The new DCU just keeps getting bigger thanks to the latest procession of casting announcements for Superman: Legacy, with James Gunn adding a whole roster of superheroes to the franchise reboot. In fact, those who know their DC Comics are pretty sure that Gunn is already paving the way for an underrated super-team, and if that’s the case, he’s already showing up Marvel’s failure to capitalize on the hype for Fantastic Four.
Two of the fresh additions to Superman: Legacy are Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific and Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, two characters who happen to comprise half of The Terrifics, DC’s very obvious homage to the Fantastic Four. So given the fact that Gunn is already halfway to assembling the Terrifics on the big screen while Kevin Feige has yet to hire any of Reed Richards’ crew, that’s not exactly the best look for the House of Ideas.
A Fantastic Four relaunch was officially announced from Marvel way back in 2019. Meanwhile, Superman: Legacy was only unveiled this past January.
While it’s crickets for the Fantastic Four, Gunn is moving like the Flash on Legacy.
It really is unclear what’s going on over in Marvel-land with the FF, although recent rumors maintain Adam Driver remains the studio’s top pick for Mr. Fantastic and the delay is due to contract negotiations held up by the actors’ strike. Having said that, Gunn’s own casting for Superman: Legacy seems to be going pretty smoothly.
And yet if Marvel wants to get Fantastic Four out in May 2, 2025, just months before Superman: Legacy is scheduled for July 11, it may need to get its stakes on or Gunn is liable to steal its thunder.