One of the MCU’s most anticipated films in the coming years is Fantastic Four. Starring Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, recent casting announcements for characters like Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer being played by Ozark actress Julia Garner have kept fans eagerly anticipating what the infamous superhero family’s film will be about. However, Marvel’s latest casting has proven to be a fantastic choice for one of Marvel’s most potent and prolific villains, Galactus.
The Devourer of Worlds is making his way onto the big screen, proving that The Fantastic Four will face a formidable threat. Ralph Ineson, a prolific English actor known for his roles both in comedy and dramas, is set to bring the larger-than-life villain into the MCU. So what roles have made Ralph Ineson the perfect choice for this mighty foe, and who is Galactus in the Marvel Universe? It's time to take a deep dive into what makes this character such a pivotal role for Fantastic Four and the larger MCU.
Fantastic Four: The Retro Aesthetic Will Be A Breath Of Fresh Air
As MCU movies struggle to differentiate themselves, the first family of superheroes will bring much-needed visual variety.
Why Ralph Ineson is Perfect for Galactus
Before we understand who Galactus is as a character and villain, it is crucial to know who Ralph Ineson is and what he brings to the table. Known for his broad, rough Yorkshire accent, the Leeds-born actor has become known not only for his comedic role in one of Britain's most popular comedies but as a fantastic character actor who has brought some of the most potent roles both in live-action and voiceover work to life with a gravitas that speaks to the actor’s natural command over his roles.
Ralph Ineson's Live-Action Work
Ralph Ineson has had a prolific career in live-action and voiceover work. The actor had several roles early in his career, but one of his first significant roles on television was on the British version of The Office, playing Chris Finch in the BBC comedy. From there, he acted in the British soap opera Coronation Street, the spy-thriller series Spooks, and Waking the Dead. Soon, Ineson was booking roles on major television series, portraying Dagmer Cleftjaw, the Iron Born reaver, in seasons 2 and 3 of Game of Thrones. He also took on roles in HBO’s Cherynobl series and Netflix’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. This allowed the actor to showcase his ability to take on more prominent and influential roles in major franchises.
Yet some of his most powerful works came through his film work. He was one of the Death Eaters featured in the Harry Potter films, Amycus Carrow. He also had minor roles in movies like Guardians of the Galaxy as a ravager pilot and a police officer in Kingsman: The Secret Service, Ready Player One, and one of the starring roles in the acclaimed horror film The Witch. Yet one role that may showcase the gravitas and persona needed to bring Galactus to life the most is his role in The Green Knight, in which he portrayed the titular character. The role showed his ability to bring a larger-than-life character like The Green Knight to life, emphasizing his power and command to captivate viewers.
Ralph Ineson's Voiceover Work
Alongside his work in live-action, Ralph Ineson has held some prominent voice-over roles in gaming. First, he reprised his role as Amycus Carrow in the video game adaption of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, bringing his haunting performance to life once more. Yet his most powerful role in a voice-over role has to be as Charles Vane, the infamous English Pirate who operated during the Golden Age of Piracy in Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Vane was the captain of the notorious Jolly Roger and was one of the principal players in trying to organize a Pirate nation. Ralph Ineson recently voiced Cidolfus Telamon in Final Fantasy XVI and Lorath Nahr in Diablo IV.
Who is Galactus in Marvel Comics?
The origin of Galactus in Marvel Comics is crucially tied to the formation of the Marvel Universe. Once an explorer and scientist, the villain was once known as Galan. However, in the moments before his universe ended, he merged with the Sentience of the Universe, otherwise known as Eternity, to become known as Galactus. Coming to life in his new form at the beginning of the Marvel Universe, the powerful cosmic entity was consumed with such hunger that he had to devour an entire planet. This hunger would become the driving force for Galactus, forcing him to take on a Herald to seek out new worlds for him to eat.
Galactus became a prominent figure in the Marvel Universe, leading wars against ancient cosmic gods, becoming the first worldwide threat The Fantastic Four would face, and even coming into conflict with Thor in recent comics. Ralph Ineson’s work in his previous films has been the perfect lead-up to this role, as Galactus is an all-powerful figure who views humanity as nothing more than ants. His indifference towards the heroes of Earth and his wrath in the face of defeat need the gravitas that Ineson has. His ties to existing heroes and villains in the MCU, from Thor and Ego the Living Planet to Dormammu and the Celestials, will make his presence in the upcoming film a significant milestone for the future of the MCU.
What storyline will Fantastic Four adopt now that Ralph Ineson has been cast as Galactus? As always, it should include bits and pieces from various storylines. Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer, for instance, hails from the Earth X universe, a dystopian world in which Franklin Richards, son of Sue and Reed Richards, is forced to become the new Galactus after the death of the original. This could play a role in the film’s development. Aside from Galactus’s first battle with The Fantastic Four, his presence may become a deciding factor in the upcoming Secret Wars film in the MCU. All roads lead to Galactus, and Ralph Ineson’s past roles prove he is more than up to the challenge of bringing this beloved villain into the MCU at long last.
The Fantastic Four (2025)
Rumor: Fortnite Could Be Bringing Back Galactus
A recent Fortnite leak suggests that Galactus could return from the stars to threaten the Island and its inhabitants with annihilation once again.
