Fant4stic "Flame On!" The Human Torch Thread

[C. Lee]

For me personally.....In the case of a big budget, franchise creating, major studio producing movie......I don't care if someone is the best most decorated actor in the world...if they don't look the part of a character as drawn for decades...they shouldn't be considered for the role. If you want to do a Broadway play, an independant film, or some kind of comedy...sure, cast it how you want.

 

[Mr. Fixit]

For me personally.....In the case of a big budget, franchise creating, major studio producing movie......I don't care if someone is the best most decorated actor in the world...if they don't look the part of a character as drawn for decades...they shouldn't be considered for the role. If you want to do a Broadway play, an independant film, or some kind of comedy...sure, cast it how you want.

This ^

 

[Mrs. Sawyer]

Let me answer it. What will be lost is the same thing that would be lost if they had them wear bright yellow and green costumes, if Ben was gay, if Sue was fat, if Reed was played by a 5 foot 2 inch tall actor. Does it necessarily change their character? No. But at what point do any of these changes cause this to no longer be the Fantastic Four? Do any one of these changes make it so? To some people, any single one of those changes would.

Bottom line is there are people on here to whom seeing as literal a translation of the FF to the screen as is possible within the context of being sensible (I'm sure we don't literally want Stan's dated dialogue in the movie!) is the most important thing. To others, their own social agenda is more important than the literal translation. It comes down to a personal preference. One is not more right or wrong than another.

Even the answer to the question of 'at what point do these changes cause this to cease being the FF?' is a personal matter. For some, changing the race of any of the characters wouldn't cause it NOT to be the FF but changing their uniforms drastically would. Or making Ben gay would not but having Sue played by an overweight actress would. All of these changes could actually be done and not change the core of who the characters are but as has been pointed out, comics are a visual medium and most on here who have been comic fans for a long enough time probably looked at the pictures before they could even read very well or understand some of the more complex elements going on in the stories they were looking at pictures of. Changing a character from black to white or vice versa is as big a visual change as having Reed be short and fat or having them all wear day-glow orange unis.

The choice is obviously up to the director and the studio. The response will no doubt be viewed as determining if it was the right choice or not. So let the decision be made and let the chips fall where they may.

Not bad reasoning. Not bad at all.

 

[Marx]

For me personally.....In the case of a big budget, franchise creating, major studio producing movie......I don't care if someone is the best most decorated actor in the world...if they don't look the part of a character as drawn for decades...they shouldn't be considered for the role. If you want to do a Broadway play, an independant film, or some kind of comedy...sure, cast it how you want.

I completely agree.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Let me answer it. What will be lost is the same thing that would be lost if they had them wear bright yellow and green costumes, if Ben was gay, if Sue was fat, if Reed was played by a 5 foot 2 inch tall actor. Does it necessarily change their character? No. But at what point do any of these changes cause this to no longer be the Fantastic Four? Do any one of these changes make it so? To some people, any single one of those changes would.

Fat space adventurers? Can happen

 

[Kelly]

For me personally.....In the case of a big budget, franchise creating, major studio producing movie......I don't care if someone is the best most decorated actor in the world...if they don't look the part of a character as drawn for decades...they shouldn't be considered for the role. If you want to do a Broadway play, an independant film, or some kind of comedy...sure, cast it how you want.

Agreed...

I wouldn't boycott the movie because of it....but I would certainly notice, and it would be a very different adventure for me.

 

[Human Torch]

For me personally.....In the case of a big budget, franchise creating, major studio producing movie......I don't care if someone is the best most decorated actor in the world...if they don't look the part of a character as drawn for decades...they shouldn't be considered for the role. If you want to do a Broadway play, an independant film, or some kind of comedy...sure, cast it how you want.

^ Best post in the thread.

 

[cronosred]

Agreed...

I wouldn't boycott the movie because of it....but I would certainly notice, and it would be a very different adventure for me.

Same for me.

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

Who wants to bet we haven't yet heard the name of the actor who will end up playing Johnny?

The good news is, Fox may actually be doing something right. Look at all the buzz they're getting for a movie that's 2 years away without spending a dime.

