The Marvel character David Tennant wanted to enact

Actor laments on a lost opportunity

David Tennant was hoping to give the Marvel Cinematic Universe a shot. As per Variety, a fan asked the Doctor Who alum at MCM Comic Con if there was a superhero he’d liked to play. Tennant then shared that he was eyeing none other than one of the MCU’s newest additions – Fantastic Four’s leader, Reed Richards – but the role ended up going to Pedro Pascal.

“In terms of superheroes, I did slightly have my eye on Reed Richards,” Tennant said. “Unfortunately, it looks like they’ve gone in a different direction.”

He, however, holds no hard feelings and is hopeful about Pascal’s take on the character. “Although if it has to be someone, I’m very happy for it to be Pedro Pascal.”

Pascal stars as Mister Fantastic in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which is slated for a July 25 release this year. Joining him are Vanessa Kirby (Susan Storm or Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm or Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm or The Thing). The film is directed by Matt Shakman.

The trailer for the retro-futuristic film dropped in April, sparing us the origin story of the quartet, which has gone through multiple renditions in the past. In this utopian world, the heroes are past dealing with the physical and mental strain of their superhuman abilities, dedicating their efforts to helping society instead. That is, until the conflict arrives.

Prior to being introduced to the MCU, the superhero family was portrayed by Miles Teller, Michael B Jordan, Kate Mara, and Jamie Bell in the eponymous 2015 film, with Teller playing the shapeshifting leader.

Before that, Reed was portrayed by Ioan Gruffudd grouped with a star-studded cast of Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, and Michael Chiklis in the 2004 film and its sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

While Tennant might not have scored this opportunity into the MCU, he has been part of major franchises in the past. He shot to fame in 2005 for playing the Tenth Doctor in the long-running British sci-fi series, Doctor Who. The role earned him international renown and a dedicated fan-following in the 2010s, making him a household name.

Tennant is also recognised for his role as Barty Crouch Jr in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. And though not part of the MCU at the time, he was also seen in the Marvel show Jessica Jones as Kilgrave. Whether this signals his official entry into the superhero multiverse in the future remains to be seen.