Hey guys! TheRedHood here; I have another Fan Cast for you, this time for Marvels first family, the Fantastic Four! I've been putting this one off for awhile because, to be honest, the Fantastic Four for as awesome as they can be. They certainly haven't been handled well in other media. The three prior films were all massive failures and mishandled the characters and story lines in the worst possible way. Like always, I'm going to choose characters and story lines that fit the overall vision. So like many of my other Fan Casts, you'll see a mishmash of stories and characters, but at the end of the day; if it entertains, who can complain?
Since Josh Trank has signed on to direct, for the purposes of this Fan Cast. We'll assume he's directing this movie.
CAST:
Michael Fassbender as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic
Fassbender is known to many of us as Magneto in X-Men: First Class or David in Prometheus. While amazing in those roles, a few of us know from a lot of his other work know that Fassbender is a talented and multi-faceted actor, and portrays characters in a way that can often times do things we'd cod one but we also root for him at the same time.
Reed Richards, to me, is an intelligent man who's a master of many scientific disciplines including (but not limited to) engineering, physics, and biology. Due to his high levels of intelligence however; he's also alienated many people due to his methodical and calculating nature. For Reed, you need an actor who can play the intelligent man, but also show the effects of that on those around him. I truly believe that Fassbender would be perfect in this role.
Alternatively: Edward Norton, Cilian Murphy,
Yvonne Strahovski as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman
Now, I know some people who think of Sue as being the damsel in distress. Far from, and in recent comics she's become a powerful member of the Fantastic Four. Doom even at one point says that she's more powerful then the other three combined. The last two Fantastic Four films got this wrong, and Sue was definitely given a very poor role in the film in my opinion.
Yvonne is obviously gifted in the looks department. If you've seen her in Chuck, or heard her voice in the Mass Effect video games then you know that while beautiful, she's also a strong woman and can play a woman who's the soul of a team like the Fantastic Four.
Liam Hemsworth as Johnny Storm/Human Torch
After watching The Expendables 2, I'm sold on Liam as a great action star. While we saw Chris Evans give a very campy performance as Johnny Storm; I'd like to see someone who's cocky and a bit of a joker; but definitely not as over the top as Chris Evans portrayal. Liam would bring that youthful energy, but he could easily play a much more toned down version of the character then what we saw in the last two major films. Doesn't hurt that Liam is starting to become a box-office draw. I'm also sure that Liam might have some sibling rivalry with brother Chris, and might want to be a part of a major comic book movie property.
Alternatively: Chris Pratt
Michael Madsen (Voice Actor/Mo-Cap) as Ben Grimm/The Thing
I heard a rumor a while back that The Thing would be CGI. After watching the last two Chikilis movies, I agree. With physicality out of the way, you can focus on an actor who can deliver a great performance through vocals entirely. While mainly known as Mr.Blonde, Madsen has also racked up a substantial resume of gravely voice over work, giving him plenty of experience that could bring The Thing to life.
Peter Greene (Voice Actor/Mo-Cap) as Kl'rt/Super-Skrull
While the Skrulls are generally a generic army, it's the Super-Skrull who poses the biggest threat to the Fantastic Four. Kl'rt has all four of the teams powers, making him almost unstoppable against the Fantastic Four. Greene has a very chilling and menacing voice; but even more-so he has the physicality to portray the Super-Skrull. I imagine him being done similar to how The Hulk was rendered in The Avengers, with Ruffalo playing the character in Mo-Cap.
Michael Cervis as Galactus
I recently re-read the Thanos storyline where he fights Galactus who is inviting The Hunger into this dimension. There were moments where he reminded me of Cervis, who in Fringe plays a very cold and calculating character named The Observer. The Observer in many respects, reminds me of Galactus. Plus, it doesn't hurt that the Observer is popping up everywhere from NASCAR to American Idol. Fox must know how big of a presence this actor can bring to even a simple character, let alone an important character like Galactus. Can we all agree, he'd be better then a giant swirling cloud.
Alternatively: Jared Harris
Mads Milkkensen as Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom
Rounding things out cast wise is Doctor Doom. A pivotal role, but in the first movie I'd prefer he be a behind the scenes character. The one pulling the strings. Mads played the villain in Casino Royale, and is playing Hannibal in the upcoming series. Mads can play a villainous role very well, and I often have wondered why he hasn't been given a villainous role in a Marvel or DC movie yet! I do think he'd be perfect for Doom, where he could showcase the jealous rivalry he has with Reed. Plus Mads is obviously comfortable with prosthetics as he had the scar in Casino Royale, so if they decided to give him burns on his face, I'm sure he could handle it.
