Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps, set to light up theaters on July 25, 2025, is ready to launch the MCU’s version of Marvel’s First Family with a surprising twist: Mole Man, a classic comic villain, is joining the action. Joseph Quinn, who plays Johnny Storm/Human Torch, spilled the beans at CCXP Mexico on June 1, 2025, as Culture Crave revealed that Mole Man is “wonderful in it.” While Galactus, played by Ralph Ineson, is the main heavy, Mole Man’s addition brings a quirky, earthbound menace to the mix, giving a nod to the Fantastic Four’s wild comic roots.
The film stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing. Directed by Matt Shakman and set in a retro 1960s-inspired alternate timeline, Fantastic Four: First Steps skips the team’s origin story, jumping into their adventures four years after they got their powers. Galactus and his herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), deliver a cosmic threat, but Mole Man’s role adds a grounded, oddball challenge, likely early on, to show off the team’s chemistry.
Mole Man, aka Harvey Rupert Elder, debuted in Fantastic Four #1 in 1961, crafted by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. He’s a brilliant but resentful scientist who, after being shunned, rules Subterranea, an underground world packed with creatures like the Moloids, his mole-like minions. With a sharp mind, keen senses despite being nearly blind, and a habit of unleashing beasts like Giganto, Mole Man’s always plotting to take over the surface. Set photos hint at his subterranean lair, with a mine doubling as Subterranea, and a tie-in comic shows the Fantastic Four battling one of his monsters, echoing their first comic clash.
Quinn’s comment suggests Mole Man’s a supporting player, possibly in an opening sequence where the team tackles smaller foes before facing Galactus. A San Diego Comic-Con 2024 poster featured a New York map marking Subterranea, sparking buzz about his lair’s role. The film’s alternate timeline lets Shakman reimagine Mole Man, maybe as a warm-up to test the Fantastic Four’s teamwork before the big cosmic showdown.
Who’s bringing Mole Man to life? Fans are eyeing Paul Walter Hauser, cast in a mystery role, though some think his charisma suits a lighter character like H.E.R.B.I.E. Background actor Tony McCarthy is listed as a “Moloid Person” on IMDb, hinting at Mole Man’s minions showing up. No casting’s been locked in, keeping fans guessing.
Mole Man’s MCU debut is a clever move. Unlike the galaxy-eating Galactus or the layered rivalry of Doctor Doom (rumored to appear, possibly played by Robert Downey Jr.), Mole Man’s scrappy, underdog energy mixes campy fun with real danger. His wild schemes—sinking cities, unleashing monsters—pack a punch, and his comic history shows a ruthless edge, like sacrificing Moloids to cross a lava river. In the film, he could be an early hurdle to flex the Fantastic Four’s skills, paving the way for the Galactus battle.
Fans are torn but excited. Some love that a lesser-known villain’s getting a shot, saying Mole Man’s a great pick for a fun, comic-booky opener. Others hope he’s not just a quick cameo, wanting a real fight for the underground king. The alternate timeline opens possibilities to tie Mole Man to MCU elements like the Deviants or the Savage Land without clashing with Earth-616’s history.
With Fantastic Four: First Steps setting the stage for Avengers: Doomsday in 2026, Mole Man’s role—big or small—could drop hints for the Multiverse Saga. Whether he’s a one-off troublemaker or a recurring pest, his debut alongside Galactus and Silver Surfer proves Marvel’s diving deep into the Fantastic Four’s quirky rogues’ gallery. As July 25 nears, fans are pumped to see how Mole Man’s subterranean schemes shake up the MCU.