Chronicle and Parenthood's Michael B. Jordan is reportedly the frontrunner for the part of Johnny Storm, aka The Human Torch, in Josh Trank's Fantastic Four reboot. Because it is not the 1950s, no one is going to embarrassingly flip out about this, alright?
With Fox in desperate need to start production on their Fantastic Four reboot before the rights revert to Marvel, the studio has turned to an expert in throwing shit together to help them out in their task.
With the deadline looming on when they must start production on a Daredevil movie, lest the superhero's rights revert back to Marvel, Fox is closing in on a director for their reboot. Unfortunately for them, they've now waited so long that they may be forced to decide between giving up the rights to either Daredevil or the Fantastic Four universe. This is our nerdiest Sophie's Choice.
Fox's superhero movie progress for today remains at a cumulative standstill. Well done, everyone.
With a deal that clearly and sassily spells out a "use it or lose it, girl" clause on the rights to several Marvel properties, 20th Century Fox must continue the Sisyphean task of perpetually making X-Men, Daredevil, Silver Surfer, and Fantastic Four movies forever, lest the rights revert back to Marvel, who would just love that. So, with the X-Men franchise already forward with a new, young cast that's helped everyone forget about X-Men 3, Fox is now turning its attention towards restarting Fantastic Four with a new, young cast that will help everyone forget about Fantastic Four 2.
Last we heard, the studio had hired Akiva Goldsman to produce the relaunch--presumably to lend the production the same credibility and pronounced areolas he gave Batman Forever and Batman & Robin--but now Fox is reportedly moving in a different direction. Goldsmith is off the production, and it seems Josh Trank is in line to get the director's job pending the presumed success of his upcoming low budget, found footage-style superhero movie, Chronicle. So assuming everyone still likes cheap-looking handheld stuff as much as they did a couple weekends ago, when The Devil Inside made a few easy bucks with a camcorder and a contortionist, expect an official offer to go out to Trank in the coming weeks. In the meantime, here's the trailer for Trank's superhero-themed Paranormal Activity (aka Chronicle), so you can begin pondering what this guy would do with a budget big enough to fashion an orange, prosthetic rock costume.
According to AICN, the next sequel and the reboot, respectively, will be called Die Hard 24/7 (reflecting John McClane's 7/11 store policy on dying hard) and Fantastic Four Reborn (presumably referencing those creepy-as-shit "reborn" baby dolls people make). Look for them written on heavily-airbrushed posters sometime next year.
Hot on he heels of Disney's purchase of Marvel Entertainment, 20th Century Fox has decided to show off that they're still in charge of ruining some franchises. The studio has announced they're relaunching the Fantastic Four series. As an indication of what direction they'd like to take the franchise, they've put the writer of Batman Forever and Batman & Robin in charge of it:
20th Century Fox is the latest studio to start the process of overhauling one of its big Marvel Entertainment franchises, “Fantastic Four,” which has already hatched two films. The studio has hired Akiva Goldsman to oversee the re-boot as producer.New script will be written by Michael Green, the “Heroes” co-executive producer who co-wrote Green Lantern.
We can only pray this reboot will include re-doing that arbitrary snowboarding scene from the first film. God, snowboarding is so sweet.
I'm going to have to buy another full set of Fantastic Four: The Movie collectible trading cards? That's what IESB is telling me (thanks, Andrew):
IESB's has heard word around town is Fantastic Four over at 20th Century Fox is gearing up for a reboot.The two films previously released never really caught on with the fans and the studio is reportedly looking to completely retool, recast and recrew the franchise. This means no Tim Story, no Iaon, no Julian (thank the maker, he never sat well with me as Dr. Doom), no Chris, no Chiklis and no Jessica.
The franchise is looking to be "less bubble gum" this time round following the Iron Man template, which was a complete success in reviews and box office take but a bit darker when it came to its superhero. Iron Man was in no way as dark as The Dark Knight but was funny, action-y as well as a bit on the serious side.
Less bubble gum? Does that mean not made by Roger Corman nor the director of the Queen Latifa comedy sensation Taxi? That Mr. Fantastic won't be using his powers of extension to reach for toilet paper this time round? Alright, Marvel, you can give it a shot, but I don't see how you're going to reasonably sell an X-treme Snowboarding Johnny Storm action figure without including a completely extraneous Johnny Storm snowboarding scene.
Douchebag apotheosis Chris Evans recently spoke about the future of the Fantastic Four film franchise with his most trusted news source, MTV News. Things don't look so good for Marvel's first family of film. Apparently harsh criticism of the first two entries has sufficiently discouraged the studio and Evans:
“I’m pretty sure we won’t do [another] one,” insisted “Fantastic Four” star Chris Evans, who excelled in two films as the Human Torch. “I’m assuming that one is a closed book.”
Shame. You mean to tell me there wasn't anything but universal praise for the inspired choices made in Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer? Mr. Fantastic using his malleable form to reach toilet paper and dance in a nightclub were pretty great scenes. As was every opportunity found to get Jessica Alba in her underwear. And Johnny Storm extreme snowboarding was so awesome! I know I for one really appreciated Galactus being apapted from his normal comic book form into the less dynamic and more palatable form of a goddamn cloud.
Rest in peace, Fantastic Four film franchise. You will be missed.
‘Fantastic Four 3’ Probably Not Happening, Reveals Chris Evans [MTV Movies Blog]
This raised eyebrow is as far as it's gonna go before marriage, honey.
