Can we get a good Fantastc Four?

"A few days in space. What's the worst that could happen?"
-Reed Richards in Fantastic Four

Hello CBMers!!!

How should they make a Fantastic Four film? How can they best adapt this creation that has been around for more than fifty years? With several attempts, most are still wondering when they'll see a good Fantastic Four movie. Another attempt is in the pipeline for 2015 and fans may have those questions resolved. The filmmakers don't really have that tall of an order, they only need to improve upon two rather bland and lackluster films. Yet, there are still plenty of pitfalls they need to be aware of, beyond even the casting. This editorial will make suggestions toward the production of what I believe will make an excellent Fantastic Four adaptation.

The Story

Absolutely Lee and Kirby's original series is great and classic. However it shows signs of being a product of its time. Space exploration and radiation worked well, even more so in the 1960s, the original series' time frame of publication. For the film, I think they need to borrow from Marvel's own Ultimate line, the line that retold the origins of their great characters in a modern time context. In fact, there was even an Ultimate Fantastic Four series, which did contain several elements that I believe would work well for a Fantastic Four film. That series managed to still retain the adventure of the original while also telling a more in depth origin. I think the film wants a younger Fantastic Four, and the Ultimate series did just that. In it, Reed was a prodigal high school student recruited to a top secret goverment funded think tank. Sue was a member of that same think tank, her father was one of the instructors there. Of course Johnny would be introduced through Sue, and in this story Ben was Reed's only friend in high school, despite Reed's "social outcast" role. Of course Doom was also a student at the think tank as well. Fate would bring them all together, including Doom, for that destined accident. The accident that would give them their powers occurs when they attempt to teleport an object through the Negative Zone. This being the big project the think tank works toward, also exploration of this sub-universe, the Negative Zone. If they build the universe properly the Negative Zone origin would compare well with the more grounded realms of today's comic book movies. It could make for a more plausible origin than having the team take their own space shuttle into space to study cosmic rays. Of course it all depends on how they construct the new cinematic universe, but this seems better suited for a story with a younger team. They can also continue the timeless themes the Fantastic Four is known for, which the Ultimate series also touched upon. Ben's depression over his transformation, Reed's living torment of being responsible for Ben's situation, Johnny's embracement of the powers, and the romantic tension between Sue and Reed. Sue just hoping to help Reed, so that not only can Ben be helped, but so can Reed.

The Villain

Here's the tricky part, I don't think Dr. Doom should be the main villain for the initial film. Batman's reboot film worked fine without his greatest nemesis, I believe this could work out as well for the Fantastic Four. Doom could still make an appearance and perhaps be referenced in an extra credit scene for setting up a possible sequel. Oh, and they should not use the Ultimate's Dr. Doom, who was a very odd character. Rather they should borrow the Ultimate's version of Annihilus, who was a resident of the Negative Zone. Annihilus' tale allows for the film to really mix in adventure and science fiction. The team could explore the Negative Zone in search of possibly reversing the accident, and discover life. They would not know of Annihilus' duplicitous nature, his world is dying and he just wants to use the Fantastic Four in an attempt to conquer their world.

No mutants

I do not think the team should be mutants at all. This idea seems to be kicking around in part because the filmmakers would like to crossover Fantastic Four with the X-Men films. They can still crossover without making the Fantastic Four mutants, making them mutants to bridge the franchises is convenient and lazy. If they must; one compromise could to have them possess dormant "X" genes, that are mutated by the Negative Zone.

Let me know what you guys think in the comments. Does anyone else think that Ultimate Fantastic Four would make a good adaptation to film? Should they use Dr. Doom again? Who else could they use?

Thanks for reading
Until next time,
Auf Wiedersehen...