 

[BoredGuy]

I'd honestly be cooler with them hiring a black actor for Ben than Johnny, at least if Sue is white. The family aspect is inarguably the most important part of FF, and to alter that, even to a step- or adoptive-sibling, would disturb that family balance in an unacceptable way.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

This could be a false info about Storm being portrayed by Michael B. Jordan like some hints involving comics, or a long running rumor like Rocksteady making a Ninja turtles game
I will fully believe the info about Torch when I see the movie, or a trailer showing all four and their powers

 

[mercureyx]

It's true.

 

[Silverado]

I remember when Will Smith rumor was going to be Captain America. Same thing happening with Human Torch now.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

It's true.

Even if they do say it will happen, some of them might like to troll people a little and say it will happen, but then we see it won't

 

[Project862006]

I remember when Will Smith rumor was going to be Captain America. Same thing happening with Human Torch now.

difference is mbj has talked about the possibility of it happening will smith never did

MBJ is obviously on the short list will smith never was

 

[Kelly]

This could be a false info about Storm being portrayed by Michael B. Jordan like some hints involving comics, or a long running rumor like Rocksteady making a Ninja turtles game
I will fully believe the info about Torch when I see the movie, or a trailer showing all four and their powers

We "may", and that is a big "may" have a cast to see by Comic-Con...

 

[Kelly]

It's true.

And you know this how?

 

[bullets]

For me personally.....In the case of a big budget, franchise creating, major studio producing movie......I don't care if someone is the best most decorated actor in the world...if they don't look the part of a character as drawn for decades...they shouldn't be considered for the role. If you want to do a Broadway play, an independant film, or some kind of comedy...sure, cast it how you want.

I strangely feel that way about certain characters , but not all of them. I'm particular about Spider-Man , Superman , and Batman. However since Andrew Garfield looks about as close to Peter as possible I don't care who they cast next ( Although they need to be a similar body type).

Sometimes you just want to see your favorite hero brought to life. Part of that illusion is having them look like they were ripped from the comics. So I can understand why some fans are against the casting . At the same time I think this young actor rumored to play the part would do a great job with it. They could change the entire group and have Will Smith play Mr Fantastic. I would definitely be on board. I've only read a handful on FF comics and some of the crossovers so maybe that's why it's not such a big deal for me.

 

[mercureyx]

And you know this how?

I just do. You don't have to believe me. IF the movie gets made, Michael B. Jordan will be the Human Torch. Period.

You'll see. Eventually...

 

[Bruce Malone]

I just do. You don't have to believe me. IF the movie gets made, Michael B. Jordan will be the Human Torch. Period.

You'll see. Eventually...

Don't be a *****e please. No you do not know. You are not affiliated with the film, the studio, the actor or any any peripheral related thing at all.

You're stating a hunched opinion as a fact to sound like a bad-ass, which is not bad-ass at all.

Just say you've got a strong hunch he will be the actor chosen and save the dramatics.

 

[mkilban2]

I really hope this happens! I'm not a comic reader, but I'm all for change. My view point on this stuff is change things but don't deviate from the source matieral too much, use the stories from the books as a base, but put new twists on them, update them to work better in todays movie going world. But only if they're going to work well in the context of the movie in the general audience eyes, even if it makes the die-hards a bit angry, the movies aren't solely for them they're for the 95% other people out there. See: Iron Man 3, which I'd say 50/50 here enjoyed the change and 95/5 in the general audience liked the way it all worked out in that movie.

From what I know changing this character from white to black or indian or oriental doesn't seem to alter the character at all, him and Sue can still be brother and sister in a few different ways which could be easily explained in a few sentences in the movie ("Oh sorry, that's my brother Johnny giving you a hard time. *odd look from who's being talked to*, yeah he was adopted when we were just kids, but we're just as close as any blood siblings.") And if this actor they want, brings to life all the personal characteristics of Johnny Storm then go for it. General Audience won't care for the change, these comics characters are just movie characters to them, they aren't familiar with the history and probably don't care to look it up.. they just want to see a good movie, and if the person portraying that role does an outstanding job then they should have the role.

I think the whole "he's been white for 50 years and that shouldn't be changed" thing is a bit selfish. Things from the comics are bound to change when adapted to film, and I think it's usually for the better.

