YOU are the script writer....

[GoblinScrier]

I would use the Incredible Hulk formula and talk about the origin of just the 4 in the opening credits...fast forward a year later with the team attacking the Mole Man's big monster (from F4 #1)...Doom is off in Latveria as its ruler already...he has learned of a great item that will bring him the world...a weapon that from the Negative Zone called the Cosmic Control Rod (Annihilus)...this will also bring up his origin as he tried to access a rift to save his mother from a hellish dimension and realizes this time he won't go through that again since its all Richards fault anyway (c'mon its always Richards fault)...ultimately Doom invades the USA with the Latverian Fleet and arrives at the United Nations demanding the immediate surrender of the planet....a battle of wits will ensure with him and Richards.

Movie 1 ends with a post credit shot of Silver Surfer approaching Earth...

Movie 2 is the arrival of the heralds of Galactus and Doom gains the cosmic power. Post credit is the arrival of the ship of Galactus, Taa II and Doom ruling the world, the F4 defeated...

Movie 3. Surfer teams up with the F4 to challenge Galactus after Doom fights Galactus thus defeated and the Surfer gaining his power back and defying his master.

 

[EssayM]

I actually don't mind them doing an origin story to a certain extent. Not only could it help reintroduce them to the GA after the lame Story films, but it could be really cool to see all the different relationships among the FF develop over the course of the films (if this does in fact get a sequel or two), so that when we finally see them go on adventures, we've gotten to know them and we're invested in them. As long as you don't do the typical origin movie template (hero is loser, hero gets powers, reacts in montage, farts around until the villain who he used to know shows up, big battle, happy ending and tease for sequel), there are a lot of places you can go with this, instead of just rushing to the action.

As an example, one of the things I would like to see in this film is a more believable connection between Reed and Doom. In the Story films, Doom was a transparent bad guy even before the accident, and it never made sense to me that him and Reed could ever have been friends. Instead, I would like to see them have sort of a Thor/Loki-type arc: Reed and Victor are close friends in college (or the Baxter Building or whatever). Victor, when we first meet him, is actually funny and likeable, and both he and Reed are committed to pursuing science above all else. After the accident, Reed has the humility to accept his mistake and move on with his life, but Victor becomes consumed by bitterness over the failure and dedicates everything he has to getting revenge on Reed for his "betrayal". And when they meet as Mister Fantastic and Doctor Doom, we see them trading banter back and forth like old friends, but we still get the sense that each is just waiting to tear the other apart. Maybe even have one of the storylines where they're forced to team up and make it like the Thor/Loki scenes in TDW.

And then we can get to Galactus and the Surfer and all that other cool stuff

 

[cryptic name]

If I were writing the FF movie, the first thing I would do is abandon the superhero formula and treat the film as an adventure story with crazy science fiction elements. Borrow heavily from that Jack Kirby slant. In essence, it would be more like Indiana Jones meets insane scifi/fantasy. The FF would begin the movie established and we'd get the origin retold through a multimedia presentation at the Baxter Building in the first act (they're massive celebrities in the world of the film, and the Baxter is a big tourist attraction in New York. We'd also get a cute little cameo from H.E.R.B.I.E. there.)

The opening scene would be an action sequence introducing the team and the world. Sort of the 3rd act of a movie we never saw. In an advanced submarine of Reed's own design, the FF are in search of an anomaly that crashed to the depths of the Marianas Trench from outer space. At the bottom of the trench, we witness the sheer power and impervious nature of The Thing as he exits the sub and strides across the ocean floor to retrieve the mysterious object (this will turn out to be the Ultimate Nullifier, little set up for a sequel). But others are after the object, and on their return to the surface the 4 are attacked by a small fleet of other subs. An underwater battle ensues, ending back at the surface where the FF are allowed to unleash their powers in a fight against the personal guard of Victor Von Doom, Monarch of Latveria and arch rival of Reed Richards and his family.

