In this second part of my article, I am giving my original casting ideas for characters in the Fantastic Four sequels as I delineated in part one. I have not, however, cast Super Skrull, Nathaniel Richards/Immortus, or the Mad Thinker.

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Dominic West as Namor the Sub-Mariner

There aren’t many casting choices that I make where I feel very strongly that there is no better choice for the role. Ian Somerhalder as Gambit was one such instance, but Dominic West as Namor takes the cake! Months ago, I had thought about West in the role for I had seen how well he performed as Jimmy McNulty, the main character in HBO’s “The Wire.” He played the cocky, self-righteous Baltimore cop who breaks protocol to do what’s right in the end - does that kind of character ring a bell, my fellow comics fans? It should, as Namor is just as cocky and self-righteous as anyone. Plus, the classic Sub-Mariner, from the 1960’s to 1990’s, has a trademark cocky brow that helps add to his ornery, yet suave air - a feature that West just happens to have as well. The more I watched “The Wire” and saw West in action, the more adamant I became in wanting The Forgotten co-star in the role of Marvel’s first mutant and anti-hero!

PS - As an Englishman of similar talent, I’m sure that West for have great screen chemistry with Welshman Ioan Gruffudd (Mr. Fantastic).

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Kevin Spacey as Phillip Masters, the future Puppet Master

It’s too bad that Kevin Spacey is already Lex Luthor in the upcoming Superman movie, for that probably means that he will not be good for other comic book roles after playing such an iconic villain; however, he is still my choice to portray the beady-eyed Puppet Master. His performance in Se7en is a comparable one to what he would be like as this F4 villain.

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Lindsay Lohan as Medusa                              Rachel McAdams as Crystal

While I haven’t cast the other Inhumans, it’s Mean Girls Reunited with Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams as the sisters Medusa and Crystal, respectively.

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Peter Stormare as Mole Man

The versatile (and often villainous in his roles) Swedish actor would make for an excellent Mole Man. While his facial features lend to the look of the F4 villain, Stormare stands at full 6’3”, undeniably taller than Mole Man’s 4’10” stature; however, if there’s any case that a tall actor can portray an otherwise short character, it’s Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Moreover, if need be, Stormare could simply be made to appear smaller as was done with the actors portraying Hobbits and Dwarves in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

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Jake Lloyd as Franklin Richards

Without having access to casting calls for kids, it’s a tough call to cast Franklin Richards, son of Reed and Sue. Were the boy to be older in the fourth film (not his future self like in the comics when time travel was involved, but simply as a ten year-old or thereabouts), Jake Lloyd could handle the part easily. After all, he’s already experienced in portraying a child with awesome power, for he was Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. If only Lloyd weren't to be too old by the time the movie would be made!

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Jennifer Garner as Lyja the Lazer-Fist

Seeing as how Marvel has already used the same cast for different movies and characters (Rebecca Romijn in X-Men and The Punisher; Sam Elliot in The Hulk and Ghost Rider), it’s no stretch to have the actress who made Elektra a household name portray another Marvel character. In fact, with her pronounced chin, Jennifer Garner is an absolute match for Lyja, moreso than she was for Elektra.

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Diego Luna as Diablo

With many roles being cast with younger actors to make them more ‘hip,’ it’s only fitting that someone like Diego Luna be cast as the Spanish alchemist who has lived for centuries. If the character doesn’t age normally, then there’s no need to cast an older person like Antonio Banderas or the like.

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Denzel Washington as The Silver Surfer

Sure, the Surfer’s original self, Norin Radd, was an extra-terrestrial of pale skin, but since he would be all silver in F4-3, the skin color of the actor is no matter. Denzel Washington would make a great Silver Surfer, and not just because he mentioned the character in Crimson Tide.

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Even though I have finished writing up my cast for the Fantastic Four sequels, I would also like to recast the role of Mr. Fantastic. It’s not that Ioan Gruffudd is a bad choice, but that the uncanny resemblance between the classic 1960’s to 1990’s Reed Richards and actor Bruce Greenwood is undeniable!

I was testing out different actors for Dr. Strange by putting the trademark white streaks in the hair. Greenwood was one such actor, but when I finished I knew he was Reed Richards indeed and not Dr. Strange.

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I will conclude this article by giving my opinion on a rumored casting choice for both Namor and the Silver Surfer - The Rock.

I do not understand how on Earth anyone could see the Rock in either role. Both Namor and the Surfer are lithe characters - the former getting his strength from his dense bones and tissue (which help him survive in the depths of the sea), and the latter gets his from the Power Cosmic. Neither character is a Hulk or a Thing, so to cast a muscular heavyweight like the Rock is ridiculous, albeit the Rock does has the cocky brow like Namor. Perhaps were Bill Goldberg to have portrayed the Thing (as I had cast long before Michael Chiklis was chosen), then maybe we could have used the Rock as Namor and have had WWFF.