Genre: Adevnture/Comic Book Adaptation.
Studio:
20th Century Fox.
Production Company:
Twentieth Century Fox/1492 Pictures.
Project Phase: Development Hell.
Who's In It:
Unknown.
Who's Making It:
Sam Hamm, Michael France, Chris Columbus (Screenwriters); Chris
Columbus, Mark Radcliffe, Michael Barnathan, Bernd Eichinger (Producers); Stan Lee, Avi Arad
(Executive Producers); based upon The Fantastic Four created by Stan Lee and
Jack Kirby and owned by Marvel Comics.
Premise: Exposed to the random mutation effect of a experimental machine while in space, designer Reed Richards, his fiancee Susan Storm, and pilots Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm, are torn apart and reformed atom-by-atom. Soon after they return to Earth, they each manifest fantastic superpowers. Richards can stretch his body to inhuman lengths; Susan Storm can become invisible and create force fields; Johnny Storm can ignite his body into living flame and soar through the air; and Ben Grimm's human features have been erased - now he wears the rocky form of a super-strong, invulnerable 'thing'. Outsiders to the human race, the group of four decide to remain together and try to stop a madman who calls himself Doom. Doom will stop at nothing to use his powers to re-shape the world into his own twisted image and destroy those four adventurers who made him what he is today. The only thing that prevent the world from Doom is...the Fantastic Four.
Release Date: Summer 2000 (tentative).
Comments: The Atomic Age's version of Doc Savage and Flash Gordon, Kirby and Lee's Fantastic Four debuted in 1962 and introduced the four daring adventurers to comic readers around the world. Part of the characters appeal was due to the effort to 'root' them in the real world. For instance, the average issue of Fantastic Four would have at least one instance showcasing the common man's horrified reaction to the sight of the Thing shuffling down the street. However, the reader would be inside the thoughts of Ben Grimm, who desperately tried to find some way to come to terms with his loss of humanity and Mankind's need to fear that which it brands ugly. Everyone who looked at Ben saw only a monster (except, of course, the rest of the Fantastic Four and the lovely, blind Alicia Masters.) And when Reed Richards wed Sue Storm, even the Beatles could be spotted in the aisles inside the church.
A Fantastic Four movie has been a long-time coming. A 1992 low-budget version was done for Roger Corman's film division; the rights to the property were held by Neue Constantine, and before the film rights reverted back to Marvel Comics, Constantine developed the property, produced it, and completed the film. Although bootleg copies can be found at some comic conventions, the film never made a wide distribution circuit. Some of the story details and special effects were, at best, mediocre when compared to the digital kalideoscopes seen on today's multiplex screens, but the heart of the Fantastic Four was still there. (In particular the Doctor Doom and Thing costumes were fantastic, and the acting done by all the main characters was on-the-mark, but that's just our opinion.)
At the eleventh hour, weeks before the film's intended release date, Chris Columbus received the backing of Amblin Entertainment, Steven Spielberg's production company. The rights to the Fantastic Four, including the recently-completed film, were now owned by Amblin. The low-budget film was vaulted, and Columbus announced his interest in directing a big-budget, blockbuster version of the Fantastic Four. Columbus wanted to make an 'event' film, showcasing the superheroes (and their villains) powers on a scale worthy of the history of the project.
Developments:
April, 1997... Director Pete Segal (Tommy Boy) is now in the director's seat.
Late 1996... A press release is issued stating that development on the new Fantastic Four movie is proceeding. Although no casting has been done, the script has been written and a tentative release date has been set: summer 1998.
Rumors/Casting Call:
With the advancements made in digital illusion, giving the Fantastic Four their powers should be relatively easy. But who should play the superheroes?
Scoop Feedback:
April 10-16, 1997... Word reaches CA of Pete Segal, the man who's now the director of the Fantastic Four film. Chris Columbus will remain as producer and receive credit as co-screenwriter. Rumor has it the film was budgeted at a whopping $165 million before Columbus vacated the position. From the script we've read, we can see why - expect major special effect sequences. While we don't want to ruin the surprises for everyone, watch out for a monstrous 'hypercane' created by Doom. [Scoops sent in by Joe Hanna, 'H.B.' and several anonymous individuals.]
