Old MCU Fantastic Four Discussion Thread

[Detective Conan]

The 60’s idea seems really reductive to the characters for me, and I wouldn’t be on board. The FF can work fine in a modern context.

 

[Marvel united]

The problem with the F4 origin is that the Fantastic Four are established as celebrities. They are the Kardashians of the Marvel Universe, Reed and Sue their Kim and Kanye. They have a giant building with their logo plastered in the middle of Manhattan

You kinda have to do the origin again. There's no other way to explain their absence in the MCU

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

The problem with the F4 origin is that the Fantastic Four are established as celebrities. They are the Kardashians of the Marvel Universe, Reed and Sue their Kim and Kanye. They have a giant building with their logo plastered in the middle of Manhattan

You kinda have to do the origin again. There's no other way to explain their absence in the MCU

I say do the origin in bits and pieces in other films.

introduce the characters. Mention the mission, mention the crash and them gaining powers, becoming established etc. so then when the FF film actually happens they’re already an established super-team.

While it’s a little different, that’s basically what they did with Spidey.

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

... and Black Panther.

 

[BobJM]

The problem with the F4 origin is that the Fantastic Four are established as celebrities. They are the Kardashians of the Marvel Universe, Reed and Sue their Kim and Kanye. They have a giant building with their logo plastered in the middle of Manhattan

You kinda have to do the origin again. There's no other way to explain their absence in the MCU

Surely there are better celebrity comparisons than Kim & Kanye, no?

The Giant 4 on the building may be premature, but I think you can establish their celebrity & recount their origin through dialogue & throughout the context of the plot/film. No need to go through it again beat for beat IMO.

 

[BobJM]

I say do the origin in bits and pieces in other films.

introduce the characters. Mention the mission, mention the crash and them gaining powers, becoming established etc. so then when the FF film actually happens they’re already an established super-team.

While it’s a little different, that’s basically what they did with Spidey.

I think this can all be done within the first film, but I could see MCU introducing the family in Ant-Man or perhaps Watts will use SM3 to sneak a tease in

 

[thangaran]

I just hope that John “no vision” Wattsoever doesn’t make the 4 leads to be as dull and insipid as the MCU Spidey supporting cast. They’re absolutely rubbish.

I still can’t get over the dumbass decision to pretty much ignore Uncle Ben from the MCU. Pathetic. This is a character who had such an enormous impact on Peter but it’s completely glossed over. The Russos in Civil War did a far better job at alluding to it during Stark’s chat with Peter.

I suspect a few ill-thought decisions on the F4 like this will occur just to “change things up”

 

[Detective Conan]

The problem with the F4 origin is that the Fantastic Four are established as celebrities. They are the Kardashians of the Marvel Universe, Reed and Sue their Kim and Kanye. They have a giant building with their logo plastered in the middle of Manhattan

You kinda have to do the origin again. There's no other way to explain their absence in the MCU

...except that you could easily explain away their absence by simply not having them
exist as a superhero team until now. It’s perfectly possible for Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny to have existed in the present day MCU for all this time as ordinary humans who haven’t gotten their powers yet. This is similar to how they explained Spider-Man’s absence in the universe until Civil War. We know Peter Parker existed in the MCU as a little boy by the time the first Iron Man movie happens but he doesn’t get bit by the Spider until seven or eight years later when he’s a teenager. So what’s wrong with taking a similar approach with Reed and the others by having them existed in the present day MCU as regular citizens until the accident?

 

[Detective Conan]

Surely there are better celebrity comparisons than Kim & Kanye, no?

Yeah, The Kardashian comparison only works for the Tim Story Fantastic Four. Not the comics Fantastic Four - who are more like if the Beatles were superheroes.

 

[Detective Conan]

I think fans expecting the MCU FF to be these lily white time displaced explorers from the 60’s are in for a rude awakening if Marvel doesn’t go in that direction.

I have a strong hunch that whatever Feige and Watts have in store for their version of the FF is going to be radically different than what most here are speculating/hoping.

The day we get casting for the team will be interesting to say the least....

 

[Marvel united]

I say do the origin in bits and pieces in other films.

introduce the characters. Mention the mission, mention the crash and them gaining powers, becoming established etc. so then when the FF film actually happens they’re already an established super-team.

While it’s a little different, that’s basically what they did with Spidey.

