Ioan Gruffudd reflects on cancelled third 'Fantastic Four' film and his role in legacy reboot

Express Tribune

2 days ago

Ioan Gruffudd, who played Mister Fantastic in Fox's Fantastic Four films, has spoken about the cancelled third instalment of the franchise. Speaking to Vulture ahead of the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, he reflected on the original plan for a trilogy.
'The mindset was that we were going to do three,' he said. 'I think the second movie was equally successful as the first … the plan was to do three movies, but these decisions are beyond my control.'
Gruffudd also praised his co-star Doug Jones, who played the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. He described him as 'a terrific artist' and said he particularly enjoyed their collaboration on the sequel.
Despite both 2000s films earning over $300 million globally, Fox opted not to proceed with a third and instead rebooted the franchise in 2015. That version, starring Miles Teller, received a negative reception from critics and fans.
Gruffudd addressed how the end of the franchise affected him personally. 'As an actor, you almost grieve every part that you've played,' he said. 'Because this was two movies over several years, the character becomes part of you.'
While expressing support for Marvel's latest reboot, First Steps, Gruffudd confirmed he is not involved in the current iteration. 'Fans are convinced that I'm going to be in a particular aspect of this universe that hasn't been written or filmed yet,' he said. 'But I haven't been approached.'
Since its release on July 25, First Steps has grossed nearly $200 million globally but experienced a 66% decline in its second weekend.