Holy fudge! Fantastic Four 2 has gotten a PG rating! Well yippie kai-yay Mr. Falcon! Let's go celebrate by doing something non sexually suggestive (that will come off as unintentionally homoerotic!)!
Actually, I don't really care. I wasn't going to see it anyway. If you make a crappy movie, I'm not going to give you my money when you make a sequel. As George Dub says, "Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice....Well, I won't get fooled again."
Judging from the latest trailer for Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, most of the movie is centered around the quartet trading around superpowers like a high school clique swaps STDs. It seems kind of gimmicky, but my expectations are so low from the first film that I'll let them take a stab at whatever they want at this point. Want to give Thing laser eyes? Sure, why not? Couldn't hurt after that shit sandwich you made me eat a few summers back.
And the "rise" of the Silver Surfer is looking more and more like just flying around, showing off how you can pass through matter. Believe me, Surfer, I've seen better rises.
This new spot for Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is slightly relevant because it shows the galactic herald speaking as voiced by Laurence Fishburne, finally connecting the voice and figure. If only phone sex lines would be so gracious.
The whole voice and delivery seem a bit over-the-top and melodramatic to me. What isn't over-the-top is that a silver man is flying on a surfboard.
Equivalent historical figures.
As a new publicity stunt for Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Fox has teamed up with the foremost maker of collectible crap, the Franklin Mint, to issue 40,000 specially designed Silver Surfer coins across America. And if you're lucky enough to receive one of the cheap-looking things, you can redeem it for a variety of fantastic prizes, such as Burger King Crown Cards!
The site seems to imply the quarters will actually be in circulation, which I had assumed must be illegal after they're defaced with corporate sponsorship, but it turns out just hadn't been thought of yet. Even if Fox did somehow get these legalized for spending, I can't imagine anyone anyone accepting them without knowing about the campaign. In my mind, a superhero printed on one side of a coin would be one of the top warning signs of a fake coin.
Silver like your grandmama's bush.
Apple's got the new full-length Fantastic Four trailer. Finally, someone made a comic book movie. I don't know what Hollywood has against comic books, I really don't.
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The movie was directed by Tim Story, who directed the first one as well as Taxi, so I'm sure this will be, like, really good and stuff.
[/sarcasm]
If one from a series of leaked production shots is any indication, the Fantastic Four's newest foe may come in the form of a large bear. Despite the supergroup's awesome abilities, which in this latest chapter pit them against a massive, omnipotent devourer of worlds and his intergalactic metallic herald, viewers may finally get the chance to see how The Thing's incredible strength and rock-hard body will pulverize one of nature's most dangerous creatures, really putting the species back in its place.
Other leaked shots include Dr. Doom's updated look and many of the team in action and casual situations. But seriously, think about him tearing up that f***ing bear.
UPDATE: Apparently not leaked, just released. The excitement has left the relationship.
Marvel has chosen a daring new campaign direction with their international Fantastic Four 2 posters by showing awkward portraits of the characters. My main concern with these is that it might urge some people to think, "Hey, weren't these the same guys in that really awful Fantastic Four movie a few years ago?" To which someone will surely reply, "Yes! They were!"
And it's not helping that they've airbrushed Jessica Alba into a mutant/wide-eyed Claire Forlani.
Nine (9!) more at Marvel's site.
Laurence Fishburne, first rumored to be voicing the giant cloud of Galactus in Fantastic Four 2, will reportedly instead be providing the voice to the Silver Surfer. The actor beat out James Earl Jones, Sisko from Deep Space Nine, and Worf, Fishburne's biggest rivals in the black guy with cool deep voice category.
The role as the Surfer will compete directly against Pill-Choice-Guy in The Matrix for the honor of what Fishburne will be sitting at a comic convention autographing pictures of in ten years.
"A million and more alien eyes look upon him who is Galactus, and for each race the vision differs." For moviegoers, it's going to be a f***ing cloud. According to AICN, Galactus, the devourer of worlds, seen most-commonly as a giant white guy in goofy pink armor, will be portrayed in the new Fantastic Four as a large storm cloud.
I, for one, won't notice the difference, because I'm one of a small group of citizens afflicted with synaesthesia, coupling many of my senses. When I look at the number 5, I see the color red. 20 is a a bowl of steaming porridge, and Galactus has always been a large storm cloud. And when I look at you? I see an asshole, just like everyone else does.
A large headpiece is frequently compensation for other inadequacies.
There has been a lot of Internet rumor and speculation about whether Galactus, devourer of worlds and the occasional Cheesy Gordita Crunch (when available), will appear in The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Director Tim Story has confirmed on his MySpace that he indeed will.
There continues to be much speculation about Galactus. Major speculation. We haven't finished the design of him/it so be careful about what you read and believe. Trust me...no one knows. One things for sure, you can expect to see him/it. It will be pretty powerful. I'm having a lot of fun with the concept and believe me - MOST will be satisfied.
Plan your day accordingly.
If seeing Oscar Sunday night left you hungry for more shiny, muscular, nearly naked men, just watch this new spot for Fantastic Four 2: Rise of the Silver Surfer, starring just such a specimen, then have yourself a long, cool shower and get back to bed with your wife, never speaking of these events again.
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I Watch Stuff is a movie and video blog dedicated to bringing you the best and worst that Hollywood and the Internet have to offer and then, more often than not, making fun of it because it sucks.
