Ebon Moss-Bachrach is cast as Marvel’s new Ben Grimm / The Thing in the upcoming film, The Fantastic Four. Before The Bear actor was tasked with the role in the MCU, Michael Bailey Smith, Carl Ciarfalio, Michael Chiklis, and Jamie Bell played the role in earlier live-action movies. However, Marvel did one thing right with Moss-Bachrach’s casting from the earlier iterations, as they appropriately cast a Jewish actor in the role.
In Marvel Comics, Benjamin Grimm is Jewish and first revealed his identity in an emotional moment. Jack Kirby, who created the character, modeled Ben after himself and named him after his father Benjamin Kurtzberg.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Casting Preserves The Identity Of Ben Grimm
On Valentine’s Day, Marvel Studios revealed the cast and release date of its upcoming movie, The Fantastic Four. The four members of the superhero family will be portrayed by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. While fans have been anticipating these actors in these roles for a long time now, many were particularly rooting for Moss-Bachrach’s casting as Ben Grimm / The Thing.
For one, Ebon Moss-Bachrach just became a prominent name in the industry after winning an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor for The Bear. However, the massive support for the casting decision was due to his Jewish identity. In the comics, Ben Grimm’s Jewish identity was a big deal, especially when he openly revealed it.
The Thing’s Jewish heritage was hinted at throughout the comics for a long time, but it took four decades since the character’s inception to finally acknowledge it in a storyline. Ben Grimm revealed his identity in Fantastic Four #56 in 2002. Writer Karl Kesel and artist Stuart Immonen gave a particularly tragic backstory as to why it was never brought up before.
In the story, his old Jewish neighbor Hiram Sheckerberg is attacked by the villain Powderkeg. Ben believes that Sheckerberg is dead and recites the sh’ma. However, Sheckerberg lives and wonders why Ben hasn’t revealed his identity to anyone. When he asks whether Ben was ashamed of his Jewish identity, the Fantastic Four member responds:
“Nah, that ain’t it…I don’t talk it up, is all. Figure there’s enough trouble in this world without people thinkin’ Jews are all monsters like me.”
Sheckerberg assures Ben that he is no monster, but actually resembles the Golem from Jewish folklore, who acted as a protector to the Jews. The Thing later accepts his Jewish identity more in the comics and publicly reads from the Torah a few years later. He eventually marries the blind sculptor, Alicia Masters, in a Jewish ceremony.
Marvel Specifically Wanted A Jewish Actor For Ben Grimm This Time
Michael Chiklis played The Thing in the 2005 Fantastic Four movie and Jamie Bell in the 2015 iteration, both under the 20th Century Fox studio. However, when Marvel Studios gained rights over the Fantastic Four, they intended to cast a Jewish actor to respect the identity of Ben Grimm. Industry insider Jeff Sneider revealed last March that Marvel’s Ben Grimm actor was “going to be Jewish.” He shared on The Hot Mic that the information came from a credible source.
The Fantastic Four will be Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s second outing in the MCU, as he had earlier played the role of David Lieberman / Micro in the first season of The Punisher. He is also known for his roles in Girls, The Last Ship, and NOS4A2. In addition to his Emmy for The Bear, Ebon Moss-Bachrach also won the Critics Choice Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Matt Shakman will be directing The Fantastic Four. The film is scheduled to be released in theaters in the U.S. on July 25, 2025.
