Old MCU Fantastic Four Discussion Thread

[Detective Conan]

Um....you can be black and Jewish. "nuff said".

Yep.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Yep.

See my mind automatically goes to this:

Or this:

 

[Melpardus]

Or like, all of the Ethiopian Jewish community.

 

[HBarnill]

Farrell is Penguin in B21.

Randall Park was in Aquaman and AM2 in the same year.

oh, and Whoopi Goldberg and Tiffany Haddish are Jews, too.

 

[Marvel united]

Ben Grimm is an orange rock monster, though. Does him being black even count for anything when the Thing isn't even a human being?

 

[CaptainWagner]

Anyway, the real point, to me anyway, is to make a good movie that's true to the comics. I don't care if the actor playing Ben is Jewish or not. There are a lot of terrific Jewish actors and if the shoe fits, wear it. If not, well, find someone else.

Personally, I would really like a Jewish actor to play Ben. I see it as the same as any other representation. There are no Jewish superheroes on screen, therefore casting a Jewish person to play Ben Grimm is important. But as others have pointed out, this isn't limited to a specific race. (Seth Rogan is still, unironically, my top choice, though)

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

I still don't get the Seth, uh... thing.

I like him. I find him funny. But other than being tall and broad shouldered... There's zero about him that says "Ben Grimm" to me. Certainly NOT his voice or mannerisms.

I really don't get it.

 

[Melpardus]

Maybe it's just my not knowing the character well enough (basically at all, aside from orange rock-skinned man who yells "It's clobberin' time!") but I can't see Seth Rogan; isn't Ben Grimm more, hardcore (sorry, pun unintended)?

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Comic book Ben is of course a funny guy. But he's also:

1. An ex-elite Air Force pilot.

2. University Football star

3. Catch As Catch Can Wrestler, Boxer and Judoka

I get it... The general tenor of super hero stuff today is, for some reason, to turn the comedy dial up to 11 and then twist the knob off. And there's no doubt, comedians and comedic actors can do great work in more dramatic parts. And of course these days with studio assisted trainers and programs they can whip anyone's body into shape... Still... I don't see it in any way.

And I get that the humor Ben is often used for is on the broad side. And that is baked into the character and it's part of his appeal. But Ben is also a poster child for a well adjusted and well intentioned old school masculine ideal. Ben even before the powers was a dude that was a poster child for let's say, positive machismo.


Were Ben always say, an example of a cool slacker or a erudite easy going stoner... Fine. Seth is your man for that. But... that's not Ben to me and I dare say a lot of others.

 

[Gamma Goliath]

I'm not on board with Rogan, I'd take my chances with John Cena before taking Seth

 

[Detective Conan]

How does anyone here feel about Liev Schreiber as Ben?

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

...

...

...


I solved it.

This should make everyone happy.

Spoiler

And no... I'm not joking. In any way. I kept thinking to myself... "What Ben Grimm needs is like a modern day James Caan. But... I can't think of anyone like that."


Except of course, child of two German Jews James Caan has a son who is a good actor, has physical presence, oozes machismo and can be really funny... Scott Caan gives the impression of what a modern day Ben Grimm would be. And he's in the sweet spot of being 43 but able to easily be plsy just a bit younger if necessary.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

How does anyone here feel about Liev Schreiber as Ben?

I wouldn't mind it.

I think Liev has just a smidge more of a "sinister" vibe to him onscreen though, almost regardless of what part he plays which buts up against my own image of Ben pre-cosmic rays.

But I think he could do it.

Only problem might be age as he's currently 52. That might not matter so much with Ben being he's going to have to be mo-capped anyway. Still... Could be a consideration.

 

[MilkmanDan]

Reed-James Wolk (34)
View attachment 32027
Sue- Halston Sage (26)
View attachment 32029
Johnny- Max Charles (16)
View attachment 32030
Ben- Jason Segel (40)
View attachment 32031

I'm not familiar with Max Charles. And I don't know about Wolk as Reed. But the idea of Jason Segel as Ben is growing on me. And I really liked Halston Sage in Orville. She might make a great Sue.

 

[Iceman]

I'm not on board with Rogan, I'd take my chances with John Cena before taking Seth

I’m not initially totally feeling Rogen. I hope there are better options but I don’t think he’d be a disaster or anything.

 

[VictusMortuus]

James Franco for Reed
Seth Rogen for Ben
Danny McBride for Moleman

 

[Flint Marko]

Please no Seth Rogen for Ben lol. He’s funny but beyond that wouldn’t bring anything else of value to the role.

 

[Melpardus]

I'm not familiar with Max Charles. And I don't know about Wolk as Reed. But the idea of Jason Segel as Ben is growing on me. And I really liked Halston Sage in Orville. She might make a great Sue.

All I can say about Max Charles is that he voiced Kion, the main character in The Lion Guard, and he played the kid version of Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man. Haven't seen anything else he's been in though.

