How to reboot the Fantastic Four's ORIGIN...

[Patron12]

Adding in Dr. Storm would definitely be different, and bring in a whole other layer to the Johnny & Sue.

I don't know much about 616 Dr. Storm, but I would show that Reed is basically a lot like Papa Storm (so Sue fell for a guy like her Dad) while Johnny rebelled and became the complete opposite of his Dad.

yea thats exactly wat i was going for t: and it would a nice way to connect mole man to them as well

 

[storyteller]

Never skip the origin when making or rebooting a superhero franchise. That's the mistake Superman Returns made. It overestimated the character's fame, leaving kids and new viewers in the dark. A proper origin welcomes everyone onboard for the ride. People get to connect better to the characters, because they get to see what makes them tick. Why they're even heroes.

.

Returns didn't fail due to a lack of origin story. People werent confused that they didn't know what planet superman came from. I can concur that someone like green lantern would need an origin, but Superman had cartoons and tv shows that played within the last 5 years of release. Returns issue was that the big plan was creating a kryptonite island and Superman acted like a stalker. Lois lane and the kid were very unfavorable. After movies like Spiderman 1 and 2. People expected more then just a few rescues.

An origin story isn't needed but most screen writers like to establish the origin to establish the status quo. Now iwhen they reboot fantastic four, I think they should redo the origin due to how much more information they could add. But only if its relevent to the rest of the story and isnt simply origin and a bad guy rise to power somewhere else and pits the two at the end. Otherwise do a TIH and build the story from a later point in the teams history.

 

[Hellrider]

Screw the fantastic four...I wanna see a silver surfer film...Is anyone else with me?

Surfer+thanos+glactus+infinity gauntlet = MASSIVE EPICNESS

 

[Patron12]

Screw the fantastic four...I wanna see a silver surfer film...Is anyone else with me?

Surfer+thanos+glactus+infinity gauntlet = MASSIVE EPICNESS

yea that would be great too but the fantastic four can do good too!

 

[TheVileOne]

Fantastic Four is in a really tough spot now. But at this point, I don't think we will see a new movie for many years.

 

[DawnWarrior]

Fantastic Four is in a really tough spot now. But at this point, I don't think we will see a new movie for many years.

That's probably right. Thanks a lot, FOX.

 

[protocida]

I liked the initial movie version:

Reed, Sue, Johnny, Ben and Victor go to space. Victor detects a Cosmic storm approaching and leaves with the only emergency pod in the space shuttle. The upcoming Fantastic Four gets blasted with Gamma rays while Victor's face is destroyed in the reentrance on Earth. He goes crazy, thinks Reed set everything to become a god while he's reduced to a deformed human, and becomes Dr. Doom to achieve revenge.

 

[Hooded Justice]

Never skip the origin when making or rebooting a superhero franchise. That's the mistake Superman Returns made. It overestimated the character's fame, leaving kids and new viewers in the dark. A proper origin welcomes everyone onboard for the ride. People get to connect better to the characters, because they get to see what makes them tick. Why they're even heroes.

I would not put Doctor Doom off for another movie. The archenemy should be used in the first film, because there's no guarantee of a sequel. Batman Begins was an exception because it was made so damn well, and Batman is much more of a sure thing than the Fantastic Four. The public has already been soured to the FF and Dr. Doom because of the recent movies. The next movie needs to hit a home run both commercially and artistically in order to revive the franchise.

The FF's origin doesn't need to be changed or even take up that much time. They basically flew into space and got hit by cosmic rays. It's like worrying whether Peter Parker got bitten by a radioactive or genetically engineered spider; in the end it's insignificant and doesn't need changing. Any other pseudo-science explanation you can come up with is still pseudo-science.

What a FF reboot really needs is a good tone and direction. A sense of gravity and an actual VISION from the director. Tim Story was just absolutely horrible. His FF movie wasn't a superhero adventure, it was a sitcom with super-powered people sitting around and goofing off. The FF weren't very heroic; they made ONE rescue before the movie's ONE fight scene. Doom threatened no one. He didn't even have an actual evil plot beyond petty personal revenge against the FF. ROTSS had a bigger threat and more actual heroics; but it was still no gem and by then people had already wised up to the fact that the FF movie franchise was subpar.

