'Superman: Legacy' And 'Fantastic 4' Have Casting Ready To Be Announced Post-Strike
Juuuuust gotta get the AMPTP to an agreement with SAG-AFTRA
It was a long 146 days for the Writers Guild of America to get their fair deal, and now the actors’ guild SAG-AFTRA has passed its 80th day striking, but at least they have the AMPTP at the negotiating table (they resume Monday). When the actors do get their fair deal, there’s probably a high-pressure dam of casting announcements ready to burst, and there’s excitement from directors of the two biggest franchises of modern film abound.
James Gunn, who is building the new DC Universe as co-Chairman and co-CEO of the new DC Universe, is so hands-on that he is writing and directing the first film, Superman: Legacy. Before the strikes, he was able to announce David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan as his Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane in late June, while Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, Guy Gardner Green Lantern, and Metamorpho were all announced just under the wire with Isabela Merced, Edi Gathegi, Nathan Fillion, and Anthony Carrigan. On Threads, user cloudy_bozo asked Gunn “Do you have your finger on the trigger waiting to announce more Legacy castings as soon as the strike ends?” and he replied “Yes” with three prayer emojis.
Meanwhile, casting announcements for the Marvel Cinematic Universe iteration of Fantastic 4 has had exactly zero fruit since the film was announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, so that’s over 4 years of anticipation building up with rampant fancastings waiting to be put to bed. The film’s director Matt Shakman, who also did WandaVision and works its spinoff(s?), told Collider “I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they get a great deal really soon and we can go back. Then, once that's resolved, there'll be a plan at that point, but I can't say too much. There will be an announcement at some point! I know that the internet is very excited to find out, and I'm excited to share it. I just can't do it yet.” He also anticipates significant IMAX inclusion and exhibition. As for how it will stand out from the rest of the MCU, he remained coy. Filming is now targeted for a spring start rather than January.
Fantastic Four is currently scheduled to be released on May 2, 2025, bumped there from February 14 after the writers began striking but before the actors did, so whether it will be delayed again is unclear, being on its third date overall. Superman: Legacy is currently set to be released two months later on July 11, 2025.
