Actor Ioan Gruffudd, who played Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) in the 2005 Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, has spoken out about why a third film in the franchise never happened — and it turns out, he’s just as surprised as fans.
“We Were Ready for a Third Movie,” Says Gruffudd
In a recent interview with Vulture, Gruffudd, 51, shared that he and the rest of the original cast — including Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, and Michael Chiklis — were all prepared to film a third installment. According to him, the studio, 20th Century Fox, pulled the plug without much explanation.
“The mindset was that we were going to do three,” he said. “The second movie was just as successful and fans really enjoyed it. So we thought it was happening.”
Gruffudd also spoke fondly of working with Doug Jones, who played the Silver Surfer. “Doug is such an expert when it comes to movement and bringing characters to life,” he said. “He’s truly untouchable in that space.”
Despite the excitement, the third film was never greenlit. “These decisions are beyond my control,” Gruffudd added.
Legal Drama with Ex-Wife Alice Evans
While revisiting his career in Hollywood, Gruffudd is also facing personal struggles. He is currently in a legal battle with his ex-wife, actress Alice Evans, over child and spousal support payments.
Evans, 56, has requested an increase from the $4,500 monthly amount Gruffudd currently pays. She claims she and their daughters — Ella (15) and Elsie (11) — were evicted from their Los Angeles home after being unable to afford the $6,500 rent. Evans also says she had to borrow money from friends and even started a GoFundMe to stay afloat.
Gruffudd Responds: “It’s All to Harm My Reputation”
Gruffudd fired back in court, saying that Evans “purposely got herself evicted” and chose to spend money on a vacation to Europe instead of paying rent. He claims she’s trying to create a false public image to pressure him into giving more money.
He also expressed concern for his daughters, saying he’s received “dozens of stressed messages” from them, repeating what he says are false claims from Evans about becoming homeless. “It’s left me mortified,” Gruffudd said in his statement.
Evans previously filed for financial help in July 2024, after a custody agreement gave her full custody of the children. In October, a court ordered Gruffudd to pay $3,000 per month for child support and $1,500 for spousal support.
New Fantastic Four Movie Premieres with Fresh Cast
Interestingly, while his personal and legal matters unfold, Gruffudd was recently seen at the Los Angeles premiere of Marvel’s new Fantastic Four reboot, The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
This new film introduces a completely fresh cast: Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (The Thing).
He attended the premiere with his current wife Bianca Wallace, who is pregnant with their first child together.
While Ioan Gruffudd continues to deal with personal and legal challenges, he still carries the legacy of one of Marvel’s original big-screen heroes. Fans may never know the full reason behind the cancellation of the third Fantastic Four film, but Gruffudd’s dedication to the role is clear.
As a new cast takes over the beloved superhero team, Gruffudd’s portrayal of Mr. Fantastic remains a memorable part of Marvel’s movie history — even as his real life plays out with much more drama than any superhero film.
