While channel surfing one time, I remember running across 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, I watched it for a few minutes and I could feel the vomit coming up my mouth. It was just so bad. Despite being box office hits, the 2005 Fantastic Four and it's successor were met with mixed to negative reviews from fans and critics.
Jessica Alba who played Sue Storm / Invisible Woman was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Actresses for both movies, Alba along with co-star Ioan Grufford (Reed Richards/ Mr. Fantastic) were also nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst On-Screen Partner for Rise Of The Silver Surfer, the only saving grace? They didn't win. So despite having only a few years in between the films, it seems that a re-boot of a Fantastic Four movie is a must, if not as a redemption then as a way for possible future movie crossovers.
Director Bryan Singer (X-Men: Days Of Future Past) teased on a possible X-Men/Fantastic Four crossover, according to the director this would depend on the success of the upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse and Fantastic Four reboot. Singer said: "You have to see how the films evolve before you make the decision to commit to that."
So what can we expect from the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot?
Here is what we know so far:
Miles Teller who is 28 will be bringing a younger vibe to Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic which probably means we won't be seeing his distinct white hair. Teller has received numerous nominations for his work on
Whiplash and
The Spectacular Now, winning the Sundance Film Festival Award for Special Jury Prize for Dramatic Acting for the latter.
In what could be considered as a controversial casting choice, Michael B. Jordan will be playing Johnny Storm / The Human Torch, who has always been drawn as Caucasian in the comics. Captain America (Chris Evans) played the role in the 2005 and 2007 Fantastic Four movies. While fans have no doubt on Jordan's acting prowess (he is an award winning actor and has even been dubbed as a 'young Denzel Washington' ) the only issue they have is Why cast a Black Human Torch?
In an article I read, the writer explores why casting a black Human Torch can make the movie a better one. The Fantastic Four has always been seen as a family unit and in the 1960s, the 'traditional' family was always seen as white.
Times have changed and it's been 50 years since the Fantastic Four have been created, modern families consist of a mixed unit now. We have interracial marriages, families of mixed ethnicities as well as interracial adoptions and speculation is that this is the direction to which the movie will take, since Sue Storm / Invisible Girl who is Johhny's sister will be played by Caucasian actress, Kate Mara.
With this change to the modern American family why not change Marvel's first family? In this way it makes them more relatable and relevant to contemporary audiences.
Jordan's casting also means completely severing Chris Evans (a Caucasian actor) to the role and allowing Jordan to make the role completely his. Plus, in my opinion, it would be nice to see more heroes of different ethnicities.
The new Human Torch talks about the backlash on his casting:
"I know I can't ask the audience to forget 50 years of comic books Jordan says in an interview. But the world is a little diverse in 2015 than when the Fantastic Four comic first came out in 1961".
"This is a family movie about four friends - two of which are myself and Kate Mara as my adopted sister - who are brought together by a series of unfortunate events to create unity and a team. That's the message of the movie,if people can just allow themselves to see it."
Fun fact. Miles Teller and. Michael B. Jordan co-starred together in the romantic comedy That Awkward Moment, along with Zac Efron.
Kate Mara plays Sue Storm / The Invisble Girl. Jamie Bell plays Ben Grimm / The Thing to complete a younger and edgier Fantastic Four.
Probably considered as the most controversial super hero reboot yet, Fantastic Four has a lot working against it but sometimes it is these movies that pass through trial by fire (pun intended) which come out as successful and memorable.
The new Fantastic Four opens on August 5 nationwide, from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.
