If there’s one thing Marvel is very good at, it’s casting. From Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man to Chris Hemsworth as Thor, the studio has a knack for finding the ideal actors to bring their favorite comic book characters to life. And it appears that they might have their sights set on another prominent face in the industry for their next big bad: Javier Bardem.
Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, could be portrayed by none other than the Spanish Oscar-winning actor in the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot. This follows on the heels of the announcement that Pedro Pascal is slated to star as Mr. Fantastic, providing yet another reason to look forward to the eagerly awaited superhero flick.
Bardem, known for his outstanding portrayal in No Country for Old Men and Everybody Knows, is reportedly Marvel’s first choice for the cosmic antagonist, according to Jeff Sneider. However, there is a potential scheduling dispute caused by the actor’s commitment to the F1 film starring Brad Pitt.
Javier Bardem: Marvel’s Top Choice To Play A Major Villain In The Fantastic Four
Rumors have been swirling that Javier Bardem, 54, is the most likely choice for Marvel to play the role of Galactus, the legendary cosmic villain known for his insatiable hunger for planets. And it’s not hard to see why the Spain-born actor would be a perfect fit for the role.
It is believed that Bardem, 54, would be the most fitting choice to play Galactus, the presumed antagonist of The Fantastic Four. An Oscar-winning actor is presently being courted by Marvel to play the world-eating Galactus, according to a report from The InSneider’s Jeff Sneider.
According to the report, Bardem’s signing is almost certain as Marvel is arranging to shoot around his schedule. In order to allude to future MCU appearances, Sneider shared that it is still expected that Doctor Doom will make an appearance in the film. It was previously announced that he would make an appearance close to the end of the film. Well, Marvel Studios has not provided confirmation for these rumors.
With Galactus reportedly serving as the film’s primary antagonist, fans are wondering what role Doctor Doom, the arch-enemy of The Fantastic Four, might play going forward.
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Can Galactus Be the Main Villain in The Fantastic Four?
In comic books, Galactus is known for his insatiable appetite for planets. He made his debut in Fantastic Four #48 in March 1966, having been created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. When Galactus first appeared, he was portrayed as a godlike creature that fed on the energy of living planets without regard for morality.
Lee and Kirby wanted to go against the grain of conventional villains. As Lee explained (via CBR):
“Galactus was simply another in a long line of super-villains whom we loved creating. We felt the only way to top ourselves was to come up with an evil-doer who had almost godlike powers. Therefore, the natural choice was sort of a demi-god, but now what would we do with him? We didn’t want to use the tired old cliche about him wanting to conquer the world…After all, a demi-god should be beyond mere good and evil. He’d just be hungry and the nourishment he’d require is the life force and energy from living planets.”
Javier Bardem seems like a perfect fit for the role, and that much is obvious. From his Oscar-winning performance in No Country for Old Men to his terrifying role as the antagonist in Skyfall, he has shown time and time again that he has the acting chops to convey the complexity of characters.
His versatility is evident in a number of roles, such as those of Desi Arnaz in Being the Ricardos, Reinaldo Arenas in Before Night Falls, and Uxbal in Biutiful.
The Fantastic Four, which will be released on July 25, 2025, is currently in production.
