Marvel Studios made a big return to Hall H at the recent San Diego Comic-Con 2024. The studio hyped up its upcoming projects and spotlighted the return of Marvel’s first family in the forthcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps. But aside from giving its first look in a special teaser and revealing its official title, lucky attendees also got their hands on the movie’s artwork, which featured a map of New York City. Interestingly, this SDCC 2024 poster shows the kingdom of Subterranea, seemingly teasing Mole Man’s appearance and live-action debut.
The Fantastic Four art in question gives a closer look at the FF Clean Energy Complex on Governor’s Island and the Baxter Building’s launch pad named the Excelsior, a nod at Marvel’s primary creative leader Stan Lee. It also shows the Yancy St. Neighborhood. However, what caught the attention of many was seeing Subterranea.
Marvel comic book readers probably know Subterranea is home to Harvey Elder’s Mole Man, his Moloids, and other monstrous creatures. A kingdom beneath the surface of the Earth, it is where every one of them hides out.
Sure, the reboot's primary villains will be Galactus and the Shalla-Bal Silver Surfer, who Ralph Ineson and Julia Garner will play. However, with this big tease, it’s not far that Mole Man will be an opening villain that the Fantastic Four has to fight against in the first part of the movie.
It’s also worth noting that Marvel Studios teased Mole Man’s part in The Fantastic Four after recommending five Marvel Comics issues that inspired the film’s storyline. One of those is the 1961 Fantastic Four #1, which detailed the titular team’s origin story and their work together to battle Mole Man and his monsters. So, though the studio has yet to confirm anything, it seems to be a major hint that the supervillain will have a role in the movie.
Who could play Mole Man in The Fantastic Four: First Steps?
There are theories that Paul Walter Hauser could play Mole Man in The Fantastic Four. Marvel Studios has yet to reveal the 37-year-old star’s role in the movie after Deadline confirmed his casting in May 2024. Hence, several assumptions start to emerge as to who he could play.
Some suggest that Hauser could voice the heroes’ robot assistant, HERBIE, after the android appeared on the Valentine’s Day cast announcement poster. However, others strongly believe he could play a different character that would suit an actor of his caliber. With his great performance as an antagonist in Black Bird, BlacKkKlansman, and Cruella, he deserves a bigger role in the MCU, and the possibility of him playing Mole Man in Phase 6 can give him an important part in the franchise.
In an interview with Variety, Hauser revealed that he has been reading comic books and the screenplay to prepare for his mysterious role in The Fantastic Four. He was assessing where he would fit into that story and how to best utilize his time in it.
You don't want to make choices or do things that are redundant in a film. It's important to know what the film is and what everyone's jobs are so that you're bringing your own unique take to something. … Whenever I'm in an ensemble, I'm trying to figure out how to be unique or specific without being distracting.
Mole Man is known as one of the Fantastic Four’s persistent villains, so it’s impossible that he won’t be part of First Steps, especially since it’s the team’s first movie in the MCU after Disney’s acquisition of Fox in 2019. So, though Galactus and Doctor Doom are bigger villains than him, he deserves to make his live-action debut after over 60 years.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to release in theaters on July 25, 2025.
