Doctor Oak
Can't Touch Dis.
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While Disney lays down a $4 billion bet on the future of Marvel's superheroes, 20th Century Fox has already begun overhauling one of its big Marvel franchises, "Fantastic Four," to take the property beyond the two films already made.
Akiva Goldsman has been hired to oversee the reboot as producer. Michael Green, the co-exec producer of TV's "Heroes" who co-wrote "Green Lantern," will write the script for the new "Fantastic Four."
Fox wouldn't comment on its plans, but the moves are evidence that Marvel franchises do have enduring lifespans.
As "Spider-Man 4" moves toward an early 2010 production start, Columbia Pictures recently hired James Vanderbilt to write a fifth and sixth installment with the understanding that one or both of those films would give the franchise a makeover with a new director and cast (Daily Variety, Aug. 16).
More than one option
* (Co) Daily Variety
Filmography, Year, Role
* (Co) Daily Variety
The 2005 "Fantastic Four" and 2007 sequel "Rise of the Silver Surfer" were directed by Tim Story and starred Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis. Since the deals for the reboot are just getting made, it is unclear if any of them will return.
Though Marvel Entertainment owns and finances properties like "Iron Man" and "Thor," Fox controls "Fantastic Four" in perpetuity -- as long as it continues making the films. Fox has the same arrangement on Marvel Comics properties "X-Men," "Daredevil" and "Silver Surfer." Marvel is a producer and financial participant through a licensing agreement.
Though the related Silver Surfer character soared in the "Fantastic Four" sequel, that iconic personality has remained a priority project for his own film at the studio.
Fox has so far done one "X-Men" spinoff in "Wolverine." The studio is working on a sequel to that film and has scripts for "X-Men Origins: First Class," and "X-Men Origins: Magneto." Potential spinoffs for the Gambit and Deadpool characters have also been discussed.
As producer, Goldsman is involved with several DC Comics transfers, including "Jonah Hex," "The Losers" and "Teen Titans." He was also producer of the Will Smith-Charlize Theron superhero film "Hancock," for which a sequel is being developed.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118007959.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2563
Not surprising, really - considering neither of the previous movies were critical or financial successes, relatively speaking. I guess they have two main paths here - either make an Ultimate Fantastic Four movie or go all Batman Begins on their ass.
Frankly, I can't see the latter working on the Fantastic Four - considering the entire franchise, right down to the comics, is a colossal adventure in twee family-friendliness - however high Reed's dickery levels get. At the core of it, the previous Fantastic Four movie captured the style of the comics pretty accurately - and it was only a fairly lazy plotline that was clearly written as little more than a platform for the more popular Silver Surfer character that really let the movie down.
But, don't be expecting this for years yet, so there's plenty of time for them to work out where to go with it.