Fantastic Four’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach Reveals He’s Said The Thing’s Classic Catchphrase, And Now I’m Remembering How Poorly The 2015 Reboot Used The Line

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As we move into the new year, there are three exciting Marvel movies to anticipate on the 2025 release calendar. The final installment of this trio is titled “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which will delve into the adventures of the superhero quartet in a 1960s-inspired, futuristic Earth within the Marvel universe’s multiverse. Ebon Moss-Bachrach has been tapped to portray Ben Grimm, better known as The Thing, in the upcoming Fantastic Four film, and he shared that he’s uttered his iconic catchphrase, “It’s clobberin’ time!” This latest update is thrilling, but it also reminds me of how poorly the 2015 Fantastic Four, notoriously unsuccessful, handled that phrase.

What Ebon Moss-Bachrach Said About The Thing’s Catchphrase

Actor Jon Bass appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! following the 82nd Golden Globes, where he was recognized for his role as Richie Jerimovich in The Bear. In the nomination category of Best Supporting Performance in a Series, Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television. During the interview, Kimmel mentioned The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but Bass remained secretive about the movie’s plot details. Instead, he enthusiastically discussed his motion-capture work. When asked if he says “It’s clobberin’ time!” in the film, Bass confirmed it to be true.

I managed to sneak it into a few places. Let’s wait and find out what the outcome will be. Since I don’t have complete control over this project yet, let’s see how things unfold.

In the comics since 1964’s Strange Tales #121, Ben Grimm’s exclamation “It’s clobberin’ time!” has been a defining characteristic of his character. I would be surprised and let down if Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who plays The Thing in the movie, doesn’t utter this catchphrase at least once. Given the 1960s setting, it seems fitting that he does. The cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps also includes Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, Ralph Ineson as Galactus, and Julia Garner as Silver Surfer. Additionally, Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles are part of the cast in undisclosed roles.

How 2015’s Fantastic Four Used “It’s Clobberin’ Time!”

In 2005’s Fantastic Four, Michael Chiklis’ character Ben Grimm, aka The Thing, uttered the phrase “It’s clobberin’ time!”, just as Chris Evans’ character Johnny Storm (The Human Torch) had proudly displayed an action figure of The Thing saying the same catchphrase before it was damaged against a wall. Later in 2015’s Fantastic Four, Jamie Bell also used the phrase while punching Doctor Doom, and that’s all part of the series’ tradition.

However, I’ve come across an interesting point: When recalling the reboot, it struck me that the phrase “It’s clobberin’ time” had its roots at the film’s start, during the childhood scenes of Ben and Reed. It seems their older brother used the phrase before a confrontation, suggesting this wasn’t the first instance of such an incident. Therefore, in this narrative, the origin of the line is rooted in trauma rather than it being a catchy phrase or something Ben created independently. This revelation might affect its charm for some viewers. If you’d like to witness that scene, you can watch Fantastic Four on Disney+.

Starting July 25, 2025, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” will be shown in cinemas. This movie was directed by Matt Shakman and written by Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer, Josh Friedman, Cameron Squires, Eric Pearson, and Peter Cameron. Don’t forget to catch Ebon Moss-Bachrach in “The Bear”, which you can watch with a Hulu subscription.

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2025-01-09 03:37