Thanks for the Read!!! Always open to critique.
We of the Fantastic Four did not choose to be "super-heroes". We are just ordinary people who fate selected to be more than human. Unfortunately, or fortunately, we did not lose our human foibles when we gained our powers.
--Susan Storm
SPOILERS FOR AGE OF ULTON!
*= important side notes
The 2005 and 2007 Fantastic Four films were atrocious to be honest. While some things were right about the films (Chris Evans was a great Johnny Storm), most of it was crap. The cinematic life of the Fantastic Four has been underwhelming. A new reboot is upon us, but its road to getting here wasn’t easy. The Fantastic Four movie reboot is right around the corner for a summer release. It’s been a bumpy ride for this fresh restart of the franchise. Unpleasant production rumors have been swirling around for some time and have given the film a somewhat of an unattractive ambience around it. Not to mention that a major casting change stirred up some controversy as well. Marvel’s First Family has been through a rough time trying to get back into the cinematics fold. When the teasers, photos and trailers were revealed for the film, most fans and onlookers weren’t too impressed. This reboot seems more Interstellar than First Family of Heroes. There’s a lack of wonder, levity and familial atmosphere. That’s what makes the Fantastic Four who they are. They are explores who never cease to marvel at discovery. They’re a family whom are warmhearted, caring and who’s adventures are filled with lightheartedness.
There seems to be a common saying nowadays that’s a sign of disdain for CBM films when they’re not what we desired or think is right: Give the rights back to Marvel! This phrase is meant more for Marvel films not owned by Marvel Studios, but you get the point. Marvel seems to mostly have a good sense of how to manage, display and comprehend there characters in the best way possible. They really KNOW who their characters are and how they fit into their universe. The Fantastic Four is the first superhero team created by Marvel. They’ve endured for many years and are quite beloved. With Spider-Man recently coming back home to Marvel, it’s easy to assume or speculate that Marvel won’t fail, probably, its most beloved hero of all time. I believe that the Fantastic Four being home with marvel Studios. The cohesiveness of Marvel is what makes the MCU so fun to watch. Seeing the Fantastic Four inhabit this vast universe would be a fun treat. There’s already simple ways for them to fit within everything.
Characters & Connections
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is full of characters that are connected through other characters, locales, backgrounds, origins and movies. For example, Matt Murdock and Skye (Daisy Johnson) were raised in the same catholic orphanage, Saint Agnes Orphanage. Abraham Erskine and Howard Stark met at an Engineering Conference. Dottie Underwood is one of the original graduates of The Red Room, a program the current Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff, would go through. Links are abounding. My theory on how the Fantastic Four fits into the MCU is very dependent on connections. I will break down each character and their origins if they existed in the MCU. Their backgrounds will be complete with connections to MCU, institutions, characters and settings.
Redd Richards is a scientist in the MCU as he should be. He will have begun his life as a young savant; an intellectual prodigy. He has an aptitude for mathematics, physics, mechanics and astrophysics. Tony Stark is known for his intellectual feats such as being seven when he built an engine or graduating from MIT at the top of his class. Reed Richards’ intellectual origins rival Starks. At eight years old, Richards begins developing schematics for a device that is a handheld MRI scanner. He enrolls in California Institute of Technology, at ten. He graduates magna cum laude with his Bachelor of Science at 10 and a Master of Science in physics AT 12. He then enrolls in Harvard University to obtain a degree in mathematics. He graduates in two years. He then attends MIT where he meets Tony Stark and James Rhodes (he’s’ portrayed in film wearing a "Brass Rat", the MIT school ring). He also befriends another military brat, a colleague of Rhodeys’, Benjamin Grimm.
*Both Grimm and Rhodey are at MIT on fellowship from the United States Air Force Academy.
Richards is the younger of the two and Stark sees him as a threat to his “greatness”. They contest during their time at the school. Richards isn’t too invested with competition and only does his best work to excel. Stark is all about besting Reed. Richards becomes very friendly with Grimm while at MIT. Reed eventually graduates top of his class at 16 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He graduates with a 5.0 while Stark, only graduated with a 4.8.