The main thrust of the film would involve Reed's discovery of the Negative Zone, with Doom using a combination of science and black magic to open his own portal there. This would be a play on their relationship and Doom's origin, with Doom piggybacking on Reed's discovery, pushing things too far and creating a disaster. Doom hopes to use the energies from the massive vortex at the center of the new dimension to power a new super weapon. There he encounters Annihilus, and the two conspire to conquer BOTH their worlds (with each planning to double cross the other.) Ultimately, the FF are forced to first split up to fight the forces Doom and Annihilus on two fronts, and finally regroup to enter the Negative Zone and put a stop to it all, ending with Doom trapped in the Negative Zone and the FF returning home victorious.

I know it's a bit out there for a first film, but I figure it's go big or go home with the Fantastic Four. For sequels, I would follow up with Atlantis and Namor in the second film, and an actual legit version of the Galactus saga for the third.

 

[Kelly]

If I were writing the FF movie, the first thing I would do is abandon the superhero formula and treat the film as an adventure story with crazy science fiction elements. Borrow heavily from that Jack Kirby slant. In essence, it would be more like Indiana Jones meets insane scifi/fantasy. The FF would begin the movie established and we'd get the origin retold through a multimedia presentation at the Baxter Building in the first act (they're massive celebrities in the world of the film, and the Baxter is a big tourist attraction in New York. We'd also get a cute little cameo from H.E.R.B.I.E. there.)

The opening scene would be an action sequence introducing the team and the world. Sort of the 3rd act of a movie we never saw. In an advanced submarine of Reed's own design, the FF are in search of an anomaly that crashed to the depths of the Marianas Trench from outer space. At the bottom of the trench, we witness the sheer power and impervious nature of The Thing as he exits the sub and strides across the ocean floor to retrieve the mysterious object (this will turn out to be the Ultimate Nullifier, little set up for a sequel). But others are after the object, and on their return to the surface the 4 are attacked by a small fleet of other subs. An underwater battle ensues, ending back at the surface where the FF are allowed to unleash their powers in a fight against the personal guard of Victor Von Doom, Monarch of Latveria and arch rival of Reed Richards and his family.

The main thrust of the film would involve Reed's discovery of the Negative Zone, with Doom using a combination of science and black magic to open his own portal there. This would be a play on their relationship and Doom's origin, with Doom piggybacking on Reed's discovery, pushing things too far and creating a disaster. Doom hopes to use the energies from the massive vortex at the center of the new dimension to power a new super weapon. There he encounters Annihilus, and the two conspire to conquer BOTH their worlds (with each planning to double cross the other.) Ultimately, the FF are forced to first split up to fight the forces Doom and Annihilus on two fronts, and finally regroup to enter the Negative Zone and put a stop to it all, ending with Doom trapped in the Negative Zone and the FF returning home victorious.

I know it's a bit out there for a first film, but I figure it's go big or go home with the Fantastic Four. For sequels, I would follow up with Atlantis and Namor in the second film, and an actual legit version of the Galactus saga for the third.

I like these ideas....

 

[cryptic name]

I like these ideas....

Thanks

 

[bubbadoom]

I actually don't mind them doing an origin story to a certain extent. Not only could it help reintroduce them to the GA after the lame Story films, but it could be really cool to see all the different relationships among the FF develop over the course of the films (if this does in fact get a sequel or two), so that when we finally see them go on adventures, we've gotten to know them and we're invested in them. As long as you don't do the typical origin movie template (hero is loser, hero gets powers, reacts in montage, farts around until the villain who he used to know shows up, big battle, happy ending and tease for sequel), there are a lot of places you can go with this, instead of just rushing to the action.

As an example, one of the things I would like to see in this film is a more believable connection between Reed and Doom. In the Story films, Doom was a transparent bad guy even before the accident, and it never made sense to me that him and Reed could ever have been friends. Instead, I would like to see them have sort of a Thor/Loki-type arc: Reed and Victor are close friends in college (or the Baxter Building or whatever). Victor, when we first meet him, is actually funny and likeable, and both he and Reed are committed to pursuing science above all else. After the accident, Reed has the humility to accept his mistake and move on with his life, but Victor becomes consumed by bitterness over the failure and dedicates everything he has to getting revenge on Reed for his "betrayal". And when they meet as Mister Fantastic and Doctor Doom, we see them trading banter back and forth like old friends, but we still get the sense that each is just waiting to tear the other apart. Maybe even have one of the storylines where they're forced to team up and make it like the Thor/Loki scenes in TDW.