PLOT:
The film opens with a voice over by Uatu the Watcher, to proclaims how he must describe the events that lead to the horrible tragedy that befell the human race. Stating that each story has a beginning.
A young Victor and Reed in college. They're at Columbia, studying many engineering projects. The professor talks about how technology can in many ways help us, or lead to our destruction. He hopes that the class can help understand technologies that they can use to benefit humanity. He starts dividing the class, and we see that Reed is already well educated with his multiple degrees. Victor is paired with Reed, much to Victors jealousy of Reeds intellect.
They examine the machine, unaware of what it's capable of. Reed is wearing protective wear, while Victor is unshielded. Reed suggests that he put on some sort of protection, but Victor refuses. During this time, Victor and Reed get to know each other; Reed talks about Sue, the woman he loves although he's admittingly confused by her infatuation. He talks about his desire to fly to Mars and explore beyond the planet. Annoyed by Reeds boisterous attitude, Victor asks Reed if he'd go to fetch a tool they'll need. While he's gone, Victor begins tinkering with the machine. He's suddenly caught in an explosion that sends him across the room.
Reed runs in to see the damage caused. The lab is destroyed, Victor is badly burned, and Reed grabs the machine. Which is eerily intact.
Cut to an office, where a current day Reed is holding the device. A reminder of his failure to save Victor. A government agent steps in, Reed then asks if the mission is ready as scheduled. The government agent goes over the report and tells Reed that funding for the project is to be cut, and that the mission is to be cancelled. An enraged Reed storms out, he's once again failing as a scientist. He returns to his lab where Sue, Ben, and Johhny are all waiting. He tells them that the mission is cancelled and that there's nothing he can do. Johnny then suggests that they screw the government and go ahead as planned. Reed refuses to do so, but he's unable to let his dreams drift away. He asks Ben if he can fly the ship. Ben assures Reed that nothing can happen.
We next see the crew in the ship, with Reed plotting the course. He notices the amount of radiation emitting from the Van Allen belt. Reed dismisses it, but realizes that Ben has seen the same information. Ben looks concerned, and asks Reed if there's anything to worry about. Reed reassures Ben that the shielding of their craft will protect them from the radiation.
While in flight, Reed notices the increase in radiation. Ben tells Reed that there's another way around, but Reed dismisses it; noting that it would be a longer route and burn more fuel. Suddenly, the ship is hit by a near deadly amount of cosmic radiation. Everyone on board is incapacitated.
Reed wakes up, and notices his arm slung over a ledge. He picks his arm up in amazement, and begins toying with his body. Pulling his finger beyond normal limits, placing a weight on top of his arm. He looks around and sees everyone else, with the exception of Ben. He wakes everyone up asking if they saw Ben. No one has. He goes searching for Ben, and finds Ben looking in a mirror. He's now covered in rocks, and is unable to understand. He behind shouting at Reed, attacking him for not being mindful of the radiation. Ben picks up Reed and makes Reed swear to fix him. Reed promises to fix the two of them. They return to see Johnny flinging fire at Sue, with Sue stopping the fireballs with an invisible barrier. Reed realizes that they all have superpowers.
An alarm for the ship goes off, there's no energy or fuel left, and that emergency energy cells are dying. With moments before they lose oxygen, Reed instructs Sue to form a barrier around the ship, and asks Johnny how much power he has with his flames. He says he can do what he can; Reed instructs him to propel the ship back to earth. Ben asks what's going to stop the ship once they're on Earth, Reed looks at Ben and Ben moans with a "Really!?"
We now see the ship on a course for Earth. As they approach the ground, Ben puts his feet out to brake the ship. He yells at Reed that he better not get injured, Reed replies that "you're rock for gods sake, how can you be hurt". As they land, the team has worked together to bring them back home. They're immediately swarmed by the public and the media, the reporters ask Reed who they are. Trying to come to grips with what's happened, he's unable to speak. Johnny then tells the cameras "That walking boulder is The Thing, my sis here, well she's the Invisible Woman. Reed here is just fantastic, Mister Fantastic alright! And me, well I'm the Human Torch".
Reed is back at the lab studying. He's noticing that where he saw planets before, he's now seeing large amounts of debris. He begins to wonder why, but everyone else is too preoccupied to notice. Reed sets up a scanner to detect movement in outer space. Worried that with the trajectory of destroyed planets, that Earth could be one of them.
