Ioan Gruffud, who starred as Reed Richards in the 2000s Fantastic Four films, has shared his enthusiastic reaction to former co-star Chris Evans reprising his role as the Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine.
The renewed interest in the original films comes as a new iteration, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, is scheduled for a 2025 release. In a recent interview, Gruffud reflected on seeing Evans flame on again for the first time since 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
“I did have a warm feeling come across me because you reminisce about the fun that we had,” Gruffud said. “I absolutely loved working with him. I just remember laughing with Chris every single day on set, almost like giddy teenagers. It was a true delight to see Chris reprising Johnny, and that’s such an iconic sequence in that film.”
Evans’ surprise cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine marked his return to the MCU five years after his final appearance as Captain America in Avengers: Endgame. Despite his insistence that he has retired from playing Steve Rogers, Evans was persuaded to revisit his first major superhero role. The character’s return was brief, ending with his brutal death at the hands of the villain Cassandra Nova.
Gruffud added that he was “overjoyed” by the scene, calling it a “beautiful homage” to Evans’ original portrayal. “Yes, he is beloved as Captain America, but he’s also beloved as Johnny Storm,” he noted.
Gruffud’s sentiments echo those of fellow cast member Michael Chiklis, who played The Thing and recently shared a message thanking fans for their continued support.
While the cast from the 2000s films is not expected to appear in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, the new Fantastic Four team will be featured. The film is also set to include several actors from Fox’s X-Men franchise reprising their roles, including Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and James Marsden, along with Channing Tatum returning as Gambit.
