EXCLUSIVE: Three Directors in Contention for New Fantastic Four Franchise

EXCLUSIVE: Three Directors in Contention for New Fantastic Four Franchise EXCLUSIVE: Three Directors in Contention for New Fantastic Four Franchise

Casting is already underway for Fox's superhero family reboot, and now we know three of the candidates the studio is pursuing to helm the first film.

By multipurposeponi - Aug 28, 2010 07:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Fantastic Four



Though casting for a summer blockbuster film usually takes place once a director has signed onto the project, it is not a rarity. Fox's new Fantastic Four movie franchise seems be to falling into this category, with actors already being linked to the five main roles. But how far away is the studio from signing a director? According to my sources at Fox, it shouldn't be long before one of their prospective candidates is given an offer. I've learned that Joe Carnahan, David Yates and James McTeigue are among those on the short list to helm the film. Carnahan's two most popular films, The A-Team and Smokin' Aces, were both received well by audiences and critics; though not as financially successful as most would have expected. Yates is the man behind four of the immensely popular Harry Potter films (Order of the Phoenix, Half Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows Part 1 & Part 2), and is obviously no stranger to tentpole franchises. McTeige's record fits more along the lines of Carnahan's (though visually they are quite different), with both V for Vendetta and Ninja Assassin receiving mostly positive attention.



The current screenplay for the Fantastic Four reboot tells a more dramatic tale of Marvel's first superhero family, and will introduce audiences to a bevvy of characters not yet seen on film. Two characters from the previous franchise that will, at this point, make appearances (besides the central four heroes) are Doctor Doom and the Silver Surfer; though I am unsure as to the extent of their roles. If all goes according to plan, The next Fantastic Four film will begin filming next spring in 3D, as apposed the the now-standard post conversion process. Fox is tentatively looking at a summer, 2012, release for the film.





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kyle
kyle - 8/28/2010, 7:55 AM
Yates for FF. I don't think Doctor Doom should be the villian in the first film, but the second. To me it should explain how they become what they become, and the the fall of their closest friend. If it's to be that dramatic then walla
kyle
kyle - 8/28/2010, 7:56 AM
Oh, and the 3 arc is the last of ff tellings in comics
BigK1337
BigK1337 - 8/28/2010, 8:01 AM
Its obvious that David Yates should do the FF reboot. His take on the Harry Potter series shows how well he can make a fantasy story like those and make it into a popular series all audiences enjoy.

Though personally I feel that J.J. Abrams should do it, but I guess this director will do.
Creature
Creature - 8/28/2010, 8:03 AM
I gotta say, it almost looks like they're trying.
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 8/28/2010, 8:03 AM
Great stuff Poni. I'm not sure which one would be best, I love V for Vendetta and I liked Smoking Aces. I'm still not sure how much of an improvement they are looking to make with this film.

I did find this though.

Breaking News: FOX wants all the fans to know that they are aware of the disappointments many fans walked away from
the previous FF films with. Studio execs want them to know that they can rest assured that they are taking great steps to
correct some of these problems.

The first step has already been made. The studio is proud to announce, they have replaced the Great Galactus cloud everyone seemed to be so furious about.

Replacing the ominous looking cloud will be this happy looking cloud that you may be familiar with from such hit movies
as Avatar, Iron Man, District 9 and the one that launched it's happy little career years ago, Dances With Wolves. =D

pitchblack
pitchblack - 8/28/2010, 8:05 AM
I think Yates would be great; not the biggest fan of the Harry Potter movies but I think without having to force a 700 page book into a film he can do a nice job.
P862010
P862010 - 8/28/2010, 8:07 AM
and why couldn't wolverine have these director choices lol
josebonifacio
josebonifacio - 8/28/2010, 8:08 AM
If I have to choose between the 3 I think the Harry Potter guy will be my pick.
marvel72
marvel72 - 8/28/2010, 8:11 AM
i'd love to see.

1st, james mcteigue take on the fantastic four,v for vendetta was a great comicbook/graphic novel movie & ninja assassin was an alright bloodfest.

