Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox
Marvel Studios is reportedly planning to feature Ioan Gruffudd’s Reed Richards in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. This follows Pedro Pascal’s confirmed role as the MCU’s primary Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, expanding the multiverse storyline in upcoming films.
Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars could bring back Ioan Gruffudd’s Reed Richards
Pedro Pascal is reportedly expected to play the primary Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Rumors suggest Ioan Gruffudd, known for his role in Fantastic Four (2005) and its sequel, may reprise his version in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. As per Alex Perez of The Cosmic Circus, there may be plans to include Gruffudd’s character as part of the multiverse storyline.
The What If…? finale introduced the concept of The Watcher saving variants across realities, hinting at appearances by alternate versions of characters like Reed Richards. John Krasinski previously portrayed a variant in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), though his character met a swift end. Gruffudd’s rumored return may tie into the “Battleworld” concept, where multiversal characters converge.
The Council of Reeds, an interdimensional organization composed of Reed Richards variants, may feature in upcoming films. In the comics, this group uses advanced technology to address multiverse-level challenges, often requiring members to sacrifice their personal lives for the greater good. The Council was originally founded by three Infinity Gauntlet–wielding Reeds.
Gruffudd expressed interest in returning to the Marvel universe in a 2018 interview, saying, “I would love that… Maybe [I could play] a baddie, this time? Now that I’ve established myself as somebody who can do that, that would be great” (via ComicBookMovie). He also noted that other actors, like Chris Evans and Michael B. Jordan, transitioned between Marvel roles successfully.
These developments suggest Marvel’s continued exploration of the multiverse, incorporating both new portrayals and familiar faces to expand its storytelling.