 

[Zarex]

Comic book Ben is of course a funny guy. But he's also:

1. An ex-elite Air Force pilot.

2. University Football star

3. Catch As Catch Can Wrestler, Boxer and Judoka

I get it... The general tenor of super hero stuff today is, for some reason, to turn the comedy dial up to 11 and then twist the knob off. And there's no doubt, comedians and comedic actors can do great work in more dramatic parts. And of course these days with studio assisted trainers and programs they can whip anyone's body into shape... Still... I don't see it in any way.

And I get that the humor Ben is often used for is on the broad side. And that is baked into the character and it's part of his appeal. But Ben is also a poster child for a well adjusted and well intentioned old school masculine ideal. Ben even before the powers was a dude that was a poster child for let's say, positive machismo.


Were Ben always say, an example of a cool slacker or a erudite easy going stoner... Fine. Seth is your man for that. But... that's not Ben to me and I dare say a lot of others.

This is why so many of us (in addition to him being orange and rocky most of the time) are ok with Feige and company being flexible in regards to Ben's ethnicity. His Judaism is important, but I was thinking his Aunt Petunia could be the one who introduced him into the faith. If Feige can find an an actor who can play a rugged but sensitive man's man with an athlete's build, killer comedic timing and world-class charisma, hire that man!

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

This is why so many of us (in addition to him being orange and rocky most of the time) are ok with Feige and company being flexible in regards to Ben's ethnicity. His Judaism is important, but I was thinking his Aunt Petunia could be the one who introduced him into the faith. If Feige can find an an actor who can play a rugged but sensitive man's man with an athlete's build, killer comedic timing and world-class charisma, hire that man!

I already suggested Scott Caan.




Real talk though... Give me the argument against Caan cuz I think he fits a lot of bills in terms of Ben.

 

[Zarex]

I already suggested Scott Caan.




Real talk though... Give me the argument against Caan cuz I think he fits a lot of bills in terms of Ben.

My familiarity with Mr. Caan's work comes primarily from occasionally looking over my phone while my wife watches Hawaii 5-0. That being said, I see him more as strong silent type than a big personality like Ben. And at 5'5" hes going to struggle overseeing the field unless the coach designs an offense with a lot of rollouts. But he could be an excellent choice for MCU Logan.

I've liked Terry Crews for the role, but he is a smidge long in the tooth. Brad Pitt would be great, but also in his 50s and I don't see that happening. I could kinda see Jason Segel if you're just looking at Freaks and Geeks alumni. But Mr. Grimm is definitely the toughest member of the 4 to cast.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

For those that haven't kept up here is Caan doing his sctick on 5-0...








I'll also add that Caan has a black belt in BJJ and trained MMA with Egan Inoue.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

My familiarity with Mr. Caan's work comes primarily from occasionally looking over my phone while my wife watches Hawaii 5-0. That being said, I see him more as strong silent type than a big personality like Ben. And at 5'5" hes going to struggle overseeing the field unless the coach designs an offense with a lot of rollouts. But he could be an excellent choice for MCU Logan.

I've liked Terry Crews for the role, but he is a smidge long in the tooth. Brad Pitt would be great, but also in his 50s and I don't see that happening. I could kinda see Jason Segel if you're just looking at Freaks and Geeks alumni. But Mr. Grimm is definitely the toughest member of the 4 to cast.

Check the vids above. I think he's far from the strong silent type.


And Caan played football players before, famously in Varsity Blues.

He's a been around martial arts his whole life due to his father's influence and as noted he's a BJJ black belt.


And his height won't be an issue after the cosmic ray transformation.

And he definitely can sound like a big city East Coast guy.

Just saying.

He ticks off a lot of boxes at only 43.

 

[Zarex]

Caan's fine, but I don't see him as the tough yet loveable guy I have envisioned for Aunt Petunia's favorite nephew. I think he's a step below Chicklis and not as accomplished an actor.

I like Terry Crews and Rob Riggle, but age could be an issue for both. Jason Segel could work. But what about Andy Samberg for Ben? He's in the right age and height range (If we're going with KrasinskI Reed), Jewish, and has got the big personality and comedic chops. He should probably bulk up,but he may be my favorite for the role.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Caan's fine, but I don't see him as the tough yet loveable guy I have envisioned for Aunt Petunia's favorite nephew. I think he's a step below Chicklis and not as accomplished an actor.

I like Terry Crews and Rob Riggle, but age could be an issue for both. Jason Segel could work. But what about Andy Samberg for Ben? He's in the right age and height range (If we're going with KrasinskI Reed), Jewish, and has got the big personality and comedic chops. He should probably bulk up,but he may be my favorite for the role.

Samberg?

I love Samberg!


But as Ben? Again... In no way does he even come close to comic Ben.

I don't get some of these choices. I don't want to offend but Sgel, Samberg and Rogen are in my head the opposite of everything Ben pre- and post- transformation is all about, and getting into shape is the least of the issue.