‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ Rumored to Feature a Council of Reeds with Ioan Gruffudd

The MCU has a packed lineup of projects set for 2025, 2026, and beyond. While several movies are currently in development and impacted by the strikes, none are as highly anticipated as Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, which are expected to carry on the MCU’s tradition of grand crossovers.

Fans have high expectations for Secret Wars, with nearly a hundred rumored characters set to appear. We’ve previously covered speculation that Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine will be among them.

The latest notable rumor involves a character who has only appeared in the MCU in a technical capacity—Reed Richards. As you may know, the Fantastic Four will officially join the MCU with the release of Fantastic Four: First Steps next year. Pedro Pascal will portray Reed Richards, while John Krasinski previously played a variant of the character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

This new rumor, reported during Cosmic Circus’ September Discord AMA, suggests that the Council of Reeds will feature in the film, potentially bringing Ioan Gruffudd back to reprise his role.

Council of Reeds was an idea I heard being tossed around. Lots of self-congratulatory Reed Richards praise, plus the opportunity to get Ioan Gruffudd again.

Ioan Gruffudd played Reed Richards in the 2005 Fantastic Four and its sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Although these films received mixed reviews, Gruffudd’s portrayal of Reed was generally well-regarded.

The Council of Reeds is a group of Reed Richards from various alternate realities, assembled to tackle cosmic or multiversal threats or to solve problems too complex for a single person.

Given the potential for a reality-altering conflict involving Doctor Doom, the Council could be a key asset in Secret Wars, especially if the Avengers and Fantastic Four are involved.

As for John Krasinski, the likelihood of his appearance is low, given that his character was killed by Scarlet Witch in Multiverse of Madness.

What do you think of these rumors? Share your thoughts in the comments below!