Character Points…
- Ben drops everything for Reed, even when he doesn’t understand what’s going on.
- Ben helps Reed out with something at college.
- Ben has a problem, and Reed helps him.
- Starts out as member of Yancy Street Gang, hates what they do and leader’s motivations.
- Becomes leader of Yancy Street Gang, through winning a fight, and changes gang’s activities.
- Aunt Petunia raises him after parents die.
- Ben is loyal.
- Ben is driven.
- Ben is determined.
- Ben is tough.
- Ben has a good heart.
Character Arcs…
Movie #1
- Ben is introduced through a phone call from Reed. He needs Ben’s pilot skills on a moment’s notice, and Ben drops what he’s doing to go without even needing an explanation regarding why.
- Ben meets Sue and Johnny. He can tell that Reed loves her, and that’s all he needs to know. Johnny’s a pain in the ass that he tolerates for Reed and Sue’s sake.
- Ben’s skills save their lives as they crash land. Their powers manifest for the first time, and Ben turns to stone. He leaves the others and goes off alone.
- Reed, blaming himself for Ben, reminisces about their relationship from how they met to their Ben’s comment at graduation: “Reed, if you ever build that starship of yours, I’ll fly it for ya.”
- Ben, unsure about his life, reminisces about the same time period from his perspective. He meets Reed as a freshman on a football scholarship. They’re roommates. Reed’s work keeps him up one night and Ben asks why Reed’s so focused on “all this science stuff”. Reed replies that science, like guns, can be used for good or evil, and at times has done terrible things (Nuclear War, Privacy Invasion, Sokovia and the like). Reed’s passion for science is based on his desire to use it “to make things better. For everyone.” This statement resonates in Ben, and he gains respect for Reed’s determination. Kinda reminds him of himself.
- They remain roommates in Ben’s Sophomore year, and he gets injured on the field. He’s in the campus hospital when Reed comes in. Ben has just talked with his Aunt Petunia and without the scholarship he’d have to leave school. Reed ponders for a moment and asks if Ben’s considered joining the ROTC. That would allow him to stay in school as well as give him a job after graduation. Ben, who’s been a fighter all his life, agrees and winds up joining the USAF.
- Flash forward to graduation, and Ben’s comment.
- Ben realizes that Reed was there for him when he needed help. As a test pilot for the Air Force, Ben’s used to putting his life on the line...for science. Reed’s been part of his life without Ben even knowing it. He doesn’t blame Reed for what’s happened, but he knows that with everything that’s happening he needs Reed - and Reed (along with Sue and Johnny) will need him.
- Ben returns to the others and tells them he’s going by the name Thing now - a nod to what Reed said in college.
Movie #2 (Sue’s pregnant, Namor Doom and Franklin are introduced)
- In this one, we learn about Ben’s youth. He starts out idolizing his older brother. When their parents die, the two are raised by their Aunt (Petunia) and Uncle on Yancy Street. Ben’s brother joins, and is leader of the Yancy Street Gang when Ben joins. There’s a massive street fight, and Ben’s brother is killed. It’s at this point (with Aunt Petunia’s guidance) that he decides to become the next leader and change their purpose from intimidation to protection. Ben has to fight the current leader for the job - a kid much bigger and stronger than him. (again, Ben’s around 12 at this point). Ben’s beaten pretty bad, but his love for his brother, his support from his Aunt, and his conviction that what he wants for the gang is right gives him the strength to win. Ben beats his opponent, but doesn’t kill him. His performance is enough to convince the rest of the gang to follow Ben in this new direction. This establishes the foundation his character and why Ben is the person he is (and why the cosmic rays made him a rock-solid Thing).
- We also learn that, in a way, Johnny reminds him of his brother - explaining their love/put-up-with-ness of their relationship.
Movie #3 (Malice is the enemy)
- Enter Alicia Masters This film introduces and explores Ben’s relationship with Alicia. Maybe Puppet Master shows up? But, with Sue as the main protagonist, Ben’s affection for her is clearly different from his feelings towards Alicia.
Movie #4 (Galactus)
- Other than fighting Galactus and Silver Surfer, for the survival of Earth, Ben’s big arc in this one is that his rocky form mutates (thanks to either Galactus, or Surfer’s “power cosmic”).
You'll note that I haven't mentioned CGI vs Live-Action SFX for his look. It should be a suit.
- There's already 2 fully CGI characters in the MCU (Hulk and Rocket) so adding a third would be a little much.
- It would be cheaper in the long run.
- If prosthetics could make Tim Curry seven feet tall with super-hero arms in Legend, they can make Ben look as tall, or as big, as they wanted - regardless of who they cast in the "suit".
