Lucifer’s Tom Ellis tried out for Reed Richards role in Marvel’s Fantastic Four reboot

Lucifer star Tom Ellis has revealed that he auditioned for the role of Reed Richards, a.k.a. Mister Fantastic, in Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

The actor, best known for his charismatic portrayal of Lucifer Morningstar, confirmed in a new interview with Square Mile that he was part of a select group asked to audition for the lead role before it ultimately went to Pedro Pascal.

“There was a select group of people that got asked to tape for Reed Richards,” Ellis explained. “I had been waiting for the right thing, timing-wise and character-wise, to come along. I remember looking at the photo of Richards in the comics and thinking, ‘This could be the one. We look quite similar.’”

Despite sending in his audition tape, Ellis later learned that Pascal had landed the part. Taking the news in stride, he joked, “I mean, to be fair, he’s not in much,” before praising Pascal’s performance and adding, “He is great. I’m looking forward to seeing it. The trailer looks quite fun.”

Reflecting on the near-miss, Ellis admitted that the uncertainty of the industry is part of what keeps him passionate about acting. “We live for the ‘what if-ness’ of it,” he said. “We’re all dreamers in this industry, and that’s what drives us.”

Pascal’s take on Reed Richards has been widely praised by both fans and critics, with the actor calling the experience “the crown at the top of the mountain” in his career.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now available on Digital, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD, with a Disney+ release expected soon.