"Fantastic Four" Star Ebon Moss-Bachrach's Rocky Road to Becoming The Thing

Ebon Moss-Bachrach, set to play Ben Grimm (The Thing) in Marvel’s upcoming “Fantastic Four” film, recently shared a humorous insight into his preparation for the role. During an appearance on “The Daily Show,” the actor known for his work in “The Bear” offered a cheeky response when asked about his training regimen.

“I’m playing Ben Grimm, who becomes the Thing, who is a man encased in rock. I don’t know, I’ve just been looking at rocks,” Moss-Bachrach joked, referencing his character’s iconic stone-like appearance.

On a more serious note, Moss-Bachrach revealed that he’s been immersing himself in Marvel comics. “I’ve been reading a lot of comics. It’s kind of nice. They gave me this Marvel Unlimited thing, so I can just go on my iPad and go to any comic book that Marvel’s ever released,” he explained.

The actor’s light-hearted approach to discussing his role highlights the unique challenges of portraying a character like The Thing, whose physical appearance is drastically different from that of a typical superhero. Unlike many Marvel actors who undergo intense physical training for their roles, Moss-Bachrach’s preparation seems more focused on understanding the character’s rich comic book history.

The “Fantastic Four” film, slated for release on July 25, 2025, is part of Marvel’s Phase 6 and features an all-star cast including Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm. While details about the movie remain scarce, a poster has hinted at a possible 1960s setting.

Co-star Joseph Quinn has expressed excitement about the project, stating, “There are aspects of it that are very different to other Marvel films. That felt very compelling to me. It’s really brilliant.”

As Marvel fans eagerly await more details about the film, Moss-Bachrach’s witty comments have added a touch of humor to the anticipation surrounding this highly anticipated addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.