Is Marvel planning to cast Dev Patel in its Fantastic Four reboot? Here’s what we know so far
Actor John Krasinski played a variant of Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in 2022, but the days when he seemed to be Marvel's next Mr. Fantastic are long gone.
According to a new rumour doing the rounds on the internet, Dev Patel is being considered for a major role in Marvel Studios’ forthcoming Fantastic Four film.
The rumour originates from Leaker MSSmods on Reddit who posted that Adam Driver is not a frontrunner for Reed Richards, but Marvel Studios is currently interested in bringing Patel on board for the iconic role.
Patel, who shot to fame with his 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire, has several notable projects to his credit. He has been a fan-favorite pick for the role of Reed Richards for quite a while now.
Marvel Studio head Kevin Feige and his team are aiming for a cast that features some really talented actors, so even if Patel is the front-runner, he might well be competing with numerous other actors nobody has even heard about yet.
We all know that actor John Krasinski played a variant of Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in 2022, but the days when he seemed to be Marvel’s next Mr. Fantastic are long gone.
“There aren't any discussions at all, the only discussion I had was actually in the second-to-last week of Jack Ryan," Krasinski said while promoting the third season of Jack Ryan. "Kevin Feige called and said would you ever fly to L.A. and play in our sandbox for a day? I was honoured to do it. I flew right from Budapest when we wrapped and went right to the Doctor Strange set. I'm a big fan of all those characters and that world, so to get to play in that sandbox for one day was a real thrill.”
Meanwhile, Matt Shakman recently joined the project as director, with Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer currently working on the script.
Not much is out about the plot of the project, but Kevin Feige has confirmed that this will not be another origin story for the super-team.
“A lot of people know this origin story. A lot of people know the basics. How do we take that and bring something that they’ve never seen before?” he said in a recent interview, comparing this new take on the heroes to Marvel Studios' pact with Sony to bring Spider-Man into the MCU. “We have set a very high bar for ourselves with bringing that to the screen.”
Fantastic Four is currently expected to release on February 14, 2025.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
Forum brings UK and Chinese film professionals together to explore collaborations.
Emerging British-Asian talent gain mentorship and international exposure.
Small-scale dramas, kids’ shows, and adapting popular formats were the projects everyone was talking about.
Telling stories that feel real to their culture, yet can connect with anyone, is what makes them work worldwide.
Meeting three times a year keeps the UK and China talking, creating opportunities that last beyond one event.
The theatre was packed for the Third Shanghai–London Screen Industry Forum. Between panels and workshops, filmmakers, producers and executives discussed ideas and business cards and it felt more than just a summit. British-Asian filmmakers were meeting and greeting the Chinese industry in an attempt to explore genuine possibilities of working in China’s film market.
UK China film collaborations take off as Third Shanghai London Forum connects British Asian filmmakers with Chinese studios Instagram/ukchinafilm
What makes the forum important for British-Asian filmmakers?
For filmmakers whose films explore identity and belonging, this is a chance to show their work on an international stage, meet Chinese directors, talk co-productions and break cultural walls that normally feel unscalable. “It’s invaluable,” Abid Khan said after a panel, “because you can’t create globally if you don’t talk globally.”
And it’s not just established names. Young filmmakers were all around, pitching ideas and learning on the go. The forum gave them a chance to get noticed with mentoring, workshops, and live pitch sessions.
Which projects are catching international attention?
Micro-dramas are trending. Roy Lu of Linmon International says vertical content for apps is “where it’s at.” They’ve done US, Canada, Australia and next stop, Europe. YouTube is back in focus too, thanks to Rosemary Reed of POW TV Studios. Short attention spans and three-minute hits, she’s ready.
Children’s and sports shows are another hotspot. Jiella Esmat of 8Lions is developing Touch Grass, a football-themed children’s show. The logic is simple: sports and kids content unite families, like global glue.
Then there’s format adaptation. Lu also talked about Nothing But 30, a Chinese series with 7 billion streams. The plan is for an english version in London. Not a straight translation, but a cultural transformation. “‘30’ in London isn’t just words,” Lu says. “It’s a new story.”
Jason Zhang of Stellar Pictures says international audiences respond when culture isn’t just a background prop. Lanterns, flowers, rituals, they’re part of the plot. Cedric Behrel from Trinity CineAsia adds: you need context. Western audiences don’t know Journey to the West, so co-production helps them understand without diluting the story.
Economic sense matters too. Roy Lu stresses: pick your market, make it financially viable. Esmat likens ideal co-productions to a marriage: “Multicultural teams naturally think about what works globally and what doesn’t.”
The UK-China Film Collab’s Future Talent Programme is taking on eight students or recent grads this year. They’re getting the backstage access to international filmmaking that few ever see, including mentorship, festival organising and hands-on experience. Alumni are landing real jobs: accredited festival journalists, Beijing producers, curators at The National Gallery.
Adrian Wootton OBE reminded everyone: “We exist through partnerships, networks, and collaboration.” Yin Xin from Shanghai Media Group noted that tri-annual gathering: London, Shanghai, Hong Kong create an “intensive concentration” of ideas.
Actor-director Zhang Luyi said it best: cultural exchange isn’t telling your story to someone, it’s creating stories together.
The Shanghai-London Screen Industry Forum is no longer just a talking shop. It’s a launchpad, a bridge. And for British-Asian filmmakers and emerging talent, it’s a chance to turn ideas into reality.
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