Javier Bardem is the leading man to play the big bad in the MCU's Fantastic Four.

With the SAG-AFTRA strike at an end, the MCU is forging ahead with the production of its most anticipated movies, including Fantastic Four, with reports suggesting that Javier Bardem is the top pick for its main villain. In the current lineup, Fantastic Four is slated for a release between Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts.

Oscar-winning Bardem is the studio's top pick to play the planet-devouring Galactus in the Fantastic Four's MCU debut. If the casting goes ahead, this will be huge news for two reasons. First, Galactus is one of Marvel's most iconic villains and one that has been begging for a faithful big-screen appearance alongside the MCU's best villains for years.

Galactus is a pivotal character in the Marvel Universe, known for his immense power and his status as a cosmic entity that can literally destroy worlds. The character's significance in Marvel lore suggests that his appearance in the Fantastic Four movie will not be a one-and-done role, meaning that there will be a certain amount of consideration being given to future appearances in the franchise.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Adam Driver were mainly considered for the role, but both were too expensive, according to Jeff Sneider and since 'Fantastic Four' has budgeting issues in the first place, they decided to go for the most affordable and popular option currently – Pedro Pascal who not only checks the diversity box, he is also one of the hottest actors currently.

Source: Press Release