A fellow who 'spoke to one of the producers last week' said they have a final script and are in active production. [Scoop reported anonymously.]
August 26, 1997... "The draft that Pete Segal and Chris Columbus plan to shoot is action packed," this scooper starts their email with. The scooper goes on to touch on some of the specifics: the four adventurers get their superpowers from nanotechnology instead of cosmic rays; the portions of the script set in space feature a lot of action in zero-G; and Doom's ultimate weapon is a force of nature called a 'hypercane':
"And a note on Doom's hypercane (a super large hurricane). Doom needs Johnny Storm's nova flame power to generate the winds and water for the hypercane. Script uses this plot point to explain why Doom doesn't just kill the FF when he has captured them near the end of the picture. And yes, it's a very sequel-ready story."
We've had the chance to secure a copy of the script and have to agree with the scooper - this is high-quality action/adventure and faithful to the spirit of the characters. Plenty of hijinks by Johnny towards Ben; Sue's conflict at seeing her brother and the man she's falling in love with in dangerous situations; and a wonderful portrayal of Doom. The character comes across as not only a brilliant scientific mastermind but a deranged meglomaniac. And he's got some nifty lines t'boot.
But the scooper has more to offer us. "Segal is attached to another film hich he might do before FF, which is the Fox 2000 comedy Guam Goes to the Moon, ablout an ex-astronaught who helps Guam develop a world class space project. If Segal gets Steve Martin for that film, as is his wont, he'll hold off on FF for another year." [Ed. note: which would be a shame...we need a good superhero film!]
"That said, FF will happen first if Segal lands -- and here's the scoop -- Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid as the leads. He likes the idea of the real life couple starring in the show as the Invisible Woman and Mr. Fantastic. Alas, the couple is still considering the offer while they vacation with their kids this summer." That's a funny image to toss around in our heads. We like Quaid and Ryan buuut...maybe we're just so used to picturing our own versions that we can't quite see them pulling off their roles. Quaid's always been good at playing a wiseass- but-he's-still-your-friend character; Reed Richards is at times cold and logical but we always feel his deep friendship for his teammates.
Let's see how the summer pans out, shall we? [Scoop submitted anonymously.]
October 7, 1997... Damn, this one we screwed up on. Regular scoop informant Diane told us in August that talk of either Hugh Grant and Geoffrey Rush (best known from his work in Shine) being considered for the role of Doom. We found this very intriguing scoop again and decided better late than never (well, especially since no one has been cast just yet!) [With our most humble apologies to Diane!]
October 21, 1997... "Don't get too excited about this yet. Chris Columbus unserted a few bad jokes and glib topical references into the script and then put his name on the script, which pissed off everyone else involved, especially Michael France. And now that Pete Segel is involved, they are looking for a new writer to do a rewrite, and make it 'hipper.' Pete wants the 'traditional' Fantastic Four out." We're keeping our lips buttoned on this one, kiddos. [Scoop submitted anonymously.]
November 2, 1997... Current FF director Pete Segal has a committment to direct The Out-of-Towners starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. He has stated that either Fantastic Four or The Jetsons will be his next film after The Out-of-Towners is completed. [Scoop sent in anonymously.]
We're also told the script is being rewritten again by Philip Morton (Fire Down Below) to tone down the action, make it cheaper to produce, and include additional character interplay. If you want our opinion that's not such a good idea: the script we have is already pretty damn good and faithful to the interpretation of the classic characters. [Info submitted anonymously.]
December 17, 1997... Director Sam Weisman has replaced Peter Segal as on The Out-Of-Towners, leaving Segal still attached to two projects-in-development: The Jetsons and Fantastic Four Will Weisman's move hurry up a greenlight for this film? [Submitted by 'SKleefeld'.]