After he finishes his time at MIT, Richards is approached by government suits to join S.H.I.E.L.D’s science division but Reed declines. Some years later, he’s approached about joining a government think tank. This think tank is made up of some of the world’s brightest young minds. (Stark declined; more interested in women than think tanks). While at this think tank, Richards meets Susan Storm, a medical sciences genius and Victor Von Doom, a foreigner from the small failing nation of Latveria. Unbeknownst to the three, this think tank is a splinter group of A.I.M., the group founded by Aldrich Killian. Reed and Doom work on projects concerning engineering and astrophysics. They soon develop a machine that will shape their lives forever.
Victor Von Doom (Doctor Doom)
Victor Von Doom is born a peasant Romani in his home nation of Latveria. Ruled by a dictator, Latveria Is a deteriorating nation. Also, it neighbors another failing country, Sokovia. Latveria is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, which often keeps its safe from its neighboring countries wars, but inhabitants still fear for their lives. Victor is the son of a physician and a performer of the dark arts. His mother trains him in magic from a young age while his father pushes him to study the sciences. Victor’s mother has a fractured mind due to her immersion in the dark arts. Victor’s immersion into the dark arts reveals the knowledge of other dimensions. He knows his must further his magical intellect if he ever wants to access them. With this combination of knowledge, Victor will be the emissary of Latveria. After, Victor leaves, he learns his mother and father were killed by “a mysterious red skinned figure’’. Doom is later chosen to venture into world and acquire knowledge as his country is ready to make the next step and move away from is third world atmosphere. Victor is an arrogant young man due to the significance he has to his country and its future. He sees himself as its savior. Being one of the brightest minds the world has, he’s recruited into a think tank along with fellow savants Reed Richards and Susan Storm. Victor has plans of his own by using this think tank to help Latveria.
*During World War II, the Nazi party, primarily Hydra, looked into using the Romani gypsy people and their knowledge of the dark arts, to aid their cause.
Susan & Johnny Storm
Susan & Johnny Storm are the children of Franklin Storm, a prominent scientist. Susan inherits her father’s love of knowledge and science while Johnny is more into sports and cars. Franklin Storm is approached by a few fellow scientists to join and help run a new think tank dedicated to scientific ingenuity. This think tank is Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.). Franklin works with A.I.M. for some time and eventually, years later, recruits his daughter along with Richards and Doom, to join. Johnny becomes a star athlete at Midtown High, but also a talented car mechanic and renovator. He occasionally helps his sister around the think tank lab. Susan grows close to Reed as they work. Franklin and his recruits are then approached by the leader of the A.I.M. splinter group he works for named George Tarleton, who proposes an idea about inter dimensional travel…
*George Tarleton is who the bio-engineered living computer M.O.D.O.K. was before his transformation. Aldrich Killian claims to be the founder of A.I.M , but only because of the
incident that occurs involving the future Fantastic Four and Tarleton that changes everything.
Ben Grimm
Ben Grimm comes from a military family. His father was an Army Lieutenant and his mother a test pilot for the Air Force. Ben moved all over the world until his teens where he settled in New York. He had rough teenage years as he was involved in the Yancy Street Gang. He rebelled against his parents’ strict military rules. However, sports changed his attitude. He eventually became a football star in high school and later decided to join the Air Force. He was a model cadet and student at the United Sates Air Force Academy. While there, he befriends another student, James Rhodes. They both excel at the academy and eventually earn fellowships to MIT where they meet their future best friends. After graduating from the academy with honors, Grimm became a highly skilled test pilot, fighter pilot and astronaut. He gets a call from his old friend Reed Richards, who ask if he wants to pilot a ship for an important mission.
THE INCIDENT
The idea concerning inter dimensional travel is turned into a mission to another dimension Tarleton has dubbed the Negative Zone. Reed hand victor had been working on teleportation tech and it was bringing real results. Unbeknownst to Reed, Victor had integrated magic into their experiments which allowed for the easy window into the Negative Zone. Victor had heard stories of a dimension where great beings were kept prisoner. Victor believed through his magical prowess, that he could control these beings and use them to overthrow his dictator and protect his nation. The dark arts had warped Victor’s mind and turned into malevolent. He knew this, but the power obsessed him. A ship is constructed and Reed asks Grimm to pilot. Susan is chosen to join in the expedition but asks Johnny to come as she is scared. Reed, Victor, Susan, Ben and Johnny all go on the journey to the Negative Zone. They make it into the Zone and are immediately astounded. They find a large stone wall that appears to be a massive door. Once there, Victor reveals his true plans and starts to perform a spell. As Reed and the others attempt to stop him, their suits are ruptured and they’re exposed to extra dimensional radiation. As they reel in pain, Grimm finally tackles Victor and begins to subdue him. Victor attacks back and the ship is damaged in the process. The wormhole begins to close.
