Ebon Moss-Bachrach Reveals What Influence The Bear Had on His Marvel Role (The Answer May Surprise You)

Despite appearing different at first glance, Ebon Moss-Bachrach‘s characters in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” and “The Bear” share a common trait: their love for food. In “The Bear,” Moss-Bachrach plays Richie, the maître d’ of a fictional restaurant, while Ben Grimm/The Thing from “The Fantastic Four” also has a knack for cooking. When asked by Chris Killian of ComicBook if there was any connection between his two characters, Moss-Bachrach explained that Ben’s love for food comes from his character as The Thing, rather than his experience on four seasons of “The Bear.

In a conversation with Killian, Moss-Bachrach expressed that there was an inherently domestic and kitchen-like quality to The Thing for him. He further added that the Baxter Building, serving as their home, seemed to be the only place where he could truly unwind and find peace.

It’s logical. Ben, one of The Fantastic Four, undergoes the most visible transformation following their encounter with space radiation, which grants each member unique powers. After their historic space mission, all four members gain celebrity status, but for Ben, the change is permanent as he transforms into The Thing. Despite Moss-Bachrach’s joking reference to Ben adding “exfoliation” to the group hugs of The Fantastic Four, it’s clear that the Baxter Building not only serves as Ben’s residence in ‘First Steps’, but also his sanctuary.

Moss-Bachrach continued, ‘It seems he might be quite at home in the kitchen, given his size. I’d guess he has a hearty appetite.’

The Fantastic Four Are a Family

Instead of merely highlighting differences as seen in “The Bear” and other MCU groups, Moss-Bachrach emphasized the strong camaraderie among the Fantastic Four members and the vital role each individual plays in their overall success.

Moss-Bachrach stated that removing one of these characters is similar to taking a wheel off a car; the entire system becomes inefficient. Their bond goes beyond mere affection, as it predates their acquisition of powers and global duties.

In the TV show The Bear, the staff members share a strong bond, but they’re also a family with plenty of dysfunction. Conversely, it seems that the Fantastic Four in the upcoming movie don’t have such a close-knit relationship, even though Jon Moss-Bachrach’s character is the only one not connected to another member through marriage or blood. Interestingly, this mirrors the situation of Ben and Richie from The Bear, who are both part of the family without any blood ties. Unlike Richie on The Bear, however, we don’t yet know how Ben will navigate his sense of being an outsider in First Steps, as he also has an additional reason to feel disconnected.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps flies into theaters Friday, July 25th.

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2025-07-22 00:21