Fox to hit the ever-popular reboot button on Fantastic 4

[Doctor Oak]

While Disney lays down a $4 billion bet on the future of Marvel's superheroes, 20th Century Fox has already begun overhauling one of its big Marvel franchises, "Fantastic Four," to take the property beyond the two films already made.

Akiva Goldsman has been hired to oversee the reboot as producer. Michael Green, the co-exec producer of TV's "Heroes" who co-wrote "Green Lantern," will write the script for the new "Fantastic Four."

Fox wouldn't comment on its plans, but the moves are evidence that Marvel franchises do have enduring lifespans.

As "Spider-Man 4" moves toward an early 2010 production start, Columbia Pictures recently hired James Vanderbilt to write a fifth and sixth installment with the understanding that one or both of those films would give the franchise a makeover with a new director and cast (Daily Variety, Aug. 16).
More than one option

* (Co) Daily Variety
Filmography, Year, Role
* (Co) Daily Variety

The 2005 "Fantastic Four" and 2007 sequel "Rise of the Silver Surfer" were directed by Tim Story and starred Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis. Since the deals for the reboot are just getting made, it is unclear if any of them will return.

Though Marvel Entertainment owns and finances properties like "Iron Man" and "Thor," Fox controls "Fantastic Four" in perpetuity -- as long as it continues making the films. Fox has the same arrangement on Marvel Comics properties "X-Men," "Daredevil" and "Silver Surfer." Marvel is a producer and financial participant through a licensing agreement.

Though the related Silver Surfer character soared in the "Fantastic Four" sequel, that iconic personality has remained a priority project for his own film at the studio.

Fox has so far done one "X-Men" spinoff in "Wolverine." The studio is working on a sequel to that film and has scripts for "X-Men Origins: First Class," and "X-Men Origins: Magneto." Potential spinoffs for the Gambit and Deadpool characters have also been discussed.

As producer, Goldsman is involved with several DC Comics transfers, including "Jonah Hex," "The Losers" and "Teen Titans." He was also producer of the Will Smith-Charlize Theron superhero film "Hancock," for which a sequel is being developed.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118007959.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2563

Not surprising, really - considering neither of the previous movies were critical or financial successes, relatively speaking. I guess they have two main paths here - either make an Ultimate Fantastic Four movie or go all Batman Begins on their ass.

Frankly, I can't see the latter working on the Fantastic Four - considering the entire franchise, right down to the comics, is a colossal adventure in twee family-friendliness - however high Reed's dickery levels get. At the core of it, the previous Fantastic Four movie captured the style of the comics pretty accurately - and it was only a fairly lazy plotline that was clearly written as little more than a platform for the more popular Silver Surfer character that really let the movie down.

But, don't be expecting this for years yet, so there's plenty of time for them to work out where to go with it.

 

[GrnMarvl14]

Dang, you beat me to it.

But this should end up being good for the Fantastic Four...assuming Incredible Hulk and Batman Begins are anything to go on. I think they'd be served by doing what Incredible Hulk did: assume people saw the first one, know the origin, know what's going on, and jump into the action. Start them off as a happy family and give them a tangible threat. Or, if nothing else, make the entire thing a bit of a farce. Poke fun at some of the more ridiculous elements in comics, but stay true to the characters.

 

[Magmaster12]

I'm pretty mad about this the fantastic four movies sucked because the directred did comedies (I think someone was fired and he just wondered onto the set) I really dont want a reboot mailnly because I want to see Franlin Richards in a movie. The series doesn't need a reboot just a sequal with a different directer.

 

[Omotenium]

Forget that. Need Daredevil reboot.

 

[GrnMarvl14]

Forget that. Need Daredevil reboot.

There's been rumblings for a while, even before this. So I'm sure there's some life in it...just might be hard to find someone to do it.

 

[Zeta]

The only thing I didn't like about the FF movies was Doom. I mean, they turned one of comic's most entertaining and distinctive supervillains into yet another generic evil business man. I raged pretty hard over that.

 

[GrnMarvl14]

The only thing I didn't like about the FF movies was Doom. I mean, they turned one of comic's most entertaining and distinctive supervillains into yet another generic evil business man. I raged pretty hard over that.

Yeah...they really shit on Doom and made him...basically Bowser from the Mario Bros. movie. At least if they'd used the Mad Thinker we would have had cool robots.

 

[Doctor Oak]

I'd rather Fox didn't attempt another Daredevil, really. I've never considered Daredevil to be that strong a figure on his own - but if he was drafted into the main-Marvel canon of the Avengers movies, the character could fly quite well against others like Stark and Rogers.

Daredevil didn't work with Fox and I don't see it working again. Especially when they've used up Daredevil's only two modestly known villains already. And, let's face it, most people knew Kingpin via Spider-Man instead anyway.

Throw Murdoch into the Avengers movies and have Daredevil running around within those instead.

 

[GrnMarvl14]

Could always go more of a Batman feel. Put him up against Mr. Fear and you basically have Batman Begins. Throw in the Owl for a more street feel. Throw in Mephisto for a nice allegory on man's battle with his own dark urges. Or...there's always Purple Man. So many good, evil things you could do with him. And throw in Typhoid Mary in an Elektra-esque role (or as the main villain).

Though...yeah...not too big a Daredevil fan, myself. Didn't mind the movie, but wasn't wowed by it.

 

[Omotenium]

What?? He was specifically excluded from joining the New Avengers, so that'll never happen. If not Bullseye there could be The Owl or Mr. Fear or Gladiator. Or the Hand. Daredevil works because he's left out of continuity. He's untouched by anyone not writing the main title, ensuring quality. I really just want to see a movie less focused on capturing Guardian Devil and more on Born Again.

Edit: Yeah, Purple Man, but might be too camp. Typhoid Mary would be okay, but I never liked the arc that introduced her in the comics because it was caught up in the X-men crossover Inferno. Again, that's why DD is best left to his one title only.

 

[Luxio2k8]

As long as Dr. Doom actually acts like Dr. Doom then the next FF movie should be fine.