The Ben Grimms have lastly crossed paths. Michael Chiklis, the gravel-voiced OG from the much-maligned 2005 and 2007 Improbable 4 movies, posted a heat assembly snap with Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who starred within the 2025 film launch Improbable 4: First Steps, because the MCU’s Factor. It’s the sort of nerd-history handshake that immediately lights up the creativeness and, now, I must see them seem collectively in an Avengers film.
Michael Chiklis took to Instagram, posting a shot of himself and the Bear star arm-in-arm, each dressed to the nines. For the carousel beneath, the Protect star captioned it: “If it ain’t one Factor…it’s one other! This was good. This made me pleased. This was overdue.” These sentiments undoubtedly align with my emotions as properly:
And that’s how two generations of Ben Grimm lastly collided IRL, and Marvel followers (hello, it’s me) instantly began fantasy-booking the crossover.
With the MCU in multiverse mode, the 2 Issues—Factor One and Factor Two, if you’ll—crossing paths isn’t a pipe dream, however might be a scheduling dialog. And, with the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday already in manufacturing and Secret Wars looming past, the franchise has two pure crossroads to make it occur. Doomsday may tease the collision; Secret Wars, given the rumors and what looks like its anything-goes nature, looks like the right payoff.
Followers clocked the meet-up quick, and the hypothesis machine hit ludicrous velocity. Right here’s a fast pulse-check from a Reddit thread on r/Marvel Studios Spoilers reacting to the meetup:
- “Here is the factor – we’ve got to needless to say this is not essentially a assure that each actors will work collectively. We do not essentially know that this photograph is even within the UK, the place filming continues to be ongoing. All the identical, I’m approving this for now – it is attention-grabbing to contemplate, and I think about that some Avengers: Secret Wars cameos is likely to be shot on the facet of the manufacturing of Avengers: Doomsday relying on solid availability.” – u/Pomojema_The_Dreamer
- “This in all probability means nothing and it is only a image of two actors who performed the identical character, not an enormous deal. Nonetheless, I totally count on Fox’s Improbable 4 to look in Secret Wars, at the least within the climax. Chris Evans apart for apparent causes, the remaining 3 appear to have had a very good expertise engaged on these motion pictures and a few of them have even supported the MCU solid by showing in premieres and congratulating them on social media. I am positive they’d come again for Secret Wars if Marvel referred to as.” – u/HearTheEkko
- “Jessica Alba has stated some detrimental issues in regards to the manufacturing of these motion pictures. Not that meaning she would not come again, contemplating it is a wholly totally different crew concerned with this film.” – u/Foxj100
- “Everybody on the OG Brian Singer X-Males had horrible occasions on set and are nonetheless pulling up for Doomsday that doesn’t actually imply a lot [to be honest].” – u/SiahLegend
- “I ponder if they’d make his costume cgi and up to date to match the brand new one, in any other case you’ve got a contemporary factor that appears nice, stood subsequent to a rubber swimsuit factor.” – u/Pen_Dragons_Pizza
Whether or not it was only a fortunate likelihood or a bit wink from the universe, this chance is manner too good to cross up. Let’s get a Doomsday teaser and a Secret Wars payoff that brings collectively two variations of Ben Grimm within the upcoming Marvel film.
There’s actual meta juice right here. Chiklis embodies the Fox period, sensible swimsuit, pulp-bright palette, shocking tenderness beneath all that rock. Moss-Bachrach is the MCU’s fashionable recalibration—performance-forward and grounded, with gorgeous visible results.
Placing these two Ben actors collectively wouldn’t precisely break new floor (see Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm in Deadpool & Wolverine). Nonetheless, it may remind audiences that older Marvel timelines are a function, not a bug. Additionally, nonetheless followers really feel now, these OG Fox Marvel motion pictures carried the superhero torch lengthy earlier than there was a Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Nothing is ready in stone—pun meant—however inform me you wouldn’t cheer for 2 eras of Ben Grimm sharing the highlight (and the slogan) in a single clobberin’ refrain. Take my cash now, Marvel!
Till then, followers can revisit Michael Chiklis in his duology of Improbable movies, that are streamable with a Disney+ subscription.