Out with the origin (NO)
It is often necessary to tell the origins of our favourite superheroes and villains no matter how familiar we are with it. This practice helps establish both the tone of the film as well as the characters’ motives for doing what they are doing. The latter statement refers directly to characters like Peter Parker, Batman and Captain America. However, in some cases, elaborating on the origin is not necessary. Case in point: The Fantastic Four. While having powers helps the team perform their jobs, they would still be doing their jobs even if they had no powers at all. Let us look at Peter Parker as a comparison. What would Peter be if that radioactive spider did not bite him? Probably not a costumed crime fighter. Peter’s superpowers allow him to be Spider-Man, whereas the Fantastic Four are explorers and scientists regardless. Therefore, since the origin is not that essential, the film can pick up 10 years after the cosmic event that gave them their powers.
The team were given their name not only for their fantastic abilities but because they are greatly admired by the rest of the world. However, after 10 years, that reverence becomes contempt. Reed, who means to better mankind through science and invention, often inadvertently unleashes potential danger. Whether it be creating miniature-localised black holes that threaten to devour buildings or releasing vile beings from alien dimensions, Reed is often responsible for starting some of the very disasters which the team then have to clean up. It is no surprise that many people might come to despise the Fantastic Four. So much so that public might actually label the team the Frightful Four.
In with science, science fiction and exploration (ScFi)
The Fantastic Four are the quintessential science fiction explorers. It is their calling card. Much like violence is synonymous with Deadpool, science and exploration is tantamount to the Fantastic Four. They have a legacy that spans galaxies and alternate dimensions. Their stories arc across not only space but also time. There is practically an unlimited void to discover for a Fantastic Four movie plot. Including science fiction plot elements amplifies the film’s suspense. Science, science fiction and exploration are major plot devices that need to be intensified this time round. These forces give direction to the plot of the film and help determine who or what the team encounter. Perhaps even leading to multiple enemies and profuse danger since the film does not have to be limited to Earth. Reed is a scientist but it is a comic book movie so let us incorporate real science with fringe science.
A compound moral story (CM)
Fox’s Fantastic Four movies were light with morals. The films did convey one of the messages that is synonymous with the four i.e family but given that the Fantastic Four stories have dealt with fantastic elements of science and science fiction, we need a moral story that reflects on our modern world and how we live in it. Many classic science fiction stories are commentaries on social, moral and economic values. Are we too reliant on technology? Does it dehumanize us? What are the economic repercussions? What are the costs to the environment? How does science affect us physically and spiritually as our understanding and applications of it continue to advance? We know that knowledge is power but is it sometimes better to remain oblivious? What are the political ramifications? What kind of advantages do Reed’s inventions give his government? The Fantastic Four comics are archetypal science fiction stories and the movie should examine the ethical, social, economic and spiritual aspects of technology but without overwhelming us in the process because they still have to be fun.
The Fantastic Four reboot is scheduled to begin in June 2013. The new X-Men movie,
Days of Future Past, is currently in production. Now, whilst linking Fantastic Four and X-MEN is harnessing some of Marvel Studios’ strategy, the main reason to link these universes is that the X-Men can be used to strengthen the Fantastic Four’s universe and vice versa. Fox currently owns the rights to Dr Doom and Galactus. Many of the other members of the Fantastic Four’s rogues gallery are not in the same league (Mole Man, really?). Since we have seen Doom and a weak version of the Devourer of Worlds already and that the characters that inhabit Fox’s Fantastic Four world are limited in number and scope, opening the Fantastic Four to the X-Men gives the opportunity to access some villains and characters from the X-Men side. Both movies are filming very close temporally, so why not take advantage of serendipitous circumstances to link the franchises.
Furthermore, Reed and Sue’s son, Franklin, is considered a mutant and features in the
Days of Future Past comics. Since Marvel Studios own Henry Pym AKA Ant-Man, Reed Richards has very few contemporaries on his level of intellect. Professor Xavier can fill that role and there is no reason to think that either one would not consult the other on pertinent matters. Franklin could even be introduced as a student at Xavier’s school.
Who is the villain?
The villain ought to echo the moral message. He has to be menacing. Dr Doom and Galactus are two villains that rank as some of the most diabolical of all comic book villains. Mole Man, for example, may have a nefarious and perhaps a warranted vendetta against mankind, but he does not elicit the same level of fear as Galactus. We know Guillermo Del Toro’s Pacific Rim involves large monsters rising from a portal in the bowels of the Earth. This should be a disqualifier for Mole Man and his army of monsters.
Fox actually have rights to the Skrulls – in fact both Fox and Marvel Studios share rights to these alien shape shifters. In addition, Fox can utilise characters appearing in the first 100 issues of the Fantastic Four (reference:
FilmBuffOnline). The alien empire known as the Kree make their appearance in issue #65. The Kree are therefore an option worth considering. They are technologically advanced, use genetic engineering to augment their physiology and follow a military-technocratic dictatorship. Their leader is an organic computer called the Supreme Intelligence. They represent what humankind might become. In other words, they are a physical manifestation of the moral message: How technology dehumanises. If Fox cannot utilise the Kree and have few other formidable choices available, then they have the option of appropriating characters from the X-Men camp. Using the Kree means of course that one particular member of the Kree should feature as principal antagonist. And that individual is Ronan the Accuser. He is malicious and has a commanding presence. In the end though, the true enemy is technology itself.
World's Greatest Heroes vs Angry Smurf:
Kevin Feige on who owns the Skrulls:
The reboot will be directed by Josh Trank, and hopefully he and Mark Millar will remember how Stan Lee and Jack Kirby made the team fantastic.