Michael Chiklis has debunked the rumor that he’ll be appearing as The Thing in Marvel Studios’ Deadpool 3.
On Twitter, Chiklis said that a photo of him as The Thing standing next to Wade Wilson on the set of Deadpool 3 is fake. “ Sorry to disappoint. So many people have asked about it, I feel it’s necessary to clear this up,” Chiklis wrote.
The actor did, however, note that he knows who has been cast as the MCU’s Ben Grimm, though he’s not saying who it is at this time. “Not my place to tell but I will say this. I’m a fan of his work and I wish him luck and success with it,” he said.
Fantastic Four, Pedro Pascal, and the MCU
At this time, Marvel Studios has not formally confirmed who will be starring in the upcoming Fantastic Four movie directed by Matt Shakman.
Pedro Pascal was reported to be playing Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in November 2023. Earlier this week, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation website seemed to confirm that Pascal would be starring in the movie; however, any mention of Fantastic Four has since been deleted from Pascal’s career retrospective page.
Shakman also shared an article highlighting SAG-AFTRA’s apparent confirmation that Pascal is playing Mister Fantastic, though Shakman’s Instagram page has now also been deleted.
There’s been no shortage of rumors regarding who will play the other members of Marvel’s First Family, with Vanessa Kirby as The Invisible Woman/Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as The Human Torch/Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing being some of the more prominent theories. Fantastic Four is currently scheduled to release in the United States on May 2, 2025.
Deadpool 3, meanwhile, will see Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson join the MCU as he embarks on a new quest alongside Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). The movie hits theaters on July 26, 2024.