And then we can get to Galactus and the Surfer and all that other cool stuff

If we don't see them "go on adventures" in the first film - there is little chance of there being a second one. The how and why these four are friends is of very little importance and certainly does not need several films to be developed. One of the major problems with the Story film is the fact that they did not go into action until the last few minutes of the film.

Richards and Doom were NEVER friends - so why make them so in a film?

 

[EssayM]

If we don't see them "go on adventures" in the first film - there is little chance of there being a second one. The how and why these four are friends is of very little importance and certainly does not need several films to be developed. One of the major problems with the Story film is the fact that they did not go into action until the last few minutes of the film.

There's a difference between holding off on the main event and literally showing nothing. For example, Rise of/Apes is very much an origin film with very little action, but there's still enough going on to keep you entertained (Ceasar's character development, the budding ape revolt, etc.), and by the time Dawn starts, you're attached to the characters and ready to see them in a big epic battle. Same thing with FC and DOFP. By contrast, the Story films literally had the characters sitting around doing nothing until the final fight.

Basically, imagine

Richards and Doom were NEVER friends - so why make them so in a film?

Yes and no; I do recall some 616 stories where they knew each other in college, so it's open to interpretation. Either way, I think it would be a good way to flesh out Doom. "Bad guy who was and always will be a bad guy" is much less interesting than "Former good guy who becomes a dark mirror image of the protagonist while still being charmingly evil."

 

[Kelly]

There's a difference between holding off on the main event and literally showing nothing. For example, Rise of/Apes is very much an origin film with very little action, but there's still enough going on to keep you entertained (Ceasar's character development, the budding ape revolt, etc.), and by the time Dawn starts, you're attached to the characters and ready to see them in a big epic battle. Same thing with FC and DOFP. By contrast, the Story films literally had the characters sitting around doing nothing until the final fight.

Basically, imagine



Yes and no; I do recall some 616 stories where they knew each other in college, so it's open to interpretation. Either way, I think it would be a good way to flesh out Doom. "Bad guy who was and always will be a bad guy" is much less interesting than "Former good guy who becomes a dark mirror image of the protagonist while still being charmingly evil."

That is not what makes Doom, Doom.....the fact that he is ruthless, yet is so charismatic that he can have a country that worships him. He is so far from, just a bad guy who has always been bad, or a good guy gone bad, it's not even funny. He is totally above all of that...to the point that you root for him even though he is the extreme of extremes as a villain. NONE OF THAT, was fleshed out or even alluded to in the first two movies. And, as of right now, we have no clue how his character has been written for this one.

What makes Reed and Doom's relationship so interesting is not that they were once friends and are now enemies, or that Doom was like Reed "good", and is now "bad" those things are quite superficial and rather boring, it is the deep down characteristics of Reed that make him somewhat like Doom, yet he has gone the way of good. Read MK Fantastic Four 1234, it brings out that relationship beautifully.

 

[Willie Lumpkin]

That is not what makes Doom, Doom.....the fact that he is ruthless, yet is so charismatic that he can have a country that worships him. He is so far from, just a bad guy who has always been bad, or a good guy gone bad, it's not even funny. He is totally above all of that...to the point that you root for him even though he is the extreme of extremes as a villain. NONE OF THAT, was fleshed out or even alluded to in the first two movies. And, as of right now, we have no clue how his character has been written for this one.

What makes Reed and Doom's relationship so interesting is not that they were once friends and are now enemies, or that Doom was like Reed "good", and is now "bad" those things are quite superficial and rather boring, it is the deep down characteristics of Reed that make him somewhat like Doom, yet he has gone the way of good. Read MK Fantastic Four 1234, it brings out that relationship beautifully.

Yes! I think this is the key point. The great and unique thing about their 'relationship' is that they're very similar - both are smarter than nearly everyone else on the planet. Both are confident and self-assured. They're the same age, they went to college together, they're both leaders etc. yet despite those similarities, they are complete opposites because Reed is selfless (the key characteristic of a hero) while Doom is selfish (the key characteristic of a villain).

