Right after the announcement of his being cast as Dr. Reed Richards in "The Fantastic Four", "Horatio Hornblower" himself - welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd spoke about landing the part to Empire Online and seems as surprised as any of us.
"I'm still pinching myself. I only found out last week. I grew up watching Superman and now to have a go at playing my own superhero. It's more realistic apart from the fact that he can stretch his arms and his legs, that sounds ridiculous! But he's a scientist and part of that great Marvel comic tradition so it's quite overwhelming".
Gruffudd confirmed he hasn't yet seen a script (a new draft has only just been completed), but he has no qualms over signing up, sight unseen. He also confirms word that "there's quite a bit of comedy in this and there's that romance between Reed and Sue Storm".
Will he have the grey side hair bits? "I think the idea will be that once they're exposed to the radiation up in space that turns them into the Fantastic Four, as a result of that I'll start to have the greying hair. But I think it'll be subtler than it is in the comic books. More dignified, like George Clooney!"
Filming begins in two weeks in Vancouver. Gruffudd will join the rest of the cast including Jessica Alba and Michael Chiklis for a special panel taking place next week at the San Diego Comic Con.
Thanks to 'Thar I Blow'.