2nd, david yates haven't seen the harry potter movies,but they are very popular.so i think him.

3rd, john carnahan the a-team & smoking aces you can see why his third place.

@ teabag

:D hahahahaha! that pooh clip is epic,but you're definetly going to hell for that.
jusme6
jusme6 - 8/28/2010, 8:16 AM
@Tea: I almost died laughing at your Pooh comment/clip. Good work!

I hope negotiations continue for way way too long and then the rights revert back to Marvel sooner.
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 8/28/2010, 8:17 AM
tea: That Pooh clip is just wrong! LMAO! =O
jazzman
jazzman - 8/28/2010, 8:34 AM
it has to be between Joe Carnahan and David Yates. James McTeigue is more suited for Deadpool or even Iron Fist movie

@teabag

hahaha McTeigue for a Winnie the Pooh remake classic LOL
80sFace
80sFace - 8/28/2010, 8:39 AM
All of these choices are sh*t. Why not recycle John McTiernan while we're at it?

How about the director of Moon? If you haven't seen it, awesome film. There's Katia Lund and Jose Padila, who directed City of God and Elite Squad. Matt Reeves who directed Cloverfield and the upcoming Let Me In - dude is a storyteller; he showed footage at SDCC and it looked amazing.

The problem with the 3 guys listed are that they're not great story tellers and they're ham fisted, one-tone directors. They have music video frenetic visual style, that's cool for a minute, but annoying and ultimately generic over the course of a 2 hour film.

Not that Fox is capable of this, but they should think outside the box, outside of the 4 or 5 ass-face directors that they always look at.

Just IMO.
LucasMend
LucasMend - 8/28/2010, 8:48 AM
No thanks we need a real good director, SS will be on it? WTF, So we´re prolly gonna see the Galactus... I mean the big evil Cloud again.
[frick] you FOX!
P862010
P862010 - 8/28/2010, 8:56 AM
80's face you got horrible chocies lol

how would moon director be good for a team movie that has kid friendly tone and dark elements lol
80sFace
80sFace - 8/28/2010, 9:06 AM
@P862010 Moon was a character driven piece, so one character or multiple characters I'm not sure it matters. The director is a good storyteller. And the effects were really unique and arresting. Also, I didn't care for Cloverfield, but I thought the director brought a cool eye to the film.

That said, fair enough, the names I offered are just some OTHER options. My point is that studios recycle the same lame names - because studio heads are all terrified little b*tches so they go with "safe" choices. Marvel seems to be the exception so far.

So, yeah, maybe those guys aren't the best choices, but how about naming directors other than those 3 lame asses? I would say Alfonso Cuaron - who directed the best HP movie - but I'd like to see him do Dr. Strange.
6of13
6of13 - 8/28/2010, 9:13 AM
:) Behold, Galactus of Borg



Pity about the GalactaNimbus bit. Yates looks interesting.

Tea@ That cloud kinda looks a bit like the Stay Puft Marshmellow Man from GhostBusters!
akthunder
akthunder - 8/28/2010, 9:20 AM
Of all the Harry Potter directors Yates has been the worst. I am hoping the Deathly Hallows movies will prove me wrong, but I hated Order of the Phoenix and The Half-blood Prince left out major plot details. I will admit he is good with a dark tone,but that is where my praise for him ends. He lucked out that they split Deathly Hallows into two movies so he can say he directed 4 Potter films. I say go with the A-Team guy. I liked that movie and think he would do a wonderful job.
InTylerWeTrust
InTylerWeTrust - 8/28/2010, 9:28 AM
I saw Smokin' Aces, really didn't dig it except for the actors, haven't seen A-Team.

I've seen Order of the Phoenix and HBP, liked them, so I wouldn't mind Yates. Deathly Hallows looks great too.

And I have never seen a McTeige movie.