March 4, 1998... Philip Morton was called in to work on the script and has completed his re-writes, this scooper tells us. But the scooper adds the Morton re-write "is a mess. This project is in hell..." [Anonymous.]
April 14, 1998... Variety has reported that producer Chris Columbus is trying to get Sam Hamm (Batman) to rewrite the FF script. Hamm just finished adapting the comic book Dark Town into a feature, and now Columbus wants Hamm to re-write the Michael France/Chris Columbus draft to bring it more in-tune with the budget ideas.
We here at CA think that any movement on the FF project is good but remain cautiously optimistic that the changes Hamm (and Columbus) will make will be in the story's best interest. Thanks to an anonymous and friendly CA reader, we had the chance to read the original Michael France script and it captures the heart and soul of the FF beautifully, while still propelling them into the 21st century. Scooper Diane also is a fan of the France script, and she sent us her thoughts on today's developments: "Now, while I think Hamm is a pretty decent writer (forgetting his work on the Planet of the Apes remake...ewww!) I am deeply disappointed that they're not sticking with the original (incredible) script. Let's just hope that Hamm and Fox have been paying attention to what Warners has been going through with Superman Lives so they can avoid similar mistakes (i.e. you have a perfect script, DON'T [BLEEP!] IT UP!)"
[Scoops sent in by Diane (sorry we bleeped you!), 'rosencrantz' and 'SKleefeld'.]
October 7, 1998... The Michael France draft has been completely discarded, and Fox brought Sam Hamm in. He wrote a new draft that Fox likes very much. So, script-wise, this project is in good shape. But will they get cold feet when confronted with the cost of four CGI-based leads? [Scoop provided by 'The Brain' ]
November 3, 1998... In a move that gets big points on our list of 'Cool Cloak-and-Dagger scoops we've received over the years', today a letter arrived at the Coming Attractions studio concerning this project and the Hamm script draft.
Inside an unmarked manila envelope with no return address was this letter, obviously printed on a home computer by someone wishing to be known as 'Foxtrot':
December 14, 1998... We've learned that the project's latest draft by Sam Hamm uses a lot of Michael France and Chris Columbus' earlier draft, while Morton's draft appears to have been jettisoned. The project may begin moving after the start of the new year. Yet another new draft is soon expected that will further reduce the film's expected budget, and if Fox can greenlight the project, expect a flurry of activity to happen. The earliest the film could be released now is in the summer of 2000, when another Marvel superhero film is expected to be released from Fox: X-Men. [You-know-who-you-are.]
January 5, 1999... Coming Attractions has learned of a major substantial development concerning the Fantastic Four project. Screenwriter Sam Hamm (Batman) had been commissioned to reduce the film's stratospheric budget down to something more manageable in his second rewrite, originally due sometime this month. CA has learned that the Hamm rewrite has already been handed in and Twentieth Century Fox has already budgeted the cost of making this latest draft into a movie.
Studios budget a film script soon after the screenwriter(s) hand them in. The studio will forecast how much the writer's vision of the movie will cost, then decide if they want to proceed or reduce the cost of making the film. In almost every case studios will not share this information with anyone on the outside; still, word gets around the Hollywood community about how much a script has been budgeted for just as easily as what the bottom line dollar cost on a film's after it's been released.
Before Hamm's second draft of Fantastic Four, TwenCen budgeted the picture's production cost at an astounding $183 million dollars. Now the new budget forecast is in for Hamm's latest draft and it's $150 million -- and that's without factoring in star salaries. Not only is the number still periously high, it's a figure that we're told took the inner circle of Fox execs completely by surprise.
We're also told that Doom still transforms into an anthromorphosized version of the Statue of Liberty. We haven't read the picture's last two drafts, so we cannot say if Doom literally transforms into Lady Liberty...but according to CA's sources, that's pretty much what he does.
What effect this latest development will have on the Fantastic Four project remains to be seen. Will the film indeed push ahead into production sometime this year? We're betting even Fox president Bill Mechanic doesn't know the answer to that question just yet. [Anonymous.]