A reboot should emphasize the FF as scientific adventurers, exploring the very limits of cutting edge science and dealing with the threats that spring from it. They should be world-class heroes and regarded as such, because in the actual comcs that's what they are (along with the Avengers). Doom shouldn't be watered-down into a dull, petty, pretty-boy businessman who spends most of his time in regular clothes. He should be a villain on par with Darth Vader (often compared to, and rumored to be based on him), majestic and terrifying. He should be the ruler of Latveria and portrayed as such, instead of some lame brief mention of the country that we got in the Tim Story movies, an insulting bone thrown to "placate" us fans. Play Latveria up as a rogue nation that defies the US and the UN. Make Doom threaten the entire world, and have the FF stop him. This isn't a complicated formula, but apparently it was beyond the reach of Tim "Sitcom" Story.

The thing about Superman Returns though was that it wasn't supposed to be a reboot. It was supposed to be a sequel, to which of the first two movies exactly I'll never know, but it was definitely supposed to be a sequel.

Rebooting Fantastic four or any marvel movie is a terrible idea. Yes the movies havent been good, but just get a different director (and cast if necessary) and MOVE ON. Nobody rebooted the fantastic four in the comic books because there was one bad story arc, they would just take it in a different direction with a new writer and artist.

Hulk did this perfectly. The Incredible Hulk took the franchise in a different and great direction but still acknowledged the the 2003 one. Starting from the very begining is just a waste of time. If comic books constantly got 'rebooted' every time a new team took over, it'd get very lame, so same should good go with the movies.

Each crew should give their own spin, but still respect what has gone on previously.

Get a new Fantastic Four crew and continue from the second.

All im trying to say is that I'd rather them not waste time by making another origin.

And I'm sorry for getting on the whole Hulk argument, but listening to the director at the NY comic con, he pretty much basically said that it's not 'necessarily a reboot'. This isnt really a 'im right you're wrong type of arguement'. Just relax and take it as a matter of interpretation

The Incredible Hulk is very definitely a reboot. If it had been a sequel, then the origin wouldn't have been completely different.

 

[Patron12]

I liked the initial movie version:

Reed, Sue, Johnny, Ben and Victor go to space. Victor detects a Cosmic storm approaching and leaves with the only emergency pod in the space shuttle. The upcoming Fantastic Four gets blasted with Gamma rays while Victor's face is destroyed in the reentrance on Earth. He goes crazy, thinks Reed set everything to become a god while he's reduced to a deformed human, and becomes Dr. Doom to achieve revenge.

i likethis
i initially kinda thought of this but i got caught up with other stuff
whod be ur fantastic four cast?

 

[Panthro]

The Fantastic Four needed Jon Favreau. His approach to Iron Man is the approach that should have been used for the FF. Too bad Marvel didn't give the FF to Paramount.

 

[DawnWarrior]

The thing about Superman Returns though was that it wasn't supposed to be a reboot. It was supposed to be a sequel, to which of the first two movies exactly I'll never know, but it was definitely supposed to be a sequel.
The Incredible Hulk is very definitely a reboot. If it had been a sequel, then the origin wouldn't have been completely different.

A sequel and a reboot are not necessarily seperate. Superman Returns was meant as a reboot in the sense that it was supposed to revive the film franchise after 20 years or so of inactivity. Each time James Bond was recast was essentially a reboot. But yes, the storyline was meant as a continuation from the first two movies, unlike TIH which had a story all its own.

 

[Rich Santoro]

Hoping that others come on over from the Avengers: Speculation thread that was hijacked by the FF discussion: http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=282612&page=61

... If Marvel gets FF back and wants to do more with them, that would be a different. I say move to the next "episode" but definitely rework some of the past events... namely DOOM's entire persona. Leave him out of a movie or two, but then reintroduce him with dialogue where Reed gets wind that DOOM acquired a small citi-state in Eastern Europe by making a deal with several countries that granted him some borderlands in return for technology... this kind of thing concerns him, because DOOM is very dangerous, and the idea of him ruling an entire region is of great concern. This does not contradict what has come before, and allows us to move forward in a new direction with the character. He will keep the mask on, have the proper attire, voice and persona... use powerful technology and mystical energies (with some explanation that he studied mysteries that are even beyond Reed's understanding). We can ignore the original DOOM completely and get the character that we are supposed to have.

