Popverse's top stories of the day

• Lore Corner: Let's talk about that WILD reveal in the Marvel's Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man finale
• WATCH:  Watch Nickelodeon’s official SpongeBob SquarePants 25th anniversary celebration from NYCC 2024!
• MEMBERS ONLY:  For Your Consideration: Emilia Pérez is a controversial awards frontrunner, but its musical heart has proven herself for decades and shown up in Pixar movies, Mariah Carey diss tracks, and moving ballads

The rumors, it turns out, are true: Marvel Studios has announced who’ll play the Fantastic Four in their big-screen MCU debut next year, and it’s pretty much exactly who’s been rumored for the roles all along.

Announced via social media and accompanied by a beautifully retro piece of key art that offers the movie’s logo and a glimpse of the cast in their new roles — as well as a hint at what the movie’s tone might be — the cast for the team will be:

• Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic
• Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, the Thing
• Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, the Human Torch

Eagle-eyed fans will also notice that HERBIE, the animated stand-in for the Human Torch from the 1970s network cartoon, can be seen in the image, suggesting what might be a more holistic approach to the movie than fans might have expected.

WandaVision and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters director Matt Shakman will direct the movie, working from a screenplay by Josh Friedman, Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer. According to the announcement, Fantastic Four is set for release July 25, 2025 — which, not coincidentally, is exactly the same release date as DC’s Superman: Legacy, the first movie in the new DCU. Let’s wait and see which studio blinks and changes the date.

Wondering what Marvel movie is happening when? Don't worry; we have a guide to all of that for you. (You're welcome.)