Rudy Pankow Comes To Life As The Fantastic Four's Johnny Storm In Head-Turning Fan Art
Few Marvel superheroes have as striking of a design as that of the Fantastic Four's Human Torch. As most comic book depictions of the character show him as a person both completely and perpetually engulfed by flames, one would think that it would be a difficult task to translate the character into live-action. However, that didn't stop Hollywood.
Several iterations of the Human Torch have made their way to the big screen. That list includes one played by Chris Evans in the "Fantastic Four" films of the mid-2000s, prior to his days as Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and one played by Michael B. Jordan in the 2015 franchise reboot, who also subsequently joined the MCU as Killmonger in "Black Panther." Apart from these versions, Jay Underwood also played the role in a never-released 1994 adaptation of "Fantastic Four." Each brought their unique spin to Johnny Storm, but there's one actor that has been suggested as a good candidate for a future live-action take on the character.
Rudy Pankow has appeared in several notable properties, including the Netflix drama series "Outer Banks" as the hotheaded delinquent teen JJ Maybank and the Tom Holland-led "Uncharted" film as Nathan Drake's missing brother Sam. However, a recent piece of fan art has provided a glimpse of what it would look like if the actor got in on the crime-fighting action.
Rudy Pankow gets his flame on
Fan artist @arifinity_ snuffed out any doubts on whether Rudy Pankow could look the part of a superhero when the user uploaded a mock-up of the actor as the Human Torch. The illustration sees Pankow sporting a costume akin to the one that John Krasinski's Mister Fantastic wore during his cameo in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness." He's in his powered-down state (the version that looks like an actual person and not a fiery pillar with eyes), though he is raising a flaming fist to suggest the bombastic potential he holds within.
The illustration's release fanned the flames for those wanting to see Pankow as the Human Torch, but the coals were heating up even before it was uploaded. The actor's "Outer Banks" co-star Gary Weeks, who appeared as Agent Foster in both "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and "Spider-Man: No Way Home," voiced his desire in April for the star to join the MCU. "He can be sweet and amazing, but he also has this burning side," Weeks told The Direct. "That side that wants to be heard and seen. Just exactly what I think would be perfect for the character, and you're dead on with the hair."
There are plenty of actors that one could make a case for as a good fit to play the Human Torch. However, one would be hard pressed to find someone with a more suitable likeness than Pankow for the red-hot member of Marvel's first family.