So we essentially re-invent the franchise without tripping over past events. Details that worked can be honored with dialogue and/or flashbacks where appropriate and necessary... and the rest can be forgotten. So I say re-invent FF ala TIH... (I don't even know what reboot means anymore, it gets used so much... redo like BB, re-invent like TIH, rehash like P:WZ, re-vitalize after hiatus like SR).

 

[Raiden]

Fantastic Four is in a really tough spot now. But at this point, I don't think we will see a new movie for many years.

I agree. But the good thing is that when FF is rebooted, it will be with Marvel Studio and not Fox, and since they made two mediocre movies (not to mention screwed up Doom big time), we have alot to look forward to when/if they ever get rebooted.

 

[Spider-Fan]

I'd start the first part of the film with Doom and Reed in college at MIT or something. Dr. Storm would be their professor, and I'd establish their friendship/rivalry, and end this part of the film with Doom's accident. Then, I can do one of two things. Either, Reed goes on the mission to space, or I start with the FF already being an established team. Either of the two I feel would work. Then I bring Doom back into the story, and it is glorious.

 

[bubbadoom]

Fox still has the FF till 2012, so I would not count a third one out [from Fox] just yet.

But I am ALL for it going back to Marvel and being given the proper treatment the world's greatest comic mag deserves!

 

[TheVileOne]

I don't think any of us truly know the conditions of Fox's deal with Fantastic Four.

I also honestly believe that Fox would try to hold claim over a property just so it wouldn't go elsewhere, where another group of people could do it better because of . . .

*ahem*

I think you guys know what I am talking about.

 

[redlion2]

I agree. But the good thing is that when FF is rebooted, it will be with Marvel Studio and not Fox, and since they made two mediocre movies (not to mention screwed up Doom big time), we have alot to look forward to when/if they ever get rebooted.

This is basically the same thing I was saying in the Avengers thread and I hope this does happen.

 

[redlion2]

I don't think any of us truly know the conditions of Fox's deal with Fantastic Four.

I also honestly believe that Fox would try to hold claim over a property just so it wouldn't go elsewhere, where another group of people could do it better because of . . .

*ahem*

I think you guys know what I am talking about.

I'm sure Marvel will read the fineprint and make a deal so that FOX gets a cut so that they won't have to go through all the legal hassle. Perhaps a distribution deal.

 

[Patron12]

well if fox wanted another ff theyd have made already seeing as they dont waste a chance... i mean yeah ff2 probably didnt meet their expectations but theyim sure theyd want to use the rights they have to the ff up

 

[GL1]

Do the whole precredits with Victor and Reed and Dr. Storm. Show the tragedy, cut to current. Meet Reed again, about to go on his expedition. Obviously, Dr. Storm's chief medic is his daughter and Reed's childhood friend is an ex-military NASA pilot. There are others on the crew of this experimental shuttle to see this phenomenon and teenaged Johnny is along somewhere between money and nepotism. There are only four survivors. And they return to earth different.

Here you intro Molekevic and his longtime psuedopreaching thing. He shows that he has the ability to "program" clay, but there's not much application apparently. Meanwhile, the Four adjust to fame (real paparazzi-level stuff, not just stunt biking for a crowd), infighting (a real knock-down drag-out nearly-fatal fight between Thing and Johnny, not playful pranking) and their powers (pretty cool, and surprisingly practical). This is until we find that he's been hollowing out and having his run of the undercity for years and when his monsters threaten everything, well... they go down into the Abyss to put a stop to this guy. Dr. Storm gets killed in this, and it turns out that Sue is the benefactor and new president of the Baxter Building corporation...

And it also turns out that old friend Victor Von Doom has been observing them, if not outright collecting data on their mission in order to give himself reality-warping abilities (read: magic) in addition to the robust technology he has. I guess that'd be post credits.

