The Fantastic Four Rumored To Feature The Debut Of A Long-Awaited Marvel Villain
The Fantastic Four is currently casting and gearing up for production, and if the rumors are to be believed, a certain OG villain will be making his MCU debut.
According to scooper Jeff Sneider, Marvel’s first family will be facing off against Harvey Elder, aka the Mole Man in the film’s opening sequence. Paul Walter Hauser is currently in talks for the role.
Sneider said: “Today, a source told me that the script opens with the Fantastic Four defeating Mole Man, and that makes sense to me — a big action sequence to start the movie, so Hauser would only be needed on set for 2-3 weeks, after which he’d be free to pursue his many other projects.”
Created by artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, the Mole Man first appeared in The Fantastic Four #1 which first published in Nov. 1961. The character’s name was at the time spelled “Moleman” in one word. The spelling “Mole Man” came a few years later in The Fantastic Four #22 (Jan. 1964).
For those not in the know, the Mole Man is best known in the Marvel comics as a subterranean-dwelling villain who was born with a disfigured face and ostracized by society, leading him to seek refuge underground. There, the Mole Man discovered and became the ruler of a race of humanoid monsters known as the Moloids.
The Mole Man also has the distinction of being the first villain the Fantastic Four has faced off with. He commands the Moloids from below ground, where he harbors bitter feelings towards the surface world that rejected him. With his army of Moloids and advanced machinery, the Mole Man frequently attempts to conquer the surface and exact revenge on humanity.
Seems like a role in Hauser’s wheelhouse.
What we know about the Fantastic Four movie
Marvel Studios recently announced the cast for its Fantastic Four reboot, setting the stage for a new era of MCU adventures. Stepping into the roles of the beloved superhero team are Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm.
Behind the scenes, The Fantastic Four will be brought to life under the direction of Matt Shakman, with Josh Friedman writing the screenplay. With production slated to begin in summer 2024, Marvel fans can look forward to the film’s journey to theaters in July 2025, marking a new chapter in the MCU.
Fantastic Four opens on July 25, 2025.