Fantastic Four writer Jeremy Slater compares the 2015 Josh Trank movie to this week's presidential debate. The Fantastic Four comics have yet to receive a completely successful movie adaptation. In the early '90s, the first attempt was made. However, the film was never released. In the early 2000s, Chris Evans, Jessica Alba, and others starred in a different Fantastic Four movie and its sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. However, despite the star power, both films were poorly received by critics, and a third movie was ultimately cancelled.
The most recent adaptation came in 2015, with Trank at the helm. He co-wrote the script for the movie with Slater and Simon Kinberg. It starred Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, and more. However, the film was both a critical and commercial failure, and a planned sequel was never made. According to Trank, his vision for the film never made it to screen, though a full director's cut of Fantastic Four doesn't exist. Still, it's one of a few superhero films whose directors expressed discontent with the final product. In the last several years, Justice League and Suicide Squad have been among them.
Though Trank has been vocal about his issues with Fantastic Four, this week, Slater joined him, jokingly comparing the movie to 2020's first presidential debate. Many tuned in to see Joe Biden take on Donald Trump, with some making their feelings known on social media, Slater included. Check out his tweet below:
Slater clearly has a healthy sense of humor about Fantastic Four and his involvement in it. Considering the number of users who interacted with his tweet, many appreciated his joke. Even fans of the movie recognize it had some flaws, and it seems Slater agrees. Additionally, in the midst of a stressful night for many Americans, it's nice Slater provided a moment of levity.
Though the Fantastic Four are still lacking a critically acclaimed film adaptation, one may be coming. With its acquisition of 21st Century Fox last year, Disney now owns the Fantastic Four characters. This means a reboot is coming, likely putting them in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If Marvel's take on the franchise is a success, audiences may look back on earlier adaptations, including the 2015 movie, more fondly. In the meantime, it's clear those who worked on Fantastic Four don't take themselves, or the film, too seriously.
Source: Jeremy Slater