 

[Hmarrs]

Get John Byrne to write it.He has by far written the best FF stories known.
With the exception of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
Just like Frank Miller needs to write a new Daredevil movie.

I know it may soung Dumb but they should let some comic book writers write the screenplays.They know the character.
Too many times I look at a comic and go "Darn that was better than the movie!"

 

[Patron12]

Do the whole precredits with Victor and Reed and Dr. Storm. Show the tragedy, cut to current. Meet Reed again, about to go on his expedition. Obviously, Dr. Storm's chief medic is his daughter and Reed's childhood friend is an ex-military NASA pilot. There are others on the crew of this experimental shuttle to see this phenomenon and teenaged Johnny is along somewhere between money and nepotism. There are only four survivors. And they return to earth different.

Here you intro Molekevic and his longtime psuedopreaching thing. He shows that he has the ability to "program" clay, but there's not much application apparently. Meanwhile, the Four adjust to fame (real paparazzi-level stuff, not just stunt biking for a crowd), infighting (a real knock-down drag-out nearly-fatal fight between Thing and Johnny, not playful pranking) and their powers (pretty cool, and surprisingly practical). This is until we find that he's been hollowing out and having his run of the undercity for years and when his monsters threaten everything, well... they go down into the Abyss to put a stop to this guy. Dr. Storm gets killed in this, and it turns out that Sue is the benefactor and new president of the Baxter Building corporation...

And it also turns out that old friend Victor Von Doom has been observing them, if not outright collecting data on their mission in order to give himself reality-warping abilities (read: magic) in addition to the robust technology he has. I guess that'd be post credits.

i like this

 

[Artistsean]

Here are just a few random ideas,

It should start like the (Norton's) Hulk started, with the FF already a super team. This would not only present it as a semi sequel to the other films but also start the movie out the way the first FF comic started.
We would then see a flash back of their origin, but not the origin from the Alba film, or the 90s film.
This origin would be more like the comic, only instead of trying to reach space first.
Reed Richards is trying to reach MARS first.
(In the comic Ben mentions the dangers of Cosmic Rays because no one had been into space yet.)
In this film the Dangers of Cosmic Rays are a threat because no one has been to Mars yet and no one knows what dangers await.

Not sure on who the villain would be, since Doom was never done right in the movies but would now be over kill and hogging to spot from another FF villain. But Doom needs to be done right eventually. (Rebooting Doom is a Post all itself.) Maybe have the FF face off against the Mole Man and a giant monster. Start them off with something a little fun maybe.
Also, in one of this film's sequels perhaps, introduce the Negative Zone.
Oh, I know. Perhaps have the enemy in the first Reboot film be the Skrulls from Outer Space. Maybe even use the comic's idea of having the Skrulls try to discredit the already famous super team by masquerading as them. (Again, sort of alluding to the idea that there were other films setting up that they are famous, but also not being a sequel.)

I am also not sure about their costumes, don't want the spandex from the original movie or the last two. Maybe start out using the originals as a jumping off point. Make them not so skin tight, and make the 4 symbol larger. Maybe make the blue a little brighter, not bright blue like the original 90s film had it, just not a real dark and muted blue like the last two had it.
(Also I would have maybe half of the movie, OK maybe just half of the first half of the movie, showing them fighting without costumes. They didn't get costumes until issue three. But this idea I can take or leave. The movie could start out with them already having costumes, and already having a base and being famous. Plus the Skrulls introduce the idea that anything can happen in the FF films.)

Also, in the original comics Thing didn't have a distinctive look at first, and Doom's costume wasn't like it is now. They both looked different initially. So it might be reasonable to use that when altering their looks. Maybe Ben's body changed over time from a rocky mud ball looking monster to a solid rocky monster.
And Doom's armor could become more regal when he takes over Latvaria.
(But again, its not really a sequel)

The theme of the films should be Family, and the movies should be somewhat family friendly. Like the Incredibles movie was.
Reed should also invent some unreal, fun, and wacky, inventions. Make them more Space Adventurers, that tackle anything. Anything from fighting the Silver Surfer and Galactus, to Dr. Doom, to the Skrulls from Outer Space, to pirates in the past, to Atlantians under the sea.
Anything should be able to happen in these films.

