Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with some breaking schtuff from Variety about the casting of Reed Richards, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm. Below is the email I was sent... I'll catch you folks afterwards with my opinion of the choices.
Hey Quint,
Your proverbial gates have probably already been flooded with this LATE-BREAKING NEWS, but I felt compelled to put it out there. Here it is: according to the most reputable trade Variety (which I don't have a subscription to, sorry), 20th Century Fox has cast THREE of its FOUR Fantasticos: Ioan Gruffudd ("Horatio Hornblower," 'King Arthur') will fill the elastipants of Reed Richards, Michael Chiklis ("The Shield") will be everyone's ever-lovin,' blue-eyed Thing, and Chris Evans ('Not Another Teen Movie,' 'The Perfect Score,' 'Cellular') will be Johnny Storm. Still uncast is the role of Sue Richards, although supposedly, Jessica Alba ("Dark Angel," 'Honey') is the lead contender. The other two frontrunners for the part are Keri Russel ("Felicity") and Rachel McAdams ('Mean Girls' and 'The Notebook'), who I believe Beaks interviewed recently and hinted at being up for the part.
Personally, without having seen any auditions, I'd cast McAdams, but I don't know what's going on behind the pearly gates of Fox Studios. So there's the news, love it or leave it. I hope this was more of a help than a hindrance, and keep up the good work. Adios muchachos!
Most Sincerely,
Ribbons(that's my superhero name)
Let's start with Mr. Fantastic, to be played by Ioan Gruffudd (aka Lancelot in KING ARTHUR). I still haven't subjected myself to the misery of KING ARTHUR and am not very familiar with his work. His look doesn't scream out perfect to me, but performance is what counts.
The Human Torch, to be played by Chris Evans. I like this actor... But I don't know about him playing Johnny Storm. He doesn't fit the character in my mind, but once again the performance is the important thing. If he can pull off the love/hate relationship with Michael Chiklis' Ben Grimm, then the character will work.
Speaking of Chiklis his is the only casting choice that has me excited. It's obvious casting, of course, but that doesn't make it any less right. Chiklis is already scary-looking when he gets pissed off. Just wait until this fucker is covered in orange rock!
All in all... I don't find anything mindblowing about this casting, nothing that makes me stand up and go, "Holy shit! Look at who they're filling this movie with!" like I did when all the BATMAN BEGINS casting was announced. I hope it works, but I'm a bit unconvinced. What do you folks think?