Victor, realizing he may not have time to enact his plan, heads for the wormhole. Whatever magic he conjured, was undeveloped and it begins to interact with e wormhole. He is disfigured as he makes it through the portal. The portal closes and Reed and the others are trapped. They quickly rush to the ship for safe haven. On the other side of the portal, a large explosion occurs and everyone is killed expect Doom, who’s magic protect him and Tarleton who’s also disfigured.
POST INCIDENT
Reed, Susan, Johnny and Ben are trapped in the Zone, and look to escape for years to come. They also develop mutations while inside which they learn to keep at bay through training and Reed using the ship’s equipment and tech to manage the abilities. Doom decides to travel the world and further his magical power. He is a student under the Ancient one for short time until the Ancient One discovers Doom’s dark arts connection. He even befriends Baron Mordo, but only to further his own abilities. He amasses wealth abroad as well. Doom returns home to Latveria and uses his ne power to overthrow the dictator and take power the country. He remodels it in his image but is good to his people. He isolates his country as heroes make themselves known such as The Avengers. He studies them for years. Tarleton’s body goes missing after the explosion and a young A.I.M. scientist, Aldrich Killian takes over the organization and remodels its ideals to fit his. After the incident in Sokovia, Doom decides it’s time to take measures to ensure Latveria’s safety. He’s hidden in the shadows too long and believes the world needs a new leader as times have become more daring. The Sokovia incident also creates a wormhole. The Chitauri's anti-gravitational technology used to lift the city out of the ground opens a wormhole with its electromagnetic energy after its explosion caused by Thor and Iron Man. The Fantastic Four make it through the wormhole, all changed by their time in the Zone. Through years of living in the Zone and bonding, they’ve come out as a family. Doom discovers their escape and sets a plan in motion. The four are kidnapped and kept prisoner in Latveria as Doom reveals a sinister plot that will change everything.
*I wanted to change the Fantastic Four debut into the MCU as something of a prisoner of war story. Being kept prisoner allows for deeper character interactions and a different kind of action. I imagine the Four’s escape from the country would lead to their reveal to the world and Dooms’ as well.
FANCAST
Reed Richards- Matthew Goode
Ben Grimm- Joel Edgerton
Johnny Storm- Robert Kazinsky
Susan Storm- Diane Kruger
Doctor Doom- Lars Mikkelson
What the Fantastic Four Bring to the MCU
GALACTUS & THE SILVER SURFER
He’s the devourer of planets and with his herald The Silver Surfer at his side Galactus has wandered the universe instilling fear in all he encounters. This is the kinda guy that makes Thanos look like chump change. In my theory, Galactus has been locked in the Negative Zone by the Celestials. FOX owns both as of now but these two entering the MCU, would add some amazing adversaries, and an eventual hero, to future phases.
DR. DOOM
The obvious choice. In the Marvel Universe there are a handful of villains that represent a true threat to everything they come into contact with. VICTOR VON DOOM is, and has been, an enduring troublemaker in the world of Marvel Comics since his conception. He;’s not only a major problem for the Fantastic Four, but for every hero in the Marvel Universe. This isn’t some guy who says he’s going to rule the world and poses no threat. Everything he does is a threat. Did I mention, Doom Bots!!!!
SKRULLS
Another FOX owned set of characters, the Skrulls are alien empire that are big hitter sin the Marvel Universe. Man I hate the Skrulls. They're so creepy looking. The fact tat they can morph into anyone is also a creepy thought. Not to mention, the Skrulls are an important part of Kree history, which are set to return to the MCU most likely in
Captain Marvel.
NEGATIVE ZONE
The most important fact of the Negative Zone, besides its creation of the Fantastic Four, is that it’s a prison that houses super villains. How cool is that?
Conclusion
My take on the Fantastic Four in the MCU may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But, I think they would fit in just nicely without too much hassle. The great thing about the MCU is that it has characteristics that easily allow for new blood to join. Spider-Man is coming soon and he is already being rumored to have references in
Ant-Man; he will have an evident appearance in
Civil War. Here’s hoping to see Marvel’s First Family in the MCU someday.