Paul Mescal Breaks Silence on ‘Fantastic Four’ Casting Rumors: Here’s the Truth

If there’s one project Marvel and Kevin Feige are determined to get right, it’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps. This will be the third attempt to bring the iconic superhero team to the big screen. While the original movies weren’t terrible, they never became the mainstream hits Marvel had hoped for, and the reboot attempt was a complete failure.

Now, with a stellar cast and plans for the team to play a key role in future MCU projects, Marvel is aiming to make this film a success and finally turn the Fantastic Four into a major franchise.

There have been many rumors, especially about the cast, but Paul Mescal, who was once linked to the role of Human Torch, has now cleared up the speculation.

Paul Mescal, a rising Irish actor known for his breakout role in Aftersun, quickly became one of Hollywood’s most in-demand stars. Since then, he has starred in All of Us Strangers and Gladiator II, but at one point, he was rumored to be in the running for the role of Johnny Storm (Human Torch) in the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps movie.

However, the role ultimately went to his Gladiator II co-star Joseph Quinn. In a recent interview with Josh Horowitz, Mescal addressed these rumors and revealed the truth behind them. Here’s what he had to say:

The key part of the interview begins around 32:30, but we’ve linked the entire interview because it’s highly interesting and definitely worth watching. However, if you’re short on time, here’s a transcript of the most important moments:

JH: Um… if the Internet is to be believed, and when can we not believe the Internet, let’s be real, it’s always true, uh… Did you have conversations… did it [unintelligible] you at any point… Your buddy Pedro play- is playing Mr. Fantastic. Did you have that conversation with Marvel? It sounds like you were in that conversation…

PM: No, no, no… that was… that was. No. No, no, yeah…

JH: Okay.

PM: Yeah. [laughter]

JH: And where are you at with… with that kind of thing?

PM: I don’t think it’s… I don’t think it’s for… it’s not for me. Um, yeah… nothing, yeah… I… I think if.. I… I… I was- wasn’t brought up watching those films. I wasn’t drawn to them in the… like, I was kind of more like a… a Lord of the Rings guy in that sense, like I… So they… they… they weren’t films that I was… I was drawn to.

JH: So you want to be a hobbit, is what you’re telling me?

PM: Yeah, please, put me in the game, coach!

As you can see, Mescal has confirmed that he was never linked to any Marvel project and, based on his current statements, it seems he’s not particularly interested in taking on a comic book role at the moment, which is definitely an interesting take.

Got thoughts to share? Let us know in the comments below!

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