Sue and Reed are having dinner together, and Reed suggests that they do something with these powers. Sue agrees but notes that there's no way she sees the group as a force for good. Reed disagrees, but Sue asks if he's watched Ben and Johnny lately. They go to watch the two as they spar, Johnny is taunting Ben, and Ben is trying to catch Johnny. Reed suggests that they buy the building, and use it as a way to figure out what they can do and who they can help. reed brings everyone together and shows them the costumes. He shows off a couple variants which everyone rejects until they get their traditional black and blue uniforms. As they put them on, Reed runs to his galactic scanner which indicates a ship is entering Earths atmosphere. Ben suggests that it could be NASA, but Johnny disagrees telling them that it's definitely not NASA. Reed wants to observe, but Johnny wants to go check it out.
Reed brings them to a hovering vehicle. He describes it as vehicle which can handle land-to-air conversions. Johnny jokes that it's the Fantasti-car. Ben laughs, and says "Really? That's the best you have". The four of them get in and fly to the spot where the ship has landed. As they scout out a landing crew of Skrulls, Johnny laughs, saying "Who invited these butt ugly things?" Reed suggests that Sue follow them while remaining invisible to see what they're up to. Johnny and Ben disagree, with Ben saying his iconic line, "It's clobbering time"
Johnny and Ben beat the Skrulls fairly easily, but spares one. Reed and Sue enter, with Reed commenting that he didn't consider a direct approach. The four of them interrogate the Skrull, asking why he's here. The Skrull states that he's here to save his world, and that Earth holds the key to his planets survival. Reed asks what they plan on surviving, but the Skrull simply transforms into Sue and laughs at Reed.
Reed gets a signal on his remote from his lab, many more ships are now entering the atmosphere and are headed for New York. The Skrull then laughs, noting that the reconnaissance crew was to distract the Fantastic Four. The key to the Skrulls survival is in New York.
The team travels back to see many Skrulls invading the streets of New York. The team is trying to figure out how to do this the right way. But the team is disagreeing about tactics. Reed then asserts himself, saying that they have to work as a team. He states how the Skrulls outnumber them, but they can work together to defeat them.
We see the Skrulls marching towards the Baxter building, with Reed and Sue in front. The Skrull leader laughs, noting that two of them can't defeat his army. Reed tells the Skrull that he polite fully disagrees. A forcefield is set up around the Skrulls, Sue launches the Skrulls into the air where Johnny flings them with fireballs. Ben grabs Reed and Launches him into the air. He wraps around a group of Skrulls, squeezing them to death.
One Skrull remains, and he activates a device. He now displays all four powers of the Fantastic Four. Ben attacks first, but is repeled by the Super-Skrull. Johnny Tries to incinerate the Super-Skrull but he's hit by a reenforced arm. He approaches Reed and Sue, demanding they hand over the Ultimate Nullifier. He projects the image of the Ultimate Nullifier, it's the item that Victor and Reed worked on as students at Columbia. Reed then escorts the Super-Skrull into his lab. As they enter, Reed tells the Super-Skrull that he needs to find where he;s placed it. He's really running a diagnostic scan on the Super-Skrull. He finds out that the powers are emitted to the Skrull. Reed grabs a device and tells the Super-Skrull that he has it. As he hands the Ultimate Nullifier, he slaps a wave scrambler on the back of the Super-Skrull; this disables his powers.
Reed grabs on to two posts, and slingshots the Super-Skrull back onto the streets. He then orders Sue to contain him. The Super-Skrull laughs, and tells Reed that the Ultimate Nullifier will be in the hands of the Skrulls eventually. He then presses a few buttons and is teleported off the planet surface.
We're now in Latveria, where the Skrulls are stating that they were promised the Ultimate Nullifier. We see a man stand, with a slight glimse of a scarred face, he grabs his mask and puts it on. He then tells the Skrull commander that he did not know of his friend Reed Richards intervention. The Skrull then describes how Latveria will have to pay, with Doom then responding "No one threatens Doom!"
Uatu then does a voiceover again, describing how Earth has some powerful defenders. This is over footage of the four of them working together as a team finally. Uatu then describes how true trials and tribulations are yet to come as we see a bald-headed man in a space ship. He then puts on his helmet and sneers as he sees Earth. It's Galactus, he then says "If this be doomsday".
Some Other Articles of Mine:
FAN CAST: MCU Daredevil
10 Ideas for an ABC Marvel TV Show
Guardians of the Galaxy (plot)
Guardians of the Galaxy (cast)
What I'd Like to See: The Avengers 2
What I'd Like to See: X-Men First Class 2
Fan Fic: Star Trek 2