Original Fantastic Four Star Reveals Why He Still Hasn’t Watched First Steps
He helped launch the Fantastic Four on screen, but there’s a surprising reason the original star hasn’t sat down to watch First Steps—here’s what’s really holding him back.
Michael Chiklis is not in a rush to suit back up in orange rocks, but he is not slamming the door shut either. While out promoting his new movie The Senior, the original Thing from Fox's Fantastic Four movies talked about the chances of popping up in the MCU and why he still has not watched Marvel Studios' reboot, The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Is he coming back as The Thing?
Chiklis, who played Ben Grimm/The Thing in Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), was asked by ComicBookMovie.com about showing up in an Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars situation. His answer was diplomatic, leaning no but not never.
'You are not going to [see me], probably. I do not know. Every minute is a new minute, so I should not say never. You never know what is going to happen.'
That hedging comes right after Marvel dragged the multiverse net for a big nostalgia play: Chris Evans briefly returned as the Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine. So, sure, it sounds unlikely, but the door is technically cracked.
About that new Fantastic Four movie he has not seen yet
Chiklis was also asked about The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel Studios' reboot that introduces Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the new Ben Grimm. He admitted he has not watched it yet. Not because he is avoiding it, exactly, but because going to a public screening as the guy who used to be The Thing is... awkward.
He said he was supposed to catch it with friends, but would prefer a screening where he is not fielding reactions in real time. The plan now is to see it privately so he can actually focus on the movie. He is looking forward to it, even if it is always a little weird watching someone else step into a role you once played. And for what it is worth, he sounds genuinely curious to see what Ebon does with Ben.
Inside baseball
It is a bit funny that Marvel brought back Evans' Human Torch for a multiverse gag right as the new Fantastic Four is planting a fresh flag with Ebon as The Thing. That is the MCU for you: multiversal throwbacks and reboots happening at the same time, sometimes in the same month.
What he is promoting
The Senior, the film Chiklis is out stumping for, opens in theaters on September 19.