Peter Parker operated as a low-level vigilante for 6 months before we meet him in Civil War. Probably never even left his borough (Queens). The F4 however are very different as their origin in itself would naturally be publicized

Not everyone knows who Spider-Man is but everyone knows who the Fantastic Four are

So even if the origin happens in other films, the trick is figuring out which film/show their origin can happen

...except that you could easily explain away their absence by simply not having them
exist as a superhero team until now. It’s perfectly possible for Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny to have existed in the present day MCU for all this time as ordinary humans who haven’t gotten their powers yet. This is similar to how they explained Spider-Man’s absence in the universe until Civil War. We know Peter Parker existed in the MCU as a little boy by the time the first Iron Man movie happens but he doesn’t get bit by the Spider until seven or eight years later when he’s a teenager. So what’s wrong with taking a similar approach with Reed and the others by having them existed in the present day MCU as regular citizens until the accident?

Nothing wrong w that approach. I was more so referring to idea of pretending the Fantastic Four have been around all this time off-screen

Yeah, The Kardashian comparison only works for the Tim Story Fantastic Four. Not the comics Fantastic Four - who are more like if the Beatles had super powers.

I get yout point, but the Beatles were 60 years ago. the Kardashians came to mind as the modern equivalent of the First Family becuz it's definitely the most famous (or infamous) celebrity family in public eye atm

 

[BobJM]

I think fans expecting the MCU FF to be these lily white time displaced explorers from the 60’s are in for a rude awakening if Marvel doesn’t go in that direction.

I have a strong hunch that whatever Feige and Watts have in store for their version of the FF is going to be radically different than what most here are speculating/hoping.

The day we get casting for the team will be interesting to say the least....

I wonder how far off casting news will be; heck even writers, etc.

 

[DyeLorean]

I think they are going to use the Multiverse to establish the FF and the X-Men. They might come from a different version of Earth. There's no way they can explain their absence during what has happened so far in the MCU. Specially the FF.

 

[Detective Conan]

I get yout point, but the Beatles were 60 years ago. the Kardashians came to mind as the modern equivalent of the First Family becuz it's definitely the most famous (or infamous) celebrity family in public eye atm

The FF are a family of humanitarians and explorers before they are ever the sensationalized attention-****es the Kardashians are. If anything, they’re more like a presidential First Family(i.e, the Obama family than anything else).

That comparison may have not have jumped at you since I guess you could argue the FF are more dysfunctional, but the FF are beloved superheroes who are respected in the community all around the world. They argue and bicker, but they mostly get along well. That’s a more apt comparison.

 

[BobJM]

The FF are a family of humanitarians and explorers before they are ever the sensationalized attention-****es the Kardashians are. If anything, they’re more like a presidential First Family(i.e, the Obama family than anything else).

That comparison may have not have jumped at you since I guess you could argue the FF are more dysfunctional, but the FF are beloved superheroes who are respected in the community all around the world. They argue and bicker, but they mostly get along well.

My first thought was the Obamas too—its a different type of celebrity

EDIT: Purely on face/image alone, you could argue Steve Jobs is a good modern celebrity that Reed could be modeled after.

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

Peter Parker operated as a low-level vigilante for 6 months before we meet him in Civil War. Probably never even left his borough (Queens). The F4 however are very different as their origin in itself would naturally be publicized

Not everyone knows who Spider-Man is but everyone knows who the Fantastic Four are

So even if the origin happens in other films, the trick is figuring out which film/show their origin can happen

I wouldn’t consider that a “trick” as much as a heck of a lot of fun.

Ben Grimm could be a pilot in Falcon and the Winter soldier or Black Widow.

Reed Richards and Victor Von Doom could appear as scientists in Black Panther.

Johnny Storm could show up as a student at Peter Parker’s high school and we could see his older sister dropping him of or picking him up. Reed Richards could be a client of Jennifer Walters challenging a patent infringement etc. etc. etc.

If the FF film were dropping next month out of nowhere introducing/defining the characters without without some sort if starting point could be difficult, but we’ve got several years and many, many Marvel stories to come before that.

And if past is prologue, Kevin Feige is already planning it out and will introduce FF characters prior to their stand-alone film debut

 

[Detective Conan]

My first thought was the Obamas too—its a different type of celebrity

EDIT: Purely on face/image alone, you could argue Steve Jobs is a good modern celebrity that Reed could be modeled after.

Neil Degrasse Tyson is also a good modern day celebrity that I think MCU Reed could also take inspiration from.

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

My first thought was the Obamas too—its a different type of celebrity

EDIT: Purely on face/image alone, you could argue Steve Jobs is a good modern celebrity that Reed could be modeled after.

