Fantastic Four film series
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The Fantastic Four consists of three superhero films based on the Marvel Comics team Fantastic Four. Following an independent-studio film produced in the early 1990s but unreleased, the series continued with Fantastic Four in 2005, and continued with Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer in 2007.
The films are based around four main characters, known formally as Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm, and how they adapt to the superpowers they attain. Each vary, as Reed feels responsible for their powers, Susan's dislike for the public attention the powers have given, Johnny's acceptance of the powers and the want to exploit this opportunity, and Ben's hatred of what he's become as he's the most visually affected and how has to deal with the changes. In addition to these four, Dr. Victor von Doom, who is also affected, shows the dark route that the misuse of the powers can do, and how he feels more powerful because of these "gifts".
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Development
In 1994, an adaption of the characters, titled The Fantastic Four, was created by then licensed distributor, New Horizons. The film never officially surfaced for release, and it was accused of being an ashcan copy, meaning that by having attempted to make the comic book adaptation New Horizons would have been able to keep the license for longer. It has been reported by Stan Lee and producer Bernard Eichnger that the actors had no idea of the situation, instead believing they were creating a serious release. Marvel paid an undisclosed amount of money in exchange for the entire film negative, so 20th Century Fox could go ahead with the big-budget adaptation.
In 1997, Peter Segal was attached to a script which had been written by Chris Columbus and Michael France. Segal left the project but changed his mind that same year. Phillip Morton (Fire Down Below) worked on the script, and Sam Hamm was rewriting it in 1998. The following year Raja Gosnell signed on as director. "I really wanted to do a big action comedy thrill ride like Men in Black", he said, describing it as more comic than X-Men (2000). Producer Avi Arad called the script "the biggest sitcom of all time," which lead to fears that the film would be developed as a campy action-comedy adventure.
Columbus, who was producing, explained the delays were in getting the budget down. "One estimate was as high as $280 million because every time the four characters walk into a scene, it will cost upwards of $100,000", he said. 20th Century Fox felt that production would depend on whether X-Men would be successful at the box office. X-Men producer Ralph Winter joined the project in April 2000, and the project was announced in August 2000 as being aimed for a July 4, 2001 release date. Gosnell decided to leave the project to film Scooby-Doo. Bring It On director Peyton Reed was announced as his replacement in April 2001. He contemplated making the movie as a period piece set in the early 1960s during the space race when the comic was first published. He sought to cast Renee Zellwegger as Sue Storm and George Clooney as Reed Richards. Although he left the project, he managed to use Zellwegger and the 1960s setting in his film Down With Love.
Film series
The Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four (film) The Fantastic Four is an origin movie, showing Reed Richards, Ben Grimm and Dr. Victor von Doom in college together, with Reed renting a room in Susan Storm's Mom's house. Years later when Susan and her brother Johnny are grown up, they along with Reed and Ben take a rocket flight which results in their getting superpowers. The Four must face the villianry of both Doctor Doom and The Jeweler, who are both trying to obtain a giant diamond which will grant remarkable powers. The film ends with Reed and Sue marrying.
Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four (film) Fantastic Four starts as Reed Richards is forced as a last resort to go to Dr. Victor von Doom in order to get financed for an experiment, involving evolution and cloud storms in outer space. Upon making a deal, Reed and Victor go to Doom's space station, accompanied by Ben Grimm, Susan Storm, and her brother Johnny Storm. When aboard, due to a miscalculation they are unexpectedly hit by the space storm, and eventually learn to be affected in very different ways. The story follows them as they deal with these new 'powers' in their own ways, and how at one point Reed, Ben, Susan and Johnny become heroes by saving many people in a public predicament.
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer introduces the Silver Surfer, whose cosmic energy has been affecting the planet and leaving mysterious craters around the planet. Set against an impending wedding between Reed and Susan, the US Army recruits the Fantastic Four to help stop the Surfer, and separately gain help from Doctor Doom, who returns, to the surprise of the Fantastic Four. Later, Susan learns that the Surfer is in fact the slave of an intergalactic 'world eating' entity known as Galactus, and has no choice but to abide by Galactus' commands. Doom double-crosses the army in an attempt to steal and master the Surfer's powers, only to be defeated by the Fantastic Four, who in turn restore the Surfer in time for him to face down his master and save Earth.
Cast and characters
Reception
Box office performance
| Film | Release date | Box office revenue | Box office ranking | Reference | ||||
| [Worldwide' | United States | United States | Outside U.S. | Worldwide | All time U.S. | All time worldwide | ||
| Fantastic Four | July 8, 2005 | July 8, 2005 | $154,696,080 | $175,424,795 | $330,120,875 | #151 | #147 | |
| Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer* | June 15, 2007 | June 15, 2007 | $131,921,738 | $156,118,175 | $288,039,913 | #211 | #191 | |
| Fantastic Four film series | $286,617,818 | $331,542,970 | $618,160,788 | |||||
Future
The main four cast originally signed three-picture deals, and Julian McMahon has also signed for a third film. Michael Chiklis was told his character's relationship with Alicia Masters would have a greater focus in a third film.Jessica Alba has expressed interest in introducing Franklin Richards, while Beau Garrett has expressed interest in returning as Nova. Tim Story said he would like to direct a third and fourth film. Don Payne stated he has not discussed a sequel with the studio, but "I’ve always loved the Inhumans, the Skrulls, the Puppet Master, and Annihilus and the Negative Zone." As Rise of the Silver Surfer grossed less than the first film, 20th Century Fox is unsure of the series' future, and no script is in development. In March 2008, Chris Evans revealed, "I'm pretty sure we won’t do [another] one. I’m assuming that one is a closed book.