So I think I'd have to go with Yates of these 3, simply because I've seen more of his work, and I've liked what I've seen so far.
jazzman
jazzman - 8/28/2010, 9:34 AM
@80sFace

nice choices of directors dont give FOX them ideas give them to Marvel Studio :) lol

@InTylerWeTrust

u have not seen V for Vendetta that was directed by James McTeigue
InTylerWeTrust
InTylerWeTrust - 8/28/2010, 9:38 AM
Nope, never seen VFV.
commanderhulk
commanderhulk - 8/28/2010, 9:43 AM
I think David Yates would be a great choice. What he has done for the Harry Potter series is incredible, he has brought a senes of maturatity and really eleaborated on the story, having the very dark serious elements in their, but also having some comedy in their, which is what Fantastic 4 needs.

I think Yates is the best of the Harry Potter directors because out of all of them, he understood what story elements were essential to the actually story and balanced what was needed from the books to the screen. He would be able to take the best elements from the FF comic books and bring them to the big screen.

Yates's Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince 87% on Rottentomatoes and Order of the Phoenix got 78%. Joe Carnaham's film are really hit and miss. Smokin Aces was just terrible and holds a 28% critic approvement, while I enjoyed A-Team and it has a 48%. McTiege is a very good VISUAL filmmaker and great at action, but his character moments aren't that good. I love V for Vendetta and it holds a 73% while Ninja Assassin is a dumb but enjoyable film but wasn't well recived critically as it has only a 25%. Out of all the directors, Yates is a more experinced filmmaker, has a better track record, and is also the best at character moments. So I think Yates would a great choice.



@80sFace....While I would love to see Duncan Jones direct a superhero movie, I think Yates is a great fit for what the Fantastic 4 needs. Yates is stil a good director having handeled both action and character drama. I would also rather see Duncan Jones direct Green Arrow if he did any superhero.
WakeUp
WakeUp - 8/28/2010, 9:56 AM
I'd go with Yates
DCMarvelFreshman
DCMarvelFreshman - 8/28/2010, 10:01 AM
Yeah these are all great. I think Joe Carnahan would be awesome! But I don't know much about the other two. *I don't watch Harry Potter*
ecksmanfan
ecksmanfan - 8/28/2010, 10:23 AM
@Josh- I'm complete opposite of you friend! LOL...I enjoy Yates' Potter flicks, although the last one was just eh. A-Team was better than I had expected it to be, but still had it's moments of WTF? As for Ninja Assassin, again, better than expected but not up to par with his work on V for Vendetta. To each his own I guess, right??

I'm ok with Yates or McTeigue, but Carnahan...meh.
80sFace
80sFace - 8/28/2010, 10:24 AM
Yates sux.
Upupandaway
Upupandaway - 8/28/2010, 10:29 AM
I'm for Yates. I'd really like an adventure/fantasy angle with the FF instead of trying to make it like any other superhero film. FF are the explorers of the Marvel U.
patriautism
patriautism - 8/28/2010, 11:10 AM
David Yates FTW! Though like all Harry Potter fanboys, I have to say Alfonso Cuarón would be better!
ShadowMan
ShadowMan - 8/28/2010, 11:10 AM
David Yates seems like best candidate.
Bjorn
Bjorn - 8/28/2010, 11:56 AM
James McTeigue !!! That would be cool :)
Phinehas
Phinehas - 8/28/2010, 11:57 AM
Strange how this has been casted already but a director hasn't been selected. Kinda seems that the studio heads are already puting their fingers into the mix more than they should!
AshleyWilliams
AshleyWilliams - 8/28/2010, 12:20 PM
Joe Carnahan please.
Superheromoviefan
Superheromoviefan - 8/28/2010, 12:23 PM
My choice is David Yates
HULK2099
HULK2099 - 8/28/2010, 12:37 PM
don't like em, but if I had to choose it would be the harry potter guy
Bandrews1
Bandrews1 - 8/28/2010, 12:40 PM
I'm gonna go with David Yates.
superbatspiderman
superbatspiderman - 8/28/2010, 12:46 PM
James McTeigue is the perfect choice for Wolverine not FF I don't really care who does this movie as long as he knows wat he is doin.
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