I was thinking more Elon Musk, but either works.

... but they also have to be careful not to tread on Tony Stark’s territory.

 

[BobJM]

I was thinking more Elon Musk, but either works.

... but they also have to be careful not to tread on Tony Stark’s territory.

Agreed on not retreading Stark turf—the only reason I didn’t want to bring up Elon Musk lol

 

[Detective Conan]

Agreed on not retreading Stark turf—the only reason I didn’t want to bring up Elon Musk lol

I’m telling you that it really feels like making Reed this eccentric, Neil Degrasse Tyson-esque character who’s excited about learning about the mysteries of the universe is the way to go. It should be pointed out Kevin Feige himself is a big fan of Tyson and his show Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. So I figure he may be modeled after Tyson as a way to differentiate the Marvel Universe’s premiere scientist from his Marvel brethren that came after him like Tony Stark.

Get a good actor who can pull off that inquisitive, brainy, charismatic personality who’s legit enthused about finding out the mysteries of the cosmos and you’ll basically have your MCU Reed Richards. He’s basically Neil Degrasse Tyson if he had the powers of elongation.

 

[BobJM]

I’m telling you that it really feels like making Reed this eccentric, Neil Degrasse Tyson-esque who’s excited about learning about the mysteries of the universe is the way to go.It should be pointed out Kevin Feige himself is a big fan of Tyson and his show Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey. So I figure he may take inspiration Tyson as a way to differentiate the Marvel Universe’s premiere scientist from his Marvel brethren that came after him like Tony Stark.

Get a good actor who can pull off that inquisitive, brainy, charismatic character who’s legit enthused about finding out the mysteries and you’ll basically have MCU Reed Richards. He’s basically Neil Degrasse Tyson if he had the powers of elongation.

Tyson’s a great call. He’s the celebrity scientist—the fun one, though. Reed could be on the media circuit, late night shows, etc. Maybe at Sue’s insistence as she’s more business-minded, understanding that publicity can turn into funding for Reed’s research. Johnny’s backstage flirting with starlets in the green room, and Ben’s at the pub across the street watching with a draft.

Did you have any picks for Reed in mind?

 

[Detective Conan]

Tyson’s a great call. He’s the celebrity scientist—the fun one, though. Reed could be on the media circuit, late night shows, etc. Maybe at Sue’s insistence as she’s more business-minded, understanding that publicity can turn into funding for Reed’s research. Johnny’s backstage flirting with starlets in the green room, and Ben’s at the pub across the street watching with a draft.

Did you have any picks for Reed in mind?

In the past I’ve fancast actors like Jonathan Groff and Bill Hader in the role. I also think Jack Quaid(The Boys) could pull it off if he was older. Now, I’m leaning towards William Jackson Harper(The Good Place). I also think Yahya Abdul Mateen(Watchmen, Aquaman) would be good as well. I thought he played intelligent and distant quite well in the HBO Watchmen series especially when it’s revealed he’s...

Spoiler

Doctor Manhattan.

Edit: None of these actors are choices I’m overly attached to, but I’m sure like these guys for the role a heckuva a lot better than John Krasinski.

 

[BobJM]

In the past I’ve fancast actors like Jonathan Groff and Bill Hader in the role. I also think Jack Quaid(The Boys) could pull it off if he was older. Now, I’m leaning towards William Jackson Harper(The Good Place). I also think Yahya Abdul Mateen(Watchmen, Aquaman) would be good as well. I thought he played intelligent and distant quite well in the HBO Watchmen especially when it’s revealed he’s:

Spoiler

Doctor Manhattan.

Hader’s always a great pick. He may be a smidge too old at this point, but you wouldn’t hear complaints from me if he’s cast. He’s actually my current HERBIE pick lol, I want to keep him involved in the FF however possible.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is pretty great too; good call. Black Manta might be a barrier to that though.

 

[BobJM]

Marwan Kenzari from Disney’s Aladdin (and Whatever Happened to Monday and The Old Guard) could be an interesting pick for Reed too:

 

[BobJM]

I’m still holding out hope that Keanu is Reed Richards. This project seriously needs starpower.

You think? I think it should just follow the Marvel method—cast big stars for the villain, and maybe the mentor/supporting role. I like Keanu for Galactus tbh.

Channing Tatum is a pick of mine for Thing—I guess that’d be a star grab too like Bradley Cooper as Rocket