If you’ve been following the development of Fox’s reboot of The Fantastic Four, then you’ll no doubt be aware that director Josh Trank (Chronicle) intends on delivering something different to the traditional comic book incarnation of Marvel’s First Family. With the casting of younger actors, it was thought that the studio had decided to go down the Ultimate Fantastic Four route, but now Kate Mara – who is set to play Susan Storm / The Invisible Woman – has indicated that may not be the case after all.
“I was going to read comic books for this movie but the director said it wasn’t necessary,” Mara tells Esquire Latinoamerica (via CBM). “Well, actually he told us that we shouldn’t do it because the plot won’t be based on any history of anything already published. So I chose to follow his instructions… The one fact is I am a fan of comic book movies, so it’s very exciting to be part of a movie like this. We are also trying to create a new way of seeing these superheroes, I’m focusing on making her (Susan Storm) as real as possible.”
So, we’re getting a gritty and grounded Fantastic Four, that may or may not have a found footage style, and is unlikely to take its plot from any established Fantastic Four material? A wise move, or a recipe for disaster?
UPDATE: According to EW, Mara’s reps are saying that the original quote was a mistranslation, and that she actually said it isn’t based on one particular Fantastic Four comic, but rather the entire canon.
The Fantastic Four is set for release on June 19th 2015, with a cast that includes Miles Teller (Divergent) as Mr. Fantastic, Kate Mara (American Horror Story) as the Invisible Woman, Michael B. Jordan (Chronicle) as the Human Torch, Jamie Bell (Nymphomaniac) as The Thing, Toby Kebbell (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) as Doctor Doom, Reg E. Cathey (The Wire) as Dr. Storm, and Tim Blake Nelson (The Incredible Hulk) as Harvey Elder.
Originally published July 15, 2014. Updated December 13, 2019.