Oh, one last thing. Maybe have references to other Marvel heroes too. Like Johnny Storm can be reading a Hulk comic, or Sue can be reading about Spider-Man or maybe just reading the Daily Bugle. Or maybe Reed mentions a lawyer by the name of Matt Murdock. Or Reed gets a phone call from Tony Stark, or the FF are met by SHEILD agents after saving the day. (Not just big moments at the end of the film either. Sprinkled into the film.)

Just a few random ideas on how to reboot the ff film franchise.

 

[Patron12]

Here are just a few random ideas,

It should start like the (Norton's) Hulk started, with the FF already a super team. This would not only present it as a semi sequel to the other films but also start the movie out the way the first FF comic started.
We would then see a flash back of their origin, but not the origin from the Alba film, or the 90s film.
This origin would be more like the comic, only instead of trying to reach space first.
Reed Richards is trying to reach Mars first.
(In the comic Ben mentions the dangers of Cosmic Rays because no one had been into space yet.)
In this film the Dangers of Cosmic Rays are a threat because no one has been to Mars yet and no one knows what dangers await.

Not sure on who the villain would be, since Doom was never done right in the movies but would now be over kill and hogging to spot from another FF villain. But Doom needs to be done right eventually. (Rebooting Doom is a Post all itself.) Maybe have the FF face off against the Mole Man and a giant monster. Start them off with something a little fun maybe.
Also, in one of this film's sequels perhaps, introduce the Negative Zone.
Oh, I know. Perhaps have the enemy in the first Reboot film be the Skrulls from Outer Space. Maybe even use the comic's idea of having the Skrulls try to discredit the already famous super team by masquerading as them. (Again, sort of alluding to the idea that there were other films setting up that they are famous, but also not being a sequel.)

I am also not sure about their costumes, don't want the spandex from the original movie or the last two. Maybe start out using the originals as a jumping off point. Make them not so skin tight, and make the 4 symbol larger. Maybe make the blue a little brighter, not bright blue like the original 90s film had it, just not a real dark and muted blue like the last two had it.
(Also I would have maybe half of the movie, OK maybe just half of the first half of the movie, showing them fighting without costumes. They didn't get costumes until issue three. But this idea I can take or leave. The movie could start out with them already having costumes, and already having a base and being famous. Plus the Skrulls introduce the idea that anything can happen in the FF films.)

Also, in the original comics Thing didn't have a distinctive look at first, and Doom's costume wasn't like it is now. They both looked different initially. So it might be reasonable to use that when altering their looks. Maybe Ben's body changed over time from a rocky mud ball looking monster to a solid rocky monster.
And Doom's armor could become more regal when he takes over Latvaria.
(But again, its not really a sequel)

The theme of the films should be Family, and the movies should be somewhat family friendly. Like the Incredibles movie was.
Reed should also invent some unreal, fun, and wacky, inventions. Make them more Space Adventurers, that tackle anything. Anything from fighting the Silver Surfer and Galactus, to Dr. Doom, to the Skrulls from Outer Space, to pirates in the past, to Atlantians under the sea.
Anything should be able to happen in these films.

Oh, one last thing. Maybe have references to other Marvel heroes too. Like Johnny Storm can be reading a Hulk comic, or Sue can be reading about Spider-Man or maybe just reading the Daily Bugle. Or maybe Reed mentions a lawyer by the name of Matt Murdock. Or Reed gets a phone call from Tony Stark, or the FF are met by SHEILD agents after saving the day. (Not just big moments at the end of the film either. Sprinkled into the film.)

Just a few random ideas on how to reboot the ff film franchise.

i like this too
its hard to believe how most of you guys had the same ideas i have

 

[Artistsean]

Thanks, what are some of the ideas you had that were the same?

I like the idea of the FF trying to reach Mars. It keeps the origin the same except updating their reason for going into space slightly.

also, if and when they do a Puppet Master story, I think the Puppet Master's clay should have been the clay from around the FF's spaceship crash site. (Like the FF's spaceship crashed to Earth and the Gamma Rays from space, the radiation, effected the ground around the crash site. Giving the soil around the crash site cosmic powers.
Just another idea.