Ebon Moss-Bachrach recently explained his prep process for Ben Grimm/The Thing during a recent appearance on ‘The Daily Show.’ He joked:
“I’m playing Ben Grimm, who becomes The Thing, who is a man encased in rock. So, yeah, I don’t know, I’ve just been looking at rocks.”
The actor added in a more serious tone:
“I’ve been reading a lot of comics. It’s really nice. They gave me this Marvel Unlimited thing, so I can just go on my iPad, and go to any comic book that Marvel’s ever released.”
‘The Fantastic Four’ Role ‘Shocked’ The Actor
Moss-Bachrach joined the cast opposite Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Strom/Invisible Woman, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch. The actor revealed how he found out about ‘The Fantastic Four’ role in a previous chat on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live:’
“No, I found out at the beginning of August. I was taking a walk in the city… this was in the middle of the Writer’s Strike and I got a call from my agent. I wasn’t thinking about work at all. They said, ‘They asked you to play The Thing.’ I was so shocked.”
He also mentioned having a group chat with his co-stars:
“There is a group text. Pedro started [it] a couple of days ago … everyone has said something … everyone put a little image, gif, or sticker. So, people are invested. No one is being coy.”
Moss-Bachrach’s Castmates
The upcoming movie will also feature Ralph Ineson as Galactus and Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer. Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne, and John Malkovich will appear in unknown roles.
Hauser recently said of his casting (per The Hollywood Reporter):
“Don’t think that didn’t weigh in as I was deciding whether or not to take the job. That movie has not fully been nailed just yet… But I really do think the combination of the screenplay, and the department heads that are working on the film, and that classy cast of really exciting actors – some of them known for a long time, and some of them having a moment right now – [make me feel that] this movie is special, and it was something I wanted to be a part of.”
‘The Fantastic Four’ will hit the theaters on July 25, 2025. Matt Shakman will be on the director’s chair.
