Could David Tennant have been the perfect Mister Fantastic? The former Doctor Who star reveals he wanted to return to the MCU prior to Pedro Pascal being cast as Reed Richards.
The lead up to casting the Fantastic Four was an incredibly interesting time. While Pedro Pascal would ultimately land the role of Reed Richards, dozens of other actors were rumored to be up for the role of Mister Fantastic in the MCU. This includes fan favorites like Dev Patel, and underdogs like Jake Gyllenhaal. Perhaps the most pervasive rumor was the idea that Doctor Who breakout Matt Smith was the frontrunner for the role.
However, it seems that Matt Smith wasn’t the only Doctor Who actor up for the role of Mister Fantastic. According to David Tennant, who played the Time Lord just prior to Smith, he was eyeing an MCU comeback in the form of Reed Richards. However, the role ultimately went to Pedro Pascal before his dreams could become a reality.
“In terms of superheroes, I did slightly have my eye on Reed Richards,” Tennant explained to MCM Comic Con (via ComicBookMovie.com) “And unfortunately, it looks like they’ve gone in a different direction. Although if it has to be someone, I’m very happy for it to be Pedro Pascal.”
Is David Tennant In The MCU?
Some may forget that David Tennant has already appeared in the MCU as Zebediah Killgrave in Jessica Jones. However, that doesn’t mean the actor couldn’t play another role. While he missed out on the role of Mister Fantastic to Pedro Pascal, Reed Richards is far from the only character fans have imagined him playing. Perhaps the most popular idea has been Nightmare, a character considered for the MCU as far back as the original draft of Doctor Strange 2.
But given there’s still some time left in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga, it’s possible that David Tennant gets his wish of playing Reed Richards after-all. If there’s a Council of Reeds anywhere in the franchise’s future, the Doctor Who star would be a fun pic to play as Mister Fantastic across from Pedro Pascal. Joining, of course, every prior actor to play the character!
The Fantastic Four: First Steps opens on July 25, 2025. Stay tuned for all the latest news regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!
