Jim Face. If you’re a fan of “The Office” (American version), then you know it, and you love it. With one look, Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) is able to shatter the Fourth Wall and speak directly to the audience without so much as one single word. It’s just a look. A look that says everything. And recently, Krasinski broke out the Jim Face to perhaps shatter the dreams of Marvel fans, dispelling rumors that he would star in the upcoming “Fantastic Four” reboot.
Over the past few weeks, Krasinski has been using his time in isolation to create a low-budget news show titled “Some Good News.” And while he uses that platform to hopefully spread heartwarming and funny news during a time when everything is about the world collapsing and thousands dying, in the most recent episode, he did drop a hint that maybe those Marvel Studios hopes aren’t going to happen.
While he showed a quick comic strip on his show, Krasinski made a comment that hit “Fantastic Four” fans hard.
“There’s this four-paneler, which I have to appreciate. As it’ll be the closest I ever get to playing a comic-book hero,” said Krasinski. Of course, the words weren’t all. He actually looked straight at the camera and concluded that sentence is the Jim Face, which says it all.
For years now, since it was rumored that Fox was going to be purchased by Disney and there could be a “Fantastic Four” reboot, fans have been clamoring for Krasinski to play Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic, in the film. Most even wanted him to be joined by his real-life wife, Emily Blunt as Sue Storm, aka Invisible Woman. Honestly, on paper, the casting seems almost too perfect, especially when you consider that Marvel Studios was close to casting Krasinski as Captain America a decade ago, instead choosing Chris Evans for the role.
As the Jim Face says, it would appear that Krasinski sent a not-so-subtle message that a comic book film future isn’t in the cards. But maybe this is all misdirection? Maybe the actor is using Jim Face for evil? Guess we’ll just have to wait and find out.
