Fan4stic’s Writer Reveals the Real Reasons It Failed and Marvel’s New Approach

by

The Fantastic Four, Marvel’s original team, are set to enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the upcoming movie titled “The Fantastic Four: First Steps“. However, they won’t have long to settle in as they will immediately play a significant role in the events of “Avengers: Doomsday“. The rapid succession of events might cause them to miss the simplicity of their earlier days when they were not surrounded by an entire multiverse of characters eager to team up or clash with them. In 2025, which marks the 10-year anniversary of Josh Trank’s film “Fan4stic“, it would be fitting to revisit the Fantastic Four films from the past.

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I recall that after Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer fell short of our collective cinematic dreams, Fox took the bold step to revamp the series and recruited the director behind the critically lauded found footage film, Chronicle. Exciting newcomers like Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Miles Teller were brought onboard, and before we knew it, production was in full swing. However, beneath the surface, creative differences between director Josh Trank and writer Jeremy Slater seemed to have impacted the final product’s coherence.

In an interview with egmr.ru, Slater shared which film had the greatest impact on him during the writing of Fan4stic. “To be truthful,” he stated, “the movie that served as my primary inspiration was The Avengers. It had been released around the same time or just before. I was completely captivated by it. I admired how Joss Whedon achieved the seemingly impossible with that film by skillfully blending various tones. To this day, I recall the first time Thor brandished his hammer and soared into the sky in the theater. It was a minor joke in the background, but when Thor did that, I let out an excited squeal. It was something from my childhood that I never thought I would witness in live action.

As a cinephile, I wasn’t just captivated by the thrilling action sequences in the MCU’s first team-up movie; I also admired the unique character dynamics that made it stand out. Sadly, when it came to the development of our project, director Trank seemed to miss that vision, instead choosing to draw inspiration from darker superhero movies.

Essentially, Slater pointed out the key difference in our perspectives. He enjoyed movies like “The Avengers,” while I, on the other hand, preferred more grounded and dark films such as “Batman Begins.” Since I’ve had a long-standing affection for superhero stories like “The Avengers,” it resonated with me more deeply than it did with him.

Initially, it seemed as if creative differences may not have been a significant issue in the final analysis of “Fan4stic”, but Slater’s revelation that the film’s budget was perpetually decreasing casts a shadow over the production. Thankfully, a decade has passed, and the Fantastic Four now have the financial backing necessary to truly shine on the silver screen.

Marvel Studios Is Doing the Fantastic Four Right

It’s evident from the trailer for First Steps that Kevin Feige and his team have a unique perspective for their adaptation of the group. The film emphasizes the significance of family and the importance of standing together in challenging circumstances. Although Slater is not directly involved, he endorses this theme as well as the grand narrative Marvel Studios is attempting to weave.

Slater appreciates the bold creative approach being taken, as it involves narrating a multiverse tale with unique settings and characters. It seems these worlds and heroes will clash with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which he finds an intelligent direction. He also believes that they’re managing Galactus well.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25, 2025.

Read More

2025-06-07 16:15