And the idea of best friends becoming enemies and/or seemingly good-guy becoming villain has been done to death.

Doom as Doom would be unique and like nothing we've ever seen before. If they try to make them friends who go their different ways it will be a cliché.

A person who is was and always will be selfish is real. A good guy gone bad is Hollywood.

 

[Mike Murdock]

I was thinking about this idea. I agree with the suggestion of having them go on adventures. The weird thing is this. I was thinking about what makes the Fantastic Four stand out. The two things that came to mind were that they are superhero celebrities and they don't hide their identities. I noticed that the MCU has kind of adopted this for all their heroes.

My idea is this. First, I'd suggest not having Doom as the villain. Start with something different. My suggestion is the Skrulls. It's a world-sized problem and it's something fantastical. Realistic is fine as long as everyone recognizes that the problems the Fantastic Four deal with aren't grounded. I would keep the cosmic rays origin, but tie it into the Skrulls to make up for any issues with not being realistic (just leave it hand-waivy and vague whether it was alien influence or the cosmic rays themselves that caused it).

I would start with the team together working on a scientific experiment for a private spaceflight. Basically, keep the origin, it's a rushed flight that Ben is opposed to but goes ahead and does it anyway, etc. etc. However, keep the whole story from beginning to end under five minutes before the credits. In space, they get hit by cosmic rays, there's an emergency crashlanding and they survive. Suddenly, they realize they've all gotten superpowers. Anxiously, they wonder, how will the world treat them now that they're different? Cue credits.

After the credits clear, the Fantastic Four are in a parade, having just saved New York City. News reports show their latest accomplishment, with Peter Petruski (Paste Pot Pete) trapped in his own glue after having been defeated. Reed Richards is pretending to be modest while obviously loving every second. Johnny Storm is showing no pretense of modesty and is doing acrobatics. Susan Storm is trying to calm everyone down and keep them grounded. Only Ben Grimm is nowhere to be seen, hiding from public view, much to everyone's lament. They announce that to the crowd what their next adventure is and then set out to do it.

The rest of the movie will involve them exploring and trying to figure out what gave them powers. They'll encounter the Skrulls briefly. When they return to New York, they'll find that the government has turned against them. The shocking turn of fate from the beginning of the movie leads to internal squabbling, with Ben believing it confirms his worst fears about his appearance. However, they eventually realize that these people have been replaced by Skrulls. They defeat the invasion and then face off with Super Skrull and defeat him as well.

Anyway, that's my idea.

 

[the gael]

Yes! I think this is the key point. The great and unique thing about their 'relationship' is that they're very similar - both are smarter than nearly everyone else on the planet. Both are confident and self-assured. They're the same age, they went to college together, they're both leaders etc. yet despite those similarities, they are complete opposites because Reed is selfless (the key characteristic of a hero) while Doom is selfish (the key characteristic of a villain).

And the idea of best friends becoming enemies and/or seemingly good-guy becoming villain has been done to death.

Doom as Doom would be unique and like nothing we've ever seen before. If they try to make them friends who go their different ways it will be a cliché.

A person who is was and always will be selfish is real. A good guy gone bad is Hollywood.

I have also a hard time thinking that Doom was a good guy turned bad. The guy has always been very arrogant, even when he was "friend" with Reed (was he even a real "friend" in the sense that we assume it. It may already have been an intellectual Relationship that "stimulate" Doom brain), but Doom has always been a lone guy who, and his accident proved it, only believe himself), and he received an aristocratic and very elitist education that make him believe that he was more clever and more important than the other ones.

that accident only complete his journey toward villainy by making him loose his grip on reality, but he was always a guy who believe only in himself and thinks that every other people are of no value compared to him. That's not how a good guy think.

That's being said, Doom is not a complete bad guy, he has some good sides (he wants to free his mother from hell, he use his brain to help his people by suppressing poverty), but he is such a twisted spirit who only believe in himself and has so much confidence in himself that, to reach these noble goals, he does horrible things to do so. That's Doom.

On the opposite, Reed is a man with a "family". the fact that they have to count on each other ground him, prevent him to become, like Doom, a genious out of the reality.