Everything has to be plausible, believable. From story to science to history to the present- this approach will give this franchise the respect it deserves.
How does Johnny find himself in orbit? There has to be a legitimate cause for his presence there. Ben as well. He's a air craft pilot and needs a good reason to be in orbit. Sue's a biologist, a scientist , so it's possible she may have a reason to be in space. And Reed's a given ;I think I have the nexxus!
Reed is currently employed by Baxter Research. An R & D firm subcontracted by the NASA to develop applied technology for deep space travel. Reed is currently working on a hypotheses believing that inter-dimensional travel is doable, and if realized ,can reduce deep space travel time from years to hours.(negative zone)
He's created a devise that needs zero gravity and open space to conduct the experiment.
Here's the particulars of the Baxter Building: DR.Franklin Storm is head of aerospace and aeronautics research. His daughter Sue, is completing her undergraduate studying on the long term effects of zero gravity on human physiology, and works closely with her father. Dr. Harvey Rupert Elder(Mole man) is a nuclear engineer studying ,in conjunction with Sue, a way to irradiate food safely to preserve it for deep space travel. In particular, he's experimenting with genetic mold strains as a viable food source.(foundation for moloid creation). However he has an unhealthy crush on Sue, who's engaged to Reed at the time, which turns into a sexual harassment charge one night in their research lab as Elder demonstrates to Sue a side effect to his experiments- his molds have become animated.
Reed is outraged and Elder's employment terminated by Dr.Storm and the Baxter Bldg. Human resources dept. Elder collected his belongings and threatens revenge pending a criminal trail- he's dismissed as a lunatic.
Being deep space travel may require years in transit, it's believed that the new generation of astronauts needs to be young. To study the effects of zero gravity on younger people, volunteers are needed, after mandatory training, to travel into orbit as test subjects: Dr.Storm 'volunteers'his son Johnny.
At present Johnny is a couple weeks away from completing basic astronaut training, along with a few others his age, and is being a general nuisance.
Sue has won her father's approval to head the study in orbit,and so is planning to join Reed who will be testing his new inter-dimensional devise.
Next:BEN!