Jamie Bell stars as the Thing in 'Fantastic Four' photo

LOS ANGELES, April 9 (UPI) -- Jamie Bell stars as the Thing in a new photo from The Fantastic Four.

The 29-year-old actor will portray the Marvel superhero in the upcoming reboot, and is shown in the character's transformed state in the still.

"Jamie in real life is a tough guy," director Josh Trank told Empire magazine. "He exudes this strength. Ben is Reed's best friend in the archetypal, spiritual way, and you want that character to have that warmth and that strength."

Bell will star alongside Miles Teller as Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic, Kate Mara as Susan Storm, aka the Invisible Woman, and Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch. Toby Kebbell will play villain Victor Domashev, aka Doctor Doom.

In the comics, the Fantastic Four are a team of astronauts who obtain superpowers after exposure to cosmic rays. The Thing develops rock-like skin and superhuman strength, Mr. Fantastic gains elasticity, Invisible Woman invisibility and the Human Torch is able to generate flames.

20th Century Fox released a financially-successful Fantastic Four movie with Michael Chiklis, Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba and Chris Evans in 2005. X-Men: Days of Future Past writer Simon Kinberg and Jeremy Slater co-wrote the script for the reboot, which opens in theaters August 7.

Bell made his film debut as the title character in Billy Elliot, and went on to portray Jimmy in King Kong and Griffin in Jumper. The actor is also known for Jane Eyre, Snowpiercer and Nymphomaniac: Vol. II, and will return to voice Tintin in The Adventures of Tintin: Prisoners of the Sun.