The recent casting of the Fantastic Four placed the film firmly in the 1960s Marvel universe. This opens the door for Will Smith to finally play the powerhouse hero Blue Marvel. As one of Marvel’s strongest superheroes, Blue Marvel has the power to make even the Sentinels break a sweat. While fans have been speculating for a long time that Smith will enter the Marvel universe, this news can be just the breakthrough everyone has been waiting for.
Will Smith as Blue Marvel after Fantastic Four confirm the 1960s setting?
Blue Marvel, aka Adam Brashear, gained his abilities after a scientific accident involving antimatter. With strength rivaling the Hulk and Thor, Blue Marvel can move objects as large as the state of Arkansas with ease. He also has near-invulnerability, flight powers, and control over antimatter energy.
Since it’s confirmed Fantastic Four takes place in the 60s, Marvel can REALLY go crazy and… pic.twitter.com/gVJTGwOlMH
— It Was All a Dream, I Used to Read Wizard Magazine (@UpToTASK) February 14, 2024
Here is how fans reacted to the possibility of Blue Marvel joining the MCU:
— CaptinJack (Jackson Ettinger) (@CaptinJackbeast) February 14, 2024
— Finn (@FinnsLane) February 14, 2024
Original Ant-Man, Wasp, Lawrence Fishburne character, Howard Stark, captain carter, an earlier Black Panther, they could do a bunch of cool stuff
— Daniel Craig Saul (@saulmeister) February 14, 2024
Don’t give me hope because he should be in there
— Father Staniel (@Stanbino_616) February 15, 2024
I NEED a Blue Marvel movie
— GRAND (@GRANDSKUL) February 15, 2024
After debuting successfully in the 1960s, Blue Marvel was forced underground when the public learned he was Black. The racism of the era made the world unwilling to accept an African American superhero.
Why place the Fantastic Four in the 1960s?
The recently announced Fantastic Four cast was depicted in 60s fashion and decor. Setting the film in the past distances it from prior botched FF movies. It also allows Marvel to introduce characters like Blue Marvel, whose heroism had to remain hidden due to 60s prejudice.
As one of Marvel’s most powerful yet overlooked heroes, Blue Marvel is a perfect fit for Will Smith’s charisma and star power. Seeing the Fresh Prince take down villains like Anti-Man would make for an epic spectacle.
With strength to spare, Blue Marvel has gone blow for blow against the Avengers and matched powerhouses like Thor. His antimatter blasts pack enough punch to decimate planets. During the “God Butcher” arc, even the reanimated corpse of Blue Marvel poses a formidable threat.
In short, Blue Marvel has the muscles and grit to become one of the MCU’s elite. Will Smith has the talent and history with Marvel to make Blue Marvel a household name. The Sentinels won’t know what hit them if Smith lands the part.
Beyond the superhero genre
While the Blue Marvel role would mark a return to blockbuster films, Will Smith also has the range to subvert expectations post-slapgate. Rather than chase more Hancock-style vehicles, indie dramas could remind audiences of his dramatic chops.
Films like King Richard show Smith is more than a movie star. He inhabits roles with nuance and humanity. Smaller passion projects may lack superhero scale but offer greater critical and emotional depth.
Seeing Smith in a complex character study from an auteur director would signal that the erstwhile Fresh Prince remains dedicated to his craft. It would challenge those who try to reduce him to nothing more than a slap. It could open up new frontiers for Smith to channel his talent in unexpected directions.
And it never hurts to have the might of Blue Marvel waiting in your back pocket either. With or without the CGI-aided muscle, Smith has worlds left to conquer on the big screen and beyond.
