Paul Walter Hauser’s role in Marvel Studios’ upcoming The Fantastic Four reboot hasn’t yet been revealed, but there are many brilliant characters from Marvel Comics that the acclaimed actor could bring to the MCU. Paul Walter Hauser rose to prominence with supporting roles in projects including I, Tonya, BlacKkKlansman, Cruella, and Da 5 Bloods, but had his breakout performance as the title character in 2019’s Richard Jewell. As well as going from strength to strength in feature films, Hauser is also known for roles in TV shows such as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Kingdom, Cobra Kai, and Black Bird.

On May 2, 2024, Deadline reported that Paul Walter Hauser had joined the cast of Marvel Studios’ much-anticipated The Fantastic Four. Hauser joins Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Julia Garner, John Malkovich, and Natasha Lyonne in The Fantastic Four’s incredible cast, though Hauser’s, Malkovich’s, and Lyonne’s roles haven’t been confirmed by Marvel Studios. There are many brilliant Fantastic Four-related characters from the team’s Marvel Comics history that Paul Walter Hauser would be perfect at bringing into the live-action MCU, including powerful heroes, terrifying villains, and characters that could have a major impact on the MCU’s upcoming storylines.

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Walter Newell’s Stingray

Paul Walter Hauser Played A Character Named Stingray In Cobra Kai

While it’s rather unlikely that Paul Walter Hauser will portray Walter Newell’s Stingray in the MCU’s The Fantastic Four, this casting would be a hilarious move from Marvel Studios, as Hauser portrayed Raymond “Stingray” Porter in popular Netflix series Cobra Kai. A recurring character in Cobra Kai seasons 2, 4, and 5, Stingray joined the Cobra Kai Dojo, though this eventually landed him in legal trouble. Paul Walter Hauser’s casting as Stingray in the MCU, however unlikely, could expand the world of the MCU massively.

In Marvel Comics, engineer and oceanographer Stingray fought alongside underwater hero Namor, who was portrayed by Tenoch Huerta in 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Namor’s connections to the Fantastic Four in Marvel Comics, especially due to his relationship with Sue Storm, means he could be involved in The Fantastic Four. This could bring Stingray into the MCU’s Phase 6, perhaps adapted for Paul Walter Hauser.

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Blastaar

The Fantastic Four Could Explore The MCU’s Negative Zone

First seen in 1967’s Fantastic Four #62 in Marvel Comics, Blastaar was introduced as a villain residing in the Negative Zone who opposed the Fantastic Four and more-powerful antagonist Annihilus. The Negative Zone is an important location in the history of the Fantastic Four, and though it hasn’t yet been seen in the live-action MCU, the otherworldly realm has been teased to exist. Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four could debut the Negative Zone in the MCU, and potentially bring its legendary villains into live-action.

Paul Walter Hauser’s experience as a professional wrestler makes him the perfect actor to portray skilled fighter Blastaar in the MCU. Highly trained in warfare with superhuman strength, durability, and stamina, Blastaar would be an excellent villain to introduce in The Fantastic Four. The Negative Zone has been theorized to bring the Fantastic Four into the MCU’s main timeline, so Blastaar’s MCU debut could be imminent.

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Willie Lumpkin

Willie Lumpkin Is The Fantastic Four’s Mailman

Marvel Comics’ Willie Lumpkin is usually depicted as an older gentleman who delivers the Fantastic Four’s mail to the Baxter Building. In 2005’s Fantastic Four movie, produced by 20th Century Fox, Willie Lumpkin was portrayed by Stan Lee in one of his famous Marvel movie cameos, but the character could be altered significantly to be played by Paul Walter Hauser in the MCU’s The Fantastic Four. This could inform the theory that The Fantastic Four will be set in an alternate universe.

Julia Garner’s casting as Shalla-Bal’s Silver Surfer, rather than Norrin Radd, suggests The Fantastic Four will be set in an alternate universe. This could explain Marvel Studios debuting a very different version of Willie Lumpkin, perhaps a younger iteration portrayed by Paul Walter Hauser. Hauser’s comedy experience makes him a great match for Willie Lumpkin, though Marvel Studios may want to stay more faithful to the comic inspiration.

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Buford Hollis’ Razorback

Razorback Could Connect The Fantastic Four To Mutants In The MCU

While Marvel Comics’ Razorback doesn’t necessarily have any direct connections to the Fantastic Four, Paul Walter Hauser’s wrestling background makes him a perfect match for Buford Hollis in the live-action MCU. Razorback was a mutant with abilities that made him able to instinctively drive any vehicle, though these powers were stripped away following the Scarlet Witch’s M-Day Decimation. Hollis was depicted as a muscular truck driver in Marvel Comics, so Hauser fits the bill to a tee.

Inspired by other costumed crime-fighters, Buford Hollis decided to become Razorback to use his powers for good. He fought alongside Spider-Man, She-Hulk, and even Rocket Raccoon after embarking on a mission into space, but would be a great fit in Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four. If set in another reality, The Fantastic Four could debut Razorback as a prominent costumed hero, introducing another mutant to the MCU prior to Marvel Studios’ X-Men reboot.

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Bentley Wittman’s Wizard

The Wizard Is A Powerful Fantastic Four Villain

Paul Walter Hauser’s previous experience portraying villainous characters makes it likely that he’ll bring another antagonist into the MCU’s The Fantastic Four. Bentley Wittman’s Wizard would be a great choice, thanks to his vendetta against Johnny Storm’s Human Torch. Growing up with superhuman levels of genius, Wittman became a renowned inventor, but soon became intellectually bored, and set out to defeat the Fantastic Four. The Wizard managed to capture the Human Torch and defame him, which would be an interesting story for The Fantastic Four.

The Wizard later formed the Frightful Four, a criminal counterpart to the Fantastic Four, which could introduce the perfect dark mirror to the team in the MCU. He had also been featured as a member of Intelligencia, a group which made its MCU debut in 2022’s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Paul Walter Hauser’s stoicism, seriousness, and sinister acting ability would fit the MCU’s Wizard perfectly.

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Owen Reece’s Molecule Man

Paul Walter Hauser’s MCU Character Could Be Key To Avengers: Secret Wars

Owen Reece’s Molecule Man is an incredibly significant character in Marvel Comics, particularly in 2015’s Secret Wars event. Long before that, however, Molecule Man was introduced in 1963’s Fantastic Four #30 as an antagonist to the titular team with the ability to affect all matter on a molecular level. Introducing Paul Walter Hauser as Molecule Man in The Fantastic Four could set him up for a huge MCU future, especially as the foundations are being laid for 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars.

In the lead up to Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars event, Owen Reece was revealed to have been created by the otherworldly Beyonders to be a singularity across every reality. If he died, so would his universe. Molecule Man and Doctor Doom used this information to steal the Beyonders’ power and create Battleworld after catastrophic incursions, and Paul Walter Hauser would be perfect at leading this storyline in the MCU.

4

The Mad Thinker

The Mad Thinker Could Team Up With Another Rumored MCU Villain

The Mad Thinker made his Marvel Comics’ debut in 1963 as an antagonist to the Fantastic Four. Introduced as a professional criminal mastermind, the Mad Thinker made many schemes against the Fantastic Four in attempts to steal Reed Richards’ technology, even going so far as to team up with other powerful villains, such as the Puppet Master and the Wizard. The Mad Thinker is a prominent Fantastic Four villain, but has also been involved with other criminal organizations, including the Intelligencia and the Hood’s Illuminati.

Paul Walter Hauser has the perfect skills to portray the Mad Thinker in the MCU, especially coming off his run portraying the sinister serial killer Larry Hall in Apple TV+’s Black Bird. The Mad Thinker could also become a consistent thorn in the side of the Fantastic Four in the MCU’s future, allowing Paul Walter Hauser to stick around in the franchise for several years.

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Terrax The Tamer

Multiple Heralds Of Galactus Have Been Teased For The Fantastic Four

While Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four is set to debut Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal’s Silver Surfer, a cosmic Herald of the planet-eater Galactus, other Heralds are also rumored to appear in the upcoming project. One of these could be Terrax the Tamer, who found more worlds for the cosmic being to devour than any previous Herald. Terrax the Tamer’s intimidating posture and muscular physique fit Paul Walter Hauser brilliantly, and this would help to develop the backstory of Galactus himself.

Ralph Ineson was cast as Galactus in May 2024, set to bring a more comic-accurate depiction of the planet-eater to the MCU, following the villain’s controversial cloud-like depiction in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Terrax the Tamer’s introduction alongside Shalla-Bal’s Silver Surfer would be an excellent way to build the mythos of Galactus, and Paul Walter Hauser certainly has the personality to make this a meaningful introduction.

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HERBIE

HERBIE Was Confirmed In The Fantastic Four’s Valentine’s Day Cast Reveal

HERBIE (Humanoid Experimental Robot, B-Type, Integrated Electronics) has already been confirmed to be appearing in The Fantastic Four, as the robot assistant to the Fantastic Four was featured in Marvel Studios’ cast reveal on Valentine’s Day 2024. Despite the robot being confirmed for The Fantastic Four, the voice of the strange Marvel Comics character hasn’t yet been revealed, but Paul Walter Hauser could be a great candidate, especially because of his experience in comedies and sitcoms.

HERBIE is an inherently humorous character, taking the form of a small robot companion to the Fantastic Four, though he was created with the specific purpose of aiding in the team’s search for Galactus. Paul Walter Hauser would be able to strike the balance between comedy and seriousness for HERBIE. It’s possible Marvel Studios may choose an actor with a more distinctive voice for HERBIE, but Paul Walter Hauser would be a great match.

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Harvey Rupert Elder’s Mole Man

Paul Walter Hauser Would Make The Perfect Mole Man

Perhaps the most popular, the most comic-accurate, and the most likely casting choice for Paul Walter Hauser in The Fantastic Four would be the Mole Man. Harvey Rupert Elder’s subterranean villain was the first antagonist the Fantastic Four faced in 1961, making him a likely inclusion in Marvel Studios’ live-action The Fantastic Four. Despite his unimposing physique, the Mole Man’s command of mole-human hybrid monsters, known as Moloids, makes him an incredibly terrifying villain.

The Mole Man staged many attacks on the surface world, posing a great threat to the Fantastic Four in their early adventures. The villain’s short stature and seedy personality makes Paul Walter Hauser a great fit, perhaps allowing the legendary Marvel villain to debut in live-action for the first time ever. Paul Walter Hauser’s inclusion in The Fantastic Four is hugely exciting, and there’s no doubt he’ll bring his brilliant magnetism to whatever role he assumes.