 

[Zarex]

I really hope this happens! I'm not a comic reader, but I'm all for change. My view point on this stuff is change things but don't deviate from the source matieral too much, use the stories from the books as a base, but put new twists on them, update them to work better in todays movie going world. But only if they're going to work well in the context of the movie in the general audience eyes, even if it makes the die-hards a bit angry, the movies aren't solely for them they're for the 95% other people out there. See: Iron Man 3, which I'd say 50/50 here enjoyed the change and 95/5 in the general audience liked the way it all worked out in that movie.

From what I know changing this character from white to black or indian or oriental doesn't seem to alter the character at all, him and Sue can still be brother and sister in a few different ways which could be easily explained in a few sentences in the movie ("Oh sorry, that's my brother Johnny giving you a hard time. *odd look from who's being talked to*, yeah he was adopted when we were just kids, but we're just as close as any blood siblings.") And if this actor they want, brings to life all the personal characteristics of Johnny Storm then go for it. General Audience won't care for the change, these comics characters are just movie characters to them, they aren't familiar with the history and probably don't care to look it up.. they just want to see a good movie, and if the person portraying that role does an outstanding job then they should have the role.

I think the whole "he's been white for 50 years and that shouldn't be changed" thing is a bit selfish. Things from the comics are bound to change when adapted to film, and I think it's usually for the better.

It's fine that you have limited familiarity with the source material, but please don't call those of us who grew up reading the World's Greatest Comic Magazine "selfish" for being concerned about a casting change that would change the look of the squad. But at least you didn't call us racist.

And as to film adaptations that are "usually for the better" - which of the changes in the first two films put out by FOX do you consider an improvement over the source material? Lightning Doom? Cloud Galactus? The Victor/Reed/Sue love triangle? Board-Dependent Surfer? I hated them all, but I'm just a selfish die-hard.

 

[Spider - Man]

I really hope this happens! I'm not a comic reader, but I'm all for change. My view point on this stuff is change things but don't deviate from the source matieral too much, use the stories from the books as a base, but put new twists on them, update them to work better in todays movie going world. But only if they're going to work well in the context of the movie in the general audience eyes, even if it makes the die-hards a bit angry, the movies aren't solely for them they're for the 95% other people out there. See: Iron Man 3, which I'd say 50/50 here enjoyed the change and 95/5 in the general audience liked the way it all worked out in that movie.

From what I know changing this character from white to black or indian or oriental doesn't seem to alter the character at all, him and Sue can still be brother and sister in a few different ways which could be easily explained in a few sentences in the movie ("Oh sorry, that's my brother Johnny giving you a hard time. *odd look from who's being talked to*, yeah he was adopted when we were just kids, but we're just as close as any blood siblings.") And if this actor they want, brings to life all the personal characteristics of Johnny Storm then go for it. General Audience won't care for the change, these comics characters are just movie characters to them, they aren't familiar with the history and probably don't care to look it up.. they just want to see a good movie, and if the person portraying that role does an outstanding job then they should have the role.

I think the whole "he's been white for 50 years and that shouldn't be changed" thing is a bit selfish. Things from the comics are bound to change when adapted to film, and I think it's usually for the better.

Do you think it's selfish that they've remade Dracula eleventy-seven times but haven't cast a black man in the lead?

How about James Bond?

Sherlock Holmes?

Tarzan?

Frankenstein?

Norman Bates?

Annie?

Inspector Clouseau?

Kirk and Spock?

Luke Skywalker? Han Solo?

Just curious.

 

[GoblinScrier]

Do you think it's selfish that they've remade Dracula eleventy-seven times but haven't cast a black man in the lead?

How about James Bond?

Sherlock Holmes?

Tarzan?

Frankenstein?

Norman Bates?

Annie?

Inspector Clouseau?

Kirk and Spock?

Luke Skywalker? Han Solo?

Just curious.

Does Blacula count???

 

[GoblinScrier]

But seriously, I'm all for what I grew up on and what I know now so Fox needs to make the characters, comic book accurate...and that includes looks and all...and frankly, I'm surprised at how many racist comments get thrown at people on here just because we want somebody to look a certain way for a character we've loved for years...