvel Studios VFX Unit Unanimously Votes To Unionize, Demand “Fair Pay For The Hours They Work, Healthcare, A Safe And Sustainable Working Environment, And Respect For The Work They Do”

Next offering the disclaimer, “We’re getting into spoiler territory, should this all turn out to be true, also, we’re in rumor and speculation as well because we can’t corroborate what this person said but they have been phenomenal in the past”, WDW Pro then revealed that his source had claimed that a major plot point of the film was Sue’s realization that she had been “sacrificing so much of herself being in a relationship with him”.

To this end, the source asserted that, Apparently, Reed Richards  is so poorly depicted that some actors even passed on playing the role.”

“They did not want to be involved with this ‘toxic masculinity’ style portrayal,” the individual concluded. “Apparently the original director [MCU Spider-Man trilogy Jon Watts] left, at least part way through, due to this same issue.”

Mr. Fantastic realizes the true threat that is Spider-Man in Civil War Vol. 1 #7 (2007), Marvel Comics. Words by Mark Millar, art by Steve McNiven, Dexter Vines, John Dell, Tim Townsend, Morry Hollowell, and Chris Eliopoulous.

Interestingly, though neither Smith, WDW Pro, or the source claimed any such explicit connection, it seems that Sue’s rumored ‘independence realization’ slots right in to previous rumors regarding the film’s setting.

Per a scoop first broken by Daniel “DanielRPK” Ritchman and later expanded upon by himself and fellow scooper Grace Randolph, the Four will supposedly arrive into the mainstream Marvel Cinematic Universe – itself seemingly once again bearing the title of Earth-199999 following the events of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – both from an alternate universe, as well as the 1960s.

Sue Storm marches for Civil Rights via Fantastic Four: Life Story Vol. 1 #1 "The '60s" (2021), Marvel Comics. Words by Mark Russell, art by Sean Izaakse, Nolan Woodard, and Joe Caramagna.

Given the widespread inability for most Hollywood writers to either write or treat any depiction of a biological family as an unappealing concept – and sometimes, if their ideologies are extreme enough, a threat to their political worldview – it wouldn’t be far out of the realm of possibility to imagine that Hollywood’s current writing pool would so incredibly fumble the Four’s silver screen return by turning their story into an on-the-nose, pop-feminist allegory for the that era’s Women’s Liberation Movement.

Sue Storm has had enough of Reed Richards' betrayal in Civil War Vol. 1 #4 (2006), Marvel Comics. Words by Mark Millar, art by Steve McNiven, Dexter Vines, Morry Hollowell, and Chris Eliopoulous.

At current, Marvel’s Fantastic Four, as helmed by former WandaVision and current replacement director Matt Shakman, is set to rip through the multiverse on May 2nd, 2025.

NEXT: Rumor: After ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ Gives The MCU A “Soft Reboot”, New Iteration Will Take Inspiration From ‘All-New, All-Different Marvel’

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