So much for those ideas of a FANTASTIC FOUR sequel Simon Kinberg is throwing around. His Johnny Storm just bolted for a different part of the Marvel Universe.
Michael B. Jordan has signed on the line that is dotted to be a part of BLACK PANTHER, making him an official part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as opposed to 20th Century Fox's shared universe of Marvel characters they hold the rights to. Jordan will be reteaming with Ryan Coogler for the third time, adding another title to their collaborative efforts, following CREED and FRUITVALE STATION.
As for who Jordan will be playing… well, that's being kept under wraps for the time being, so don't expect specifics, but The Hollywood Reporter reports that Jordan may be set to square off against Chadwick Boseman's title character as the first villain of Black Panther's solo thread in the MCU.
As to how this pertains to any more FANTASTIC FOUR, one would have to imagine that whatever Kinberg was thinking is now D.O.A. One-fourth of his team has now positioned themselves to be identified as a part of the true Marvel Cinematic Universe, so while the dream was to keep the cast from Josh Trank's film intact and go forth with something new, I have a hard time believing that's going to happen now. What that means for the future of the Fantastic Four is anyone's guess… but does anyone see another reboot on the horizon from Fox? Because I sure don't.
Go ahead… Let the "Let the rights revert back to Marvel" pipedream commence once again. Spider-Man happened. Maybe this is next.
BLACK PANTHER arrives in